In a world where a seemingly harmless USB flash drive left in a parking lot or casual chats with charming “friends” on social media could be more than meets the eye, it has been revealed that these interactions are actually real tactics used by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spies.
An intelligence expert has issued a warning that for every 10 employees hired by Western security agencies, the CCP may have employed around 1,000 individuals — a staggering figure attributed largely to the extensive use of overseas Chinese diaspora by Beijing.
Paul Johnstone, who first joined the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 1985 before moving on to the Australian Federal Police, shared his experiences from his time in China during the early 2000s. He had initially believed that China would become a friend to the West, only to realize later the looming threat the CCP posed to sovereignty and future of nations.
Johnstone, who has visited China over 30 times and lectured at universities across China and Southeast Asia, recounted an alarming incident involving a U.S. pharmaceutical company in Queensland that had patented technology for heart surgery stents.
During a discussion on the company’s security protocols with executives, he questioned whether they had visited China and if they had taken their laptops with them. The response that they had indeed taken laptops prompted Johnstone to caution them that the CCP likely had access to at least half of their intellectual property. This led to politicians visiting China or Taiwan being advised to use disposable phones that they could discard upon leaving.
Johnstone further inquired if any Chinese delegations had visited their offices, to which the executives revealed multiple visits. When asked if any USB flash drives were found in the parking lot after these visits, they confessed to discovering several.
Explaining the insidious nature of such devices, Johnstone warned that picking up and connecting an unknown USB could introduce a Trojan horse into their systems, potentially compromising sensitive information.
Additionally, the company had a sterile production area where photography was strictly prohibited. Upon further inquiry, it was revealed that a Chinese delegation had taken photos in that room, claiming a language barrier prevented them from understanding the rules.
Johnstone estimated that at least three out of the 11-person delegation were likely not genuine employees but operatives from the Ministry of State Security (MSS) — the CCP’s primary spy agency.
As Johnstone disclosed this information, MI5 had recently warned British political figures of CCP intelligence agencies posing as recruiters targeting individuals working in parliament. Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, circulated this warning among members, emphasizing the relentless efforts by CCP personnel to interfere with democratic processes and influence parliamentary activities.
He specifically mentioned two female headhunters engaging extensively on LinkedIn to serve the CCP’s interests.
Johnstone also highlighted numerous instances in Australia where individuals were targeted with honeytrap schemes, with government officials and defense personnel being among the prime targets due to their backgrounds. He stressed the importance of Australians being cautious about sharing their information online, especially on platforms like LinkedIn and social media.
Not only were CCP operatives interested in stealing government, military, or commercial secrets, but they also sought to manipulate individuals into writing commentary on topics like Australia’s stance on the Beijing Olympics to gain insights into government policies.
Johnstone urged Western countries, including Australia, to wake up to the threats posed by the CCP. Despite some governments in Southeast Asia and the Pacific accepting Beijing’s financial support, the general sentiment among locals towards the CCP was far from optimistic.
Having traveled to countries like Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Solomon Islands, Johnstone noted a prevalent distrust and dislike towards the CCP among the local populations.
He cautioned against Australia’s overreliance on China as a major export market, emphasizing the need to diversify to prevent being held hostage economically. The current diplomatic stance of cooperation where possible and disagreement where necessary with Beijing was deemed inadequate by Johnstone, who criticized it as a cop-out in the face of dealing with the CCP’s aggressive tactics.
In conclusion, he called for a more proactive approach in safeguarding national interests and avoiding entrapment by CCP operatives who employ various strategies, including the use of technology and social engineering to advance their agenda.