Hong Kong: China continues to draw global scrutiny for what many nations describe as a vast and persistent espionage apparatus, bolstered by a tightly controlled surveillance state and supported by one of the world’s largest intelligence networks.
Although it’s difficult to quantify the exact number of agents working for China, a 2023 BBC report quoted a Western intelligence official estimating around 600,000 individuals involved in Chinese intelligence and security activities. These include formal agents, proxy organizations like the United Front Work Department (UFWD), and civilians who supply data to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The UFWD, often cloaked as “friendship associations,” is just one front for the CCP’s wider strategy of building a “community of common destiny.” All such entities ultimately report to the CCP and its leader, Xi Jinping.
At the core of China’s intelligence operations is the Ministry of State Security (MSS), established in 1983. The MSS oversees foreign and domestic intelligence, counterintelligence, and surveillance. Despite Beijing’s repeated denials, mounting evidence suggests Chinese espionage is extensive and deeply entrenched.
Global Incidents and Growing Concerns
In Germany, a recent case saw an aide to far-right lawmaker Maximilian Krah (AfD) accused of spying for Beijing. Identified as Jian G, the suspect allegedly passed more than 500 sensitive European Parliament documents to Chinese intelligence, monitored dissidents, and even posed as a government critic online to strengthen his cover.
China’s Foreign Ministry quickly rejected the allegations. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on April 30:
“The accusation of the so-called threat of ‘Chinese spies’ is groundless and ill-intentioned vilification. We urge Germany to stop smearing China.”
In the United Kingdom, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum revealed in August 2023 that the MSS had approached over 20,000 British nationals—mostly via LinkedIn—in an effort to recruit assets. Similar tactics have been reported in France and Germany, with tens of thousands of attempts documented.
The United States’ 2025 Annual Threat Assessment warned:
“Beijing will continue to expand its coercive and subversive malign influence activities… likely feeling emboldened as it uses AI to improve capabilities and avoid detection.”
China’s cyber-espionage is another growing concern. The report cited campaigns such as Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, aimed at compromising U.S. infrastructure and stealing intellectual property. Up to 80% of U.S. economic espionage cases in 2021 involved Chinese entities.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed the U.S. assessment as:
“An irresponsible, biased and scaremongering piece” that promotes a false “China threat” narrative.
Intelligence Failures and Countermeasures
Lapses in U.S. cybersecurity—such as the “Signalgate” leak—have raised alarms. Reports indicate China and Russia may have intercepted Signal messages revealing U.S. military plans in Yemen, undermining operational secrecy.
Amid job cuts in the U.S. tech sector, Chinese firms reportedly sought to recruit recently laid-off American workers—possibly targeting individuals with sensitive knowledge.
The CIA has responded with recruitment efforts of its own. In recent months, the agency released two Mandarin-language videos designed to encourage Chinese officials to share intelligence with the U.S., claiming:
“One of the primary roles of the CIA is to collect intelligence… by recruiting assets that can help us steal secrets.”
CIA officials assert the videos are breaching China’s firewall and reaching disaffected citizens.
Regional Escalation and Legal Ramifications
Chinese espionage has also been active across Asia:
- Philippines: A Chinese man was arrested with an IMSI catcher—a device used for phone surveillance—near key government sites ahead of national elections.
- South Korea: Its intelligence agency reported 11 incidents of Chinese nationals photographing sensitive facilities since June 2024.
- Taiwan: Officials say Chinese spies are deeply embedded across political and military sectors. Espionage arrests rose from 10 in 2022 to 64 in 2024. In March, President Lai Ching-te declared China a “foreign hostile power,” introducing harsher counterintelligence laws.
Meanwhile, China has hardened its internal security laws. On July 1, 2023, a revised Anti-Espionage Law took effect. The legislation broadens what can be considered espionage and allows Beijing to prosecute actions conducted abroad. For instance, a Japanese businesswoman was arrested in 2015 and sentenced to six years for sharing non-classified information about the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands while still living in Japan.
The law’s vague language means even collecting publicly available data could be deemed a threat to national security, potentially endangering foreign nationals visiting China.
In a rare move, the MSS recently briefed German diplomats and businesspeople on the law’s implications—highlighting the increasingly extraterritorial nature of China’s security posture.
Conclusion
As the global contest between democratic and authoritarian powers intensifies, espionage has become a central battleground. While China denies all wrongdoing, the growing number of credible international cases suggests a far-reaching and aggressive intelligence apparatus—one that blends traditional spycraft with digital manipulation, ideological outreach, and legal ambiguity.