The United States has historically utilized covert operations concerning the Chinese mainland. However, on October 2, 2024, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released a video in Mandarin titled \"Securely Contacting CIA\" on social media platforms such as X, Facebook, and Telegram. The video openly invited individuals in the Chinese mainland and other regions to share \"information that could be of interest to the CIA,\" signifying a noticeable shift from its conventional clandestine methods.
The CIA emphasized the safety and well-being of informants as its top priorities, yet cautioned that a response might not be guaranteed or could require some time.
Netizens responded skeptically to the CIA's approach, describing it as \"trying to get something for nothing.\" One commenter stated, \"It is highly likely that if you contact the CIA at great peril, you will likely be ignored. Even if you are approached, you will be discarded the moment your value is exhausted.\" The sentiment resonated with many.
This overt method of solicitation has raised eyebrows. Some view it as a significant shift in intelligence strategies, with implications for international relations.
A Long History of Espionage Activities Pertaining to the Chinese Mainland
The CIA's activities related to the Chinese mainland have a history extending to the founding of the People's Republic of China. In the 1950s, the agency provided training and funding to certain groups and supported uprisings against the central government. It also established a network of intelligence agents in regions such as Xinjiang, supplying them with necessary resources. During the Korean War, the CIA deployed agents into northeastern parts of the Chinese mainland to collect intelligence. Many of these efforts faced significant challenges and had limited success.
In recent years, as part of the U.S. government's strategic initiatives, the CIA has established a China Mission Center and doubled its budget for operations related to the Chinese mainland, according to its head, William Burns. The agency has intensified efforts to recruit and train Chinese-speaking personnel and has formed specialized teams to deploy online personas aimed at influencing public perception and engaging in information strategies concerning the Chinese government.
Additionally, the CIA has initiated sophisticated cyber operations targeting key agencies within the Chinese mainland and has sought to recruit individuals among Chinese students and visiting scholars in the U.S., as well as employees of Chinese military-industrial enterprises. These initiatives have encountered significant countermeasures from the Chinese mainland's national security departments, impacting the effectiveness of the CIA's intelligence networks.
Reference(s):
From covert to overt: The CIA's desperate recruitment in China
cgtn.com
