International•1 Aug ’23 21:47 Author: Samuel Hanegreefs
China calls on its own people to fight espionage and to report suspicious activities through special channels. This is reported by the Ministry of State Security. ‘It reminds me of the working methods of the former Stasi in the GDR’, says espionage expert Danny Pronk.
The measure, which the Chinese government describes as “anti-espionage work,” asks citizens to report suspicious cases. ‘China presents it as a response to threats from the West,’ says Pronk. Beijing wants to prevent valuable information from falling into the hands of opponents. ‘And it now wants to mobilize its own population for that.’
China presents it as a response to threats from the West. Beijing wants to prevent valuable information from falling into the hands of opponents’
Danny Pronk, espionage expert
China’s society was already known as a large-scale surveillance society. With this new measure, the Communist Party goes one step further. ‘It reminds me of the working methods of the former Stasi in the GDR’, says the expert. ‘Civilians started to inform each other. And now special channels are being opened to make this possible, such as on the popular app WeChat. Rewards are promised to citizens who contribute to it.’
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The measure, which the Chinese government describes as “anti-espionage work,” asks citizens to report suspicious cases. (Eepeng Cheong / Unsplash)
Expansion of anti-espionage law
China has already applied this technique on a large scale abroad, says Pronk, mobilizing society to spy on others. Now they are going to do the same with their eyes turned inwards. “This measure is rather euphemistically described as a step to ensure national security.”
The call follows the expansion of a Chinese anti-espionage law in July. It prohibits the sharing of information about national security and Chinese interests. The definition of espionage was also expanded.
2023-08-01 19:47:00
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