Thanks, I think, to a friend.
From Radio Free Asia via Eurasia Review, February 9:
Since China’s secretive spy agency — the Ministry of State Security — got itself a WeChat account, it has been churning out cautionary tales about spies as warnings to an unsuspecting public.
The account, set up in July 2023, was quiet at first, only publishing four warnings in all of last year. But it has stepped up activity in recent weeks, cranking out five warnings in January alone under the slogan “National Security is Everyone’s Responsibility.”
Recently, it warned people:
– not to get seduced by “tall, beautiful people”
– not to gossip carelessly when they travel home for Lunar New Year
– be aware that “foreign spies” could be reading their online comments and lurking on social media
“Foreign espionage agencies may actively connect with key target groups by disguising themselves as rich and beautiful, or tall, rich and handsome individuals,” the agency warned in a Jan. 16 post to its official WeChat account.
“Once a relationship is established, they may use the emotional connection to trick their targets into providing confidential information,” it said in a post titled, “Keep your eyes open, and build a Great Wall of Steel against espionage.”
Spooking foreign investors
The insistence that foreign spies are everywhere has spooked foreign investors in the wake of raids of foreign-owned firms and recent changes to national security legislation.Commentators say the warnings likely have more to do with political turf wars in Beijing and encouraging people to spy on each other than with any concerted public action against a possible threat from overseas.
Officials, scientists and college teachers and students are likely targets for seduction, brainwashing, bribery and coercion, especially anyone with access to confidential information, it said.
Foreign spies may “disguise themselves as considerate, caring and open-minded confidants,” or “lurk in chat rooms, online forums and other online platforms” to recruit people....
....MUCH MORE
Possibly related:
Honey Traps: Sex, lies, and spycraft.
Competitive Intelligence Macquarie Style: First Establish a Fake Family Office...
