A little discontent in students over quota system in Bangladesh resulted into dismissal of the government of the day. Not only that, the Prime Minster had to flee the country in order to save her life. What happened in Bangladesh is not only their internal discontent but a larger international conspiracy. How a non violent student protest- despite their demands being excepted by the Bangladesh’s Supreme court- turned into a violent protest, and then into a regime change revolution. The main actors to it include different regional and global power, China being one of them.
Recently, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has to cut short her visit to china because as experts claim, she didn’t received necessary attention there. Also after coming back she decided to give the teesta river project to India. All this gives an extra reason to believe the Chinese hand.
China, as any other country does this pressure building, or arm twisting in other words, with help of its soft power which indeed is backed by Chinese intelligence setup.
In this article we’ll open up to you the Chinese Intelligence apparatus, their different agencies, their roles mandates etc. we will also cover the recent and notable operations of Chinese intelligence agencies and their region wise presence, interests and missions. Different Chinese intelligence arms include:
Ministry of State Security (MSS)
Mandates and Functions: The MSS, established in 1983, is China’s principal civilian intelligence agency. It is tasked with counter-espionage, foreign intelligence, and political security operations both domestically and internationally. The MSS operates under the National Intelligence Law of 2017, which grants it broad powers to conduct espionage, manage counterintelligence, and detain individuals suspected of state security crimes.
Areas of Operation: The MSS operates extensively within China and abroad, focusing on a range of activities from cyber espionage to human intelligence. It oversees operations involving surveillance, infiltration, and influence campaigns against foreign entities. The agency employs advanced technology and human assets to gather intelligence and disrupt perceived threats to Chinese national security.
Command Structure: The MSS is overseen by the State Council and operates under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It is structured into various departments, including the Central Investigation Department and espionage units within the Ministry of Public Security. The agency’s personnel are often recruited from prestigious institutions like Beijing University of International Relations, ensuring a highly skilled workforce.
Ministry of Public Security (MPS)
Mandates and Functions: The MPS is responsible for internal security, counterterrorism, and maintaining public order within China. It also plays a role in counterintelligence and coordinates with the MSS on various security operations.
Areas of Operation: Domestically, the MPS focuses on law enforcement, surveillance, and intelligence gathering related to internal threats. It has been involved in high-profile operations like Operation Fox Hunt, aimed at repatriating Chinese fugitives and dissidents abroad.
Command Structure: The MPS reports to the State Council and the Central Committee of the CPC. It operates through provincial and municipal public security bureaus across China, facilitating a wide-reaching network for internal security management.
Intelligence Bureau of the Joint Staff Department
Mandates and Functions: People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Intelligence, particularly the Intelligence Bureau of the Joint Staff Department, focuses on military intelligence, strategic reconnaissance, and defense-related espionage. The PLA also engages in cyber warfare and technological espionage through units like PLA Unit 61398 and other advanced persistent threat (APT) groups.
Areas of Operation: The PLA conducts intelligence operations globally, with a significant focus on the United States and other major powers. Its activities include hacking, signal intelligence (SIGINT), and human intelligence (HUMINT) to gain technological and military advantages.
Command Structure: The PLA intelligence units report directly to the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the CPC. These units are part of a hierarchical structure that integrates military strategy with intelligence operations, ensuring alignment with national defense objectives.
United Front Work Department
Mandates and Functions: The United Front Work Department (UFWD) conducts political influence operations, leveraging the Chinese diaspora and local elites in foreign countries to promote CPC interests. It also serves as a cover for intelligence operatives engaged in espionage and influence activities.
Areas of Operation: The UFWD operates internationally, using front organizations and state-owned enterprises to disguise its activities. It is particularly active in countries with significant Chinese communities and strategic interests.
Command Structure: The UFWD operates under the direct supervision of the CPC Central Committee. It coordinates closely with other intelligence and security agencies to ensure a unified approach to influence operations and intelligence gathering.
Significant Operations
Operation Fox Hunt: Launched by the MPS in 2014, Operation Fox Hunt targets Chinese fugitives and corrupt officials abroad. The operation aims to repatriate individuals accused of economic crimes and has involved extensive cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies.
“India Out” campaign in Maldives: The INDIA OUT campaign in the Maldives is a political movement expressing opposition to Indian influence in the country. Led by Presidential candidate Md. Muizzu and his supporters, the campaign criticizes the Maldivian government’s close ties with India, alleging undue interference and sovereignty concerns. The movement has sparked significant domestic and international debate. Eventually Md. Muizzu won the election on the same plank. It was a great intelligence win for China.
