Fforeign spy They’re lurking everywhere! The Chinese government says so too.Officials were confused by this C.I.A.claimed last year that it was rebuilding its spy network in China, a decade after most of its sources disappeared. But China’s response appears to be defined more by paranoia than alarm. National Intelligence Agency, Ministry of National Security (M.S.S.), wants all citizens to be wary of spies.
To raise public awareness, the ministry launched an online comic called “Shingin Special Investigation Team.” According to Chinese spies, the movie is expected to feature some nail-biting action. The first installment, released on January 7, depicts the capture and interrogation of a blond man, seemingly a foreigner, who is suspected of violating the country’s anti-espionage laws.
We will also introduce you to the members of the Shenyin team. Among them are a tech geek named A Zhe (he wears glasses and enjoys bubble tea) and a martial arts master named Dan Dan (she’s a long-haired police officer). An agent named Lao Tan has 20 years of experience in the security field and an unspecified set of skills (we imagine they are very specific and a nightmare for certain people). ).
The first series ends with the team investigating suspicious activity in the Nishiyama mining area.by M.S.S.This story is inspired by a real counter-espionage case.
Intelligence agencies are working hard to help “the seeds of national security take root and sprout” in the minds of young people. Last year, the company joined the popular messaging app WeChat to share stories of sinister foreign spies operating there. Currently working on a manga. However, such propaganda efforts are typically met with indifference or even ridicule by their target audience due to their predictable themes and lack of subtlety.
Still, the cartoon has a purpose, reinforcing the impression that interactions between Chinese and foreigners will be viewed with suspicion by the government. Last year, it expanded anti-espionage laws to prohibit the transfer of information related to undefined national security or national interests. China’s European Chamber of Commerce cited uncertainty over the scope of the law as one of the reasons its members are losing confidence in China’s business environment.
Other moves by the government have also added to the frenzy. In 2015, authorities established a hotline for the public to report suspicions. Some local governments offer large rewards for reporting spying incidents. Several years ago, China established an annual National Security Education Day. However, according to M.S.S.the publication of the comic was timed to coincide with Police Day on January 10th.
For some Chinese people, the cartoon is valuable propaganda. Hu Xijin, one of the country’s most prominent nationalist commentators, wrote on social media that security agencies should talk more about the threat of espionage and highlight the cases they investigate. But he also warned that China should not go too far lest it cut itself off from the rest of the world. It’s “the same as not eating for fear of choking,” he says.■
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