Recently, the formerly elusive Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) State Security Department has been stepping into the spotlight more frequently. On September 19th, the CCP State Security Department issued a warning to overseas students, advising them to “beware of foreign spy agencies attempting to recruit and turn them” and cautioning that students studying abroad may be targeted for recruitment, leak sensitive information, and data. Overseas experts have pointed out the CCP’s hypocrisy in playing the victim. Analysts believe that the increasing sense of crisis within the CCP indicates that some students studying abroad are already leaning towards anti-communist sentiments without the need for recruitment.
As the new academic year begins, many Chinese students are heading to foreign universities to further their studies. On September 19th, the CCP State Security Department released a statement emphasizing that foreign spy agencies may focus on recruiting and turning overseas students, urging students to be cautious in their interactions and activities while abroad.
Wang Xiaowen, Assistant Researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, noted in an interview with a media outlet that the CCP is concerned that Chinese youth studying abroad may be tempted to collect Chinese intelligence for foreign countries. This highlights the CCP’s understanding that, in a situation where foreigners are less willing to enter China, Chinese students studying abroad represent one of the best channels for foreign countries to gather Chinese intelligence.
“It also shows that the CCP is currently feeling insecure and lacks confidence. Particularly, with young Chinese individuals facing an uncertain future in China, the CCP’s sense of crisis is on the rise.”
The CCP State Security Department claims that foreign spy agencies may engage in “coercive cooperation” with students upon entry into the country, planting contraband in students’ luggage, or attempting to extract sensitive information and data related to China through socializing or academic collaborations.
Wang Xiaowen remarked that it seems the CCP is indeed well-versed in how to recruit foreign students as spies. However, this is a case of the CCP playing the victim, as Chinese students often engage in espionage by stealing sensitive foreign technologies and data.
She believes that from the CCP State Security Department’s “warning,” it shows their sense of complacency regarding their own technological development. Instead of Chinese students stealing foreign sensitive technologies and data, they are concerned about foreigners exploiting Chinese students to steal their own technologies and data. However, “in reality, which Chinese technologies and data are worth collecting for foreign countries? Whom should be cautious of contact? The CCP hasn’t made it clear. Just like their ‘preparedness’ slogans, it’s used to increase internal unity and tension for authoritarian rule.”
Political commentator Li Linyi also expressed to the media outlet that while some students studying abroad have been used by the CCP as spies, the fact that the CCP is now concerned about students being recruited by others shows how fragile the regime is.
Li Linyi stated that in fact, some Chinese students studying abroad don’t need to be recruited; they discover the truth themselves, understand the nature of the Communist Party, and actively turn against it.
Historically, the CCP has taken advantage of opportunities for talent exchange and cooperation with American universities and enterprises, vigorously promoting the “civil-military integration policy.” At least 50 Chinese universities have joined the “civil-military integrated strategic collaboration plan,” establishing “civil-military integrated strategic research centers” or “civil-military integrated research institutes.” Western countries are concerned that sensitive technologies in aerospace, quantum computing, biology, and hypersonic weapons have become targets for espionage by individuals under the guise of students or scholars.
In January 2023, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated on the Hudson Institute website in a video that thousands of Chinese students enter American universities or colleges each year, which is a good thing. However, the Chinese Communist Party has undermined these academic exchanges. “It attempts to use students who come here to study, occasionally sending spies alongside them.”
Pompeo also mentioned that the CCP consulates in the U.S. engage in blatant coercion and intimidation through CCP-controlled campus organizations, while also controlling and intimidating Chinese students within the United States.
Since November last year, there have been continuous reports of Chinese students being denied entry or deported when heading to the U.S., mostly those with a background in science and technology. The Biden administration is increasing scrutiny and preventive efforts against CCP influences in the civil society sector.
The CCP State Security Department’s aforementioned article concludes by invoking the “Counter-Espionage Law,” threatening that individuals engaged in activities harmful to national security must “truthfully explain” to relevant CCP authorities promptly, and individuals with repentant behavior may not be pursued. In case of recruitment, they are urged to “report” to the CCP authorities.
On February 7th this year, the CCP State Security Department published a case study: “Zhang, a graduate from a foreign university, was recruited by foreign spy agencies to engage in espionage activities during his studies abroad and was lawfully dealt with.”
However, the CCP’s threats may have backfired, as more and more Chinese youth are choosing to escape the CCP during their studies abroad.
According to data provided by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to the Sydney Morning Herald, in the five years ending June this year, 3,555 Chinese students have applied for asylum.