US intelligence releases video of Chinese spy recruitment
In a move reflecting escalating geopolitical competition between the superpowers, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has expanded its intelligence operations to include overt recruitment campaigns targeting the Chinese interior. On Thursday, the agency released a new video in Mandarin Chinese aimed directly at enlisting the support of Chinese military officers and government officials disaffected with the regime, a move expected to anger Beijing and further strain already tense diplomatic relations.
Emotional messages and a call to rebellion
The video, released through the agency's official social media channels and YouTube, depicts a fictional Chinese officer experiencing internal conflict. This officer ultimately decides to contact US intelligence after concluding that "the only thing leaders protect is their own self-interest," and that the power structure he serves "is built on countless lies." The recording includes dramatic footage of the officer at home with his family, then passing through security checkpoints in the rain, before showing him typing sensitive information in his car, commenting that "choosing this path is my way of fighting for my family and my country." This is an attempt by the agency to appeal to patriotism and portray espionage as an act of national salvation rather than treason.
Replicating the "Russian model"
This move is not a coincidence; rather, it is an extension of a strategy recently adopted by US intelligence with considerable success in Russia. Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Washington intensified its outreach to Russians dissatisfied with Kremlin policies, exploiting internal frustration to recruit new agents. It appears the agency is now attempting to apply the same model to China, capitalizing on any potential discontent within the military or party establishment, particularly in light of President Xi Jinping's rigorous anti-corruption purges, which may have created hidden enemies within the regime.
The Importance of Human Information (HUMINT)
Despite the tremendous advancements in electronic espionage and satellite technologies, "human intelligence" remains the most crucial and rarest element, especially when dealing with closed systems like China. Washington is desperately seeking accurate information about the Chinese leadership's intentions regarding sensitive issues such as Taiwan, its rapid military development, and its progress in artificial intelligence. US intelligence understands that accessing this information requires penetrating the inner circle of decision-making, something achievable only by recruiting officials from within.
Expected Chinese reaction
For its part, Beijing is taking these attempts very seriously. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of State Security (Chinese intelligence) have already strongly condemned such moves, describing them as "blatant political provocations." China is currently conducting extensive domestic awareness campaigns to warn its citizens and employees against falling into the recruitment trap, arguing that Washington is not only trying to tarnish China's international reputation but also seeking to destabilize it internally by "deceiving the Chinese people and luring them into submission.".
