MWE Correspondent
China has issued a stern warning to the United States, declaring it will take “all necessary measures” in response to what it describes as espionage and infiltration activities by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The sharp rebuke comes after the CIA released Mandarin-language recruitment videos aimed at encouraging Chinese officials to share state secrets. These videos, part of a broader human intelligence campaign, portray alleged dissatisfaction among Chinese civil servants with the country’s political system.
According to U.S. officials, the digital campaign seeks to attract intelligence sources within countries like China, Iran, and North Korea, where U.S. access is often limited. The videos, circulated on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), include instructions for securely contacting the CIA via the dark web.
In a formal statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian condemned the campaign. “We strongly oppose and condemn this type of political provocation,” he said. “China will take all necessary actions to counter infiltration and sabotage and to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
Beijing’s reaction underscores rising tensions between the two powers, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering. Over the past decade, China has worked to rebuild its domestic counterintelligence systems following reports that dozens of CIA assets were neutralized in a security breach.
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The latest CIA campaign follows similar efforts dating back to 2024 and reflects renewed attempts to exploit what analysts say is growing internal discontent within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP, led by President Xi Jinping, has launched extensive anti-corruption campaigns that may have caused unease among some party officials and bureaucrats.
China’s concerns are not new. The Ministry of State Security—the country’s main intelligence agency—has consistently warned citizens about foreign intelligence recruitment and has run its own national security awareness campaigns urging loyalty and vigilance.
While it remains unclear how effective the CIA’s digital outreach will be, observers note that China’s Great Firewall and state surveillance apparatus make it exceptionally difficult for citizens to access or respond to such calls without detection.
The standoff highlights the broader rivalry between China and the United States that extends beyond trade and geopolitics into the clandestine world of intelligence.