Cyber Espionage Campaigns: The PLA and MSS have been implicated in numerous cyber espionage campaigns targeting foreign governments, corporations, and research institutions. Notable examples include the activities of PLA Unit 61398 (APT1) and APT10, which have stolen vast amounts of sensitive information related to defense, technology, and trade secrets.
Influence Operations: The UFWD has conducted influence operations aimed at shaping public opinion and policy in favor of Chinese interests. This includes efforts to sway politicians, academics, and media narratives through covert and overt means.
Region wise operations
Asia: Asia is the highest point of concern for the PRC because it looks Asia as its backyard. In order to become a superpower the Dragon believes that a complete supremacy in Asian affairs will be required. This is the reason why a very large amount of intelligence operations are carried out by China in the Asian region particularly in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Between 2017 and 2023, China has been implicated in a series of espionage activities across multiple countries. In Cambodia, the advanced persistent threat (APT) group TEMP. Periscope targeted entities related to the 2018 general election, including spear-phishing Monovithya Kem of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. In Hong Kong, China has been accused of sending spies to harass dissidents and Falun Gong practitioners, and the Causeway Bay Books disappearances in 2015 were allegedly orchestrated by Chinese officials. India has faced various forms of Chinese espionage, including hacking campaigns targeting the Central Tibetan Administration, suspected spying through Chinese business establishments near military bases, and cyber-attacks on vaccine manufacturers in 2021. Indonesia reported Chinese underwater drones and hackers breaching government networks, while Japan identified the “Luckycat” hacker group, linked to Chinese state actors, targeting the country during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. In Kazakhstan, a former KGB agent was arrested for passing classified documents to Chinese spies. Chinese hackers were also linked to breaches in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Vietnam, targeting government agencies, military information, and economic sectors.
Europe or the EU: After Asia, EU becomes the main area of target for the Chinese espionage activities. The EU not only is the largest markets for the Chinese merchandise but also it is the home world’s most sophisticated technologies. The dragon hovers over the EU in search of trade as well as technological secrets. According to the cyber-security firm Area 1, hackers linked to China’s People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force breached the EU’s COREU network, stealing numerous low-classified documents and diplomatic cables. A 2019 European External Action Service report estimated around 250 Chinese spies operating in Brussels. In July 2021, the EU, along with NATO and Five Eyes nations, accused China’s Ministry of State Security of orchestrating several cyberattacks, including the 2021 Microsoft Exchange Server breach, primarily for intellectual property theft and espionage. Notably, Belgian ministers accused China of espionage in 2008, linking it to NATO and EU headquarters in Belgium. Further, Chinese students in Leuven were suspected of industrial espionage. In Denmark, Huawei was reported to have spied on TDC for a 5G contract. Estonia saw scientist Tarmo Kõuts convicted of spying for China in 2021. Finland, France, and Germany also reported multiple Chinese cyber-espionage incidents. Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and other European countries have faced similar espionage threats. Notably, in 2023, a British diplomat found a bug in a teapot gift from Chinese officials. Additionally, Chinese hackers targeted the Vatican’s networks in a sophisticated cyber-espionage campaign.
North America & other prominent targets: Chinese espionage activities have been prominent in Canada, the United States, and Oceania, focusing on both governmental and private sectors. While in the North American countries the Chinese operations are focused towards influence making, in countries like Australia and New Zealand they are again involved in espionaging the security and trade related secrets.
In Canada, numerous instances have involved politicians, journalists, and business figures, with allegations of ties to Chinese intelligence, including the arrest of Qing Quentin Huang in 2013 for sharing classified information. Espionage in the U.S. has a long history, targeting military and industrial secrets. High-profile cases include Dongfan Chung’s conviction in 1996 and multiple cyberattacks, such as the 2015 breach of the Office of Personnel Management affecting millions. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand have faced significant espionage threats. Australia witnessed cases like the hacking of national security research institutions and the blocking of Huawei from its National Broadband Network due to security concerns. New Zealand’s experiences include political interference and data collection on high-profile individuals by Chinese intelligence. These activities highlight the extensive and persistent nature of Chinese espionage across these regions, posing serious national security threats.
In addition these regions, Chinese intelligence operations are also being carried out in many African nations, South American countries, countries of Middle East Asia and also in the friendly countries like Russia. The expansionist and opportunist China renders no respect to the sovereignty of any nation state when it comes to the espionage by the Chinese agencies.
Conclusion :
China not only interferes in the internal matters or security apparatus or trade secrets, it also creates and lead many disinformation and misinformation campaigns in the target countries. Bangladesh is just an recent example. From Indian perspective the “India out” campaign in Maldives was also a glaring success of Chinese intelligence. It is the high time that world must recognize the dirty tactics of the Dragon and work jointly against it. India, in particular, should be more cautious and alert as they remain the only big challenger to the Chinese might in the Asian region.
