China urges its people to help govt catch spies among them.
The Chinese state security ministry emphasized the need of encouraging its citizens to actively participate in counter-espionage measures, including the establishment of channels for reporting suspicious activities and the recognition and appreciation of their participation.
As stated in its debut post on WeChat, which went live recently, the ministry stressed the necessity for a framework that normalizes public involvement in the counter-espionage activity.
The request to encourage anti-spying measures among the general public follows the July expansion of China’s counter-espionage law.
Given its broad reach of barring the transmission of nonspecific material relevant to national security and interests, this rule has generated concerns in the United States. It may possibly penalize foreign corporations operating in China for routine business activities.
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Authorities conducting anti-espionage investigations now have access to data, electronic devices, and personal property information under the new statute.
The Minister of State Security, Chen Yixin, emphasized the critical importance of political security in safeguarding the country, with the primary focus being on the security of China’s political system, specifically upholding the Communist Party of China’s leadership and ruling position, as well as the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.
As China urges its people to help govt catch spies among them, it has recently imprisoned a number of Chinese and international nationals on suspicion of espionage, including a Japanese drugmaker executive and an Australian journalist.
The declaration of being under threat from spies comes amid accusations from Western nations, particularly the United States, that China is engaged in espionage and cyberattacks—an allegation that Beijing categorically denies, with Chinese officials even referring to the US as an “empire of hacking.”
To defend the country from espionage, the state security ministry emphasized the need of enlisting the active involvement of the Chinese people in the construction of a strong defence line.
