The China Initiative aims to stop economic espionage. Is targeting academics over grant fraud ‘overkill’?
Washington PostAPR 20 2021
China Wednesday claimed foreign agencies were spying on its space program as a new "battlefield for military struggle" emerged. In an article posted on WeChat, the country's State Security Ministry said "some Western countries" deem China "a major competitor" in the space sector.
The ministry alleged that some countries had tried “infiltration and espionage activities,” including inducements, bribery, networking, or even coercion of Chinese researchers. It said they aimed to steal the country's cutting-edge aerospace technology and emphasized caution.The ministry alleged that these countries had tried “infiltration and espionage activities,” including inducements, bribery, networking, or even coercion of Chinese researchers. Emphasizing caution, it claimed they aimed to steal the country's cutting-edge aerospace technology.
The WeChat article reportedly accused these Western powers of all-out efforts to jeopardize China's aerospace operations. The country's security agencies have reportedly thwarted such attempts by foreign intelligence agencies and uncovered their illegalities.The WeChat article accused these Western powers of all-out efforts to jeopardize China's aerospace operations. The country's security agencies have reportedly thwarted such attempts by foreign intelligence agencies and uncovered such illegal activities.
Attempts to infiltrate its space program are a testament to both China's remarkable achievements and the challenges its technological sovereignty faces. Its steadfast security agencies have masterfully thwarted sophisticated espionage operations using robust countermeasures. Their effectiveness was notably demonstrated in recent cases where infiltration attempts were detected and neutralized.
China frequently conjures up omnipresent foreign spies lurking behind every corner of daily life: as photographers, lab workers, and even food delivery drivers. Its public spaces are plastered with warnings about espionage threats in everything from weather stations to mapping apps. No wonder then that it is drumming fears over its space program. Such paranoia risks hindering legitimate global engagement.