China has condemned a series of recruitment advertisements released by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that target disillusioned Chinese officials, describing the initiative as a “naked political provocation.” The remarks came from Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, who emphasized that the U.S. is not only damaging China’s reputation but is also actively working to lure Chinese personnel to share classified information. This overt appeal, he suggested, specifically targets officials within the Chinese government.
Last week, the CIA unveiled several Mandarin-language videos on social media aimed at enticing Chinese officials to assist the United States. CIA Director John Ratcliffe highlighted the videos as part of a broader strategy, stating that they represent “one of many ways that we’re adjusting our tradecraft at the CIA.”
Lin criticized the U.S. for employing “various despicable methods” to acquire secrets and meddle in other nations’ domestic affairs, arguing that the CIA’s recruitment efforts further illustrate this pattern. “The videos released by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency on social media are another self-confession with solid evidence of this,” he asserted, making it clear that such actions would not go unchallenged by Beijing.
The ongoing tensions between the United States and China have been marked by mutual accusations of espionage. Recent incidents include allegations by Chinese security officials that three U.S. agents were implicated in cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games held in Harbin earlier this year. Additionally, in March, it was reported that China sentenced a former engineer to death for leaking state secrets to a foreign power, highlighting the severity of Beijing’s stance against espionage.
In response to the CIA’s recruitment campaign, China has vowed to implement “necessary measures to resolutely crack down on the infiltration and sabotage activities of foreign anti-China forces.” Lin stressed the country’s commitment to firmly safeguarding its national sovereignty, development, and security interests, signaling that Beijing is prepared to take significant actions to counter perceived threats from foreign entities.
