China warns students of risk of being lured by foreign intelligence

Chinese security agencies warn students studying abroad to be wary of the risk of being lured into foreign intelligence and leaking information.

In a post on its WeChat account on February 5, China's Ministry of State Security told the story of a student surnamed Zhang who won a place at a "top university" abroad despite failing China's college entrance exam in 2006.

After graduating, the student was “severely punished” for his involvement in the leak of Chinese scientific research. Chinese authorities did not say where or in which country Zhang studied, but said he joined an overseas Chinese student association and did so well that he caught the attention of a university official.

The official is said to have helped Zhang contact two foreign agents and persuaded him to provide intelligence on Chinese international students as well as other "sensitive information" in exchange for money.

China's Ministry of State Security said the agents pledged to help Zhang get a job at a research institute in China, even though Zhang did not have the right qualifications, and asked Zhang to help their colleagues gather information.

"Zhang ruined his own promising future" by being lured by foreign intelligence agencies and succumbing to the lure of money, China's Ministry of State Security said, warning students to be alert to national security risks and the hidden motives behind seemingly harmless interactions while studying and traveling abroad.

Headquarters of the Ministry of State Security of China. Photo: Wikidata — Headquarters of the Ministry of State Security of China. Photo: *Wikidata*

According to Chinese students who have been questioned, they were targeted because they studied sensitive science and engineering majors, or were potentially involved in Chinese government- backed China Scholarship Council programs.

China urges students not to panic and stay calm in such situations. If the question involves state secrets or internal Chinese information, the person being questioned must refuse to answer.

The Chinese government has increased its focus on national security risks in recent months, with the Ministry of State Security taking a more active role on social media to warn of threats from foreign agents.

Last year, State Security Minister Chen Yixin said the country must “actively defend” against foreign spies to strengthen national security and party leadership. The new counterintelligence law, which takes effect in July 2023, expands both the definition of espionage and the investigative powers of state security agencies.

According to China's Ministryof Education , more than 8 million students studied abroad from 1978 to the end of 2021, with the US, UK and Singapore being the most popular destinations.

Huyen Le (According to SCMP , Global Times )

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