China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) issued a sweeping public warning on Sunday, cautioning citizens about the increasingly deceptive and diverse tactics used by foreign intelligence agencies. The statement, released via the MSS’s official communication platform, outlines a range of disguises employed by foreign spies — from academics to romantics — and provides guidance on how the public can guard against inadvertently participating in espionage.
The alert comes amid intensifying global geopolitical competition and a rising number of security breaches linked to information leaks and unauthorized surveillance. The MSS’s warning is the latest in a series of campaigns aimed at fostering a national security-conscious culture among the general population.
According to the MSS, foreign operatives often assume identities that blend seamlessly into society. The disguises listed include roles such as scholars, businessmen, detectives, consultants, journalists, tourists, NGO staff, and even romantic partners. These personas are not only plausible but are often seen as benign or even beneficial, which is exactly what makes them dangerous.
“Spies from intelligence agencies may pose as detectives, scholars, businessmen, tourists, journalists, and NGO workers,” the statement says, “to approach relevant personnel and use various rhetoric traps to conduct activities that threaten state security.”
In one of the more concerning revelations, the MSS noted that foreign agents have been known to exploit digital platforms to establish romantic relationships with Chinese nationals — particularly students abroad — and then attempt to recruit them for espionage. The use of emotional leverage is a time-tested espionage tactic, but one that gains new potency in the age of online dating and global connectivity.
The MSS offered detailed examples of how these disguises play out in real-world scenarios:
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Detectives and Consultants: Spies may contact individuals under the pretense of verifying information or conducting a paid consultation. This often includes tasks like collecting data near sensitive military zones or querying individuals about high-tech developments.
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Academic Exchanges: Foreign operatives frequently infiltrate academic environments. Masquerading as scholars, they seek to build relationships with Chinese academics in order to extract classified knowledge or access core technologies. These individuals may offer lucrative research partnerships or exclusive conference invitations abroad — classic bait tactics designed to encourage information leakage.
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Business Deals: In the corporate world, espionage can come dressed in the form of investment or cooperative ventures. Wealthy “investors” may attempt to gain access to sensitive enterprises or government officials, offering monetary benefits or forming emotional bonds that compromise security.
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Tourists with an Agenda: Not all sightseers are innocent. According to the MSS, some so-called tourists carry out illegal mapping, use drones near sensitive areas, or take unauthorized photographs of military infrastructure. These acts are often disguised as a harmless fascination with Chinese geography or architecture.
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Romantic Entrapments: Foreign spies also target emotionally vulnerable individuals. The MSS warns that Chinese nationals studying abroad are especially susceptible to romantic recruitment. A seemingly caring partner may, over time, request small “favors” that lead to more serious compromises.
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NGO and Media Roles: Some spies enter China under the banners of non-governmental organizations or foreign media outlets. These individuals often claim to advocate for human rights, cultural exchange, or press freedom, but their real agenda may involve collecting intelligence or identifying government weaknesses.
To counter these threats, the MSS has issued a list of behavioral red flags for citizens to watch for:
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Requests to take photographs of specific, often remote, locations.
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Offers for part-time jobs that involve courier services or travel to unknown sites.
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Unusual questions about military, political, or high-tech subjects.
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Overly generous financial compensation for seemingly simple tasks.
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Persistent communication from foreigners, especially online acquaintances, that shifts toward secretive or exclusive interactions.
The Ministry also urged citizens to refrain from taking photos of classified locations or participating in surveys and consultations that touch on state secrets, military installations, or sensitive industries.
Wang Honggang, vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, emphasized the importance of balancing openness with security. “China is committed to expanding high-level openness and actively engaging in international exchanges and cooperation,” Wang said. “But to achieve this, it is vital to strengthen institutional safeguards against external risks.”
Wang advocated for a comprehensive legal framework and a well-functioning implementation system for foreign-related rule of law. This includes updating counter-espionage laws, enhancing public education on national security, and developing mechanisms to report and investigate suspicious activities.
In recent years, China has introduced amendments to its counter-espionage law and intensified the legal obligations for companies and individuals to report activities that may threaten national security. These legal tools are now being paired with public awareness campaigns to create a more robust national defense posture.
The timing of the MSS’s warning is notable. China’s relations with several Western countries — particularly the United States and its allies — remain strained amid tensions over trade, technology, and territorial disputes. Intelligence operations have become a core battleground in this new era of “gray zone” competition, where states vie for strategic advantage without resorting to open conflict.
Western intelligence agencies have also accused China of conducting aggressive cyber-espionage and influence campaigns abroad. In response, Beijing has tightened controls on information sharing, increased vetting for foreign NGOs and media, and called for greater self-reliance in key technology sectors.
The MSS’s latest statement fits within a broader narrative — one that frames national security not just as a state function, but as a societal responsibility. By emphasizing public involvement, Chinese authorities are seeking to build what they call a “People’s Defense Line,” integrating grassroots awareness with top-down enforcement.
While the security message is clear, the implications for foreign collaboration are more complex. Academic, business, and cultural exchanges form the bedrock of China’s global integration strategy. Excessive suspicion could threaten these ties, but unchecked openness could leave the country vulnerable.
The MSS statement explicitly states that the warning is not intended to discourage international cooperation. Instead, it urges greater discernment. “Security and openness are not contradictory,” the Ministry said. “They must be coordinated to ensure national development continues on a stable and secure path.”
As China accelerates its modernization and expands its global footprint, it finds itself increasingly targeted by foreign intelligence operations. The MSS’s detailed warning serves as both a deterrent to would-be spies and a call to action for the Chinese public. It underscores the evolving nature of espionage — less about trench coats and dead drops, more about LinkedIn connections, research collaborations, and subtle manipulation.
