China’s top intelligence agency has issued a warning targeting the courier industry, urging citizens to be vigilant when sending or receiving goods that could jeopardize national security. The Ministry of State Security’s recent alert comes amidst heightened efforts by Beijing to strengthen national security, particularly in the context of escalating tensions with the United States and its allies.
In a statement posted on its official WeChat account on Tuesday, the ministry emphasized that the courier industry plays a crucial role not only in economic and social development but also in safeguarding national security. The post highlighted that foreign intelligence agencies have increasingly exploited delivery channels to steal sensitive information in recent years. One case cited involved a Chinese citizen, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking classified documents to foreign spy agencies via a courier service.
This individual was apprehended following a report from another Chinese citizen who noticed the leak of “classified publications.” The ministry’s investigation revealed that the citizen had been recruited by foreign spies and had misused his position to access and distribute classified Chinese publications through courier services. The post, however, did not disclose which foreign country had recruited the person, the specific nature of the classified materials, the extent of the damage caused, or the timeline and location of these incidents.
In another instance mentioned, a foreign organization, under the guise of a research partnership, attempted to send a chemical powder to a Chinese research institution. The substance, which was later identified as a catalyst for hazardous chemical experiments, could have posed significant risks to key research projects had it been successfully delivered.
The post refrained from identifying the country involved in this incident or specifying the time and place. Additionally, the ministry cited further cases where “foreign organizations and individuals” sent invasive species such as red-eared slider turtles, snapping turtles, and American bullfrogs into China via mail, presenting serious threats to the nation’s biological and ecological security, as well as to public safety.
China has increasingly prioritized national security, with Communist Party leaders emphasizing the importance of this drive during the third plenum in July. The Ministry of State Security’s warning also aligns with the intensifying strategic rivalry between China and the Western nations, led by the United States, across various sectors, including technology and trade.
In the past year, Beijing has broadened the scope of espionage and enhanced the investigative authority of national security agencies under its counter-espionage law. The Chinese government views national security not only through the lens of traditional military and territorial defense but also in terms of political stability, economic security, social order, technological sovereignty, and environmental sustainability.
The rivalry between China and the United States, along with its allies, has roots in both historical and contemporary geopolitical dynamics. This competition spans economic, military, technological, and ideological domains, shaping global politics in the 21st century.
After the Cold War, the U.S. emerged as the dominant global power, while China began its rise as an economic powerhouse. The U.S. initially viewed China as a potential partner, particularly as China opened up its economy and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. However, as China’s economic and military power grew, so did concerns in Washington and among U.S. allies about China’s intentions and its impact on the existing international order.
Over the past few decades, China has experienced rapid economic growth, becoming the world’s second-largest economy. This economic power has been accompanied by significant military modernization, with China expanding its influence in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The U.S. and its allies began to see China as a strategic competitor, leading to a shift in policies aimed at containing China’s rise.
Due to this the Chinese government seeks to protect its sovereignty, maintain social order, and ensure economic and technological resilience, while also positioning itself as a major global power. This competition not only challenges China’s economic and military capabilities but also threatens its technological advancement, diplomatic influence, and internal stability. These precautionary warnings sent by the Chinese government are to help navigate this complex rivalry, and risks posed by its strategic competition with the U.S. and its allies.
Furthermore, China’s recently revised law on safeguarding state secrets, which came into effect in May and represents the most significant overhaul in over a decade, prohibits the unauthorized transfer of state secrets outside the country. Violations of this law can lead to severe criminal penalties.
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