Chinese State Security Makes Public Posts Summoning Entire Nation To Support Anti-Espionage
Chinese State Uses WeChat To Call For Anti-Espionage
Overt Operator
August 03, 2023
The Ministry of State Security in China has called upon the entire nation to actively participate in the country's anti-espionage campaign, with the aim of constructing a "line of civil defense against espionage" to safeguard national security.
The ministry, which has traditionally maintained a low public profile since its establishment in 1983, has taken a step towards increased public engagement by launching an official account on the Chinese social media platform WeChat.
In the ministry's first article published on Tuesday, August 1, it emphasized the critical and complex nature of the ongoing anti-espionage fight. Titled "Countering espionage requires the mobilization of the entire society!" the article urged national security authorities to fully implement the recently amended anti-espionage law.
The amendment to the anti-espionage law was passed by Beijing in April and officially came into effect on July 1. It broadened the definition of espionage to include "agents of spy organizations" and encompassed activities such as "stealing, spying, bribing, illegally providing state secrets," as well as efforts to influence or recruit national personnel for defection.
The Ministry of State Security outlined its intention to establish a "normalized system" that would facilitate the public's ability to identify and report suspected espionage incidents. It further stated that individuals and organizations providing assistance in combating spies would be rewarded. To enable easy reporting, the ministry has provided a platform accessible via WeChat, available in both Chinese and English versions. Informants can choose to remain anonymous while submitting their reports.
"The channels for citizens and organizations to report activities that endanger national security should be unobstructed," the ministry emphasized. It called for national security authorities to make their contact information, including telephone, mailbox, and online platform, publicly available to efficiently handle reports while ensuring the confidentiality of the reporters.
Notably, the Ministry of State Security's WeChat account does not permit comments on its posts, underscoring the seriousness of its messaging and the sensitivity of the subject matter.
In a subsequent article published on Wednesday, August 2, the security ministry highlighted the inclusion of new types of espionage in the amended anti-espionage law, specifically mentioning "cyber espionage." The law now extends protection to documents, statistics, and materials relevant to national security and interest.
Moreover, the ministry emphasized that the new legislation respects and safeguards human rights, likely addressing concerns about potential abuse or misuse of the law's expanded provisions.