Protection systems do not exclude anyone .. What you should know about the new regulations to combat espionage in China

Beijing has become frankly dealing with its security concerns, amid escalating tensions with the United States and its allies over many issues, and official warnings have been issued that the rivalry between the two countries could lead to threats to political stability in Beijing, the latest of which was a few months ago by Jiu Xing Kun, head of security in the Communist Party. .

In an internal speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping to security officials in 2014, he warned that Western countries are intensifying their efforts to Westernize and “divide” China, according to a book published by official newspapers last year, and the reason is that Western countries felt bitterness about the increasing global conditions in favor of China, as well as Shi said. Read also Some see it as a company of the poor, and US intelligence accuses it of espionage .. Has the United States decided to destroy Huawei?Through several means, including sex .. Axios: Chinese spies who penetrated American politics Between Israel, America and Russia .. Who owns the best missile defense systems in the world?The Times: How does the US avoid all-out war with China?

Today, Beijing is taking practical steps to counter “targeting China,” as it issued new anti-espionage regulations that allow the National Security Authority to list companies and organizations vulnerable to foreign infiltration and require listed entities to adopt security measures to prevent foreign infiltration.

According to a spokesman for the Ministry of National Security – whose identity was not revealed – the new regulations “came in response to the increase in infiltration and espionage operations, which were conducted in more diverse ways and against a greater number of sectors, which posed a serious threat to Chinese national security.”

Target sectors

The anti-espionage security work regulations, published on the official website of the Chinese Ministry of National Security, stipulate that the state security apparatus and government regulators in each sector bear the responsibility to establish a list of the main entities that must be monitored based on the nature of the entities, access to confidential information, exposure to external contact, and their record. With regard to state security.

Although these regulations did not specify which entities would be included in the list, similar documents previously issued at the provincial level refer to the inclusion of defense industries and scientific research institutes.

Chinese media also quoted government employees as saying that some ministries have strengthened anti-espionage security work for all individuals who travel abroad since 2019.

This requires – according to the regulations – security education to combat espionage before leaving on any foreign mission, and to conduct repatriation interviews at the borders for those on scholarships on short assignments or employees staying for long periods abroad.

Chinese media quoted national security and counterterrorism expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations Li Wei as saying that any company or institution within the scope of national defense, diplomacy, economics, finance and high-tech industry should be considered a key area in terms of potential foreign infiltration, which are the entities targeted by the new regulations. . Advertising

The regulations allow for the inclusion of social groups within the list, in order to take detailed measures against foreign espionage, and these categories are determined based on the level of secrecy involved in their work, the degree of their contact with foreign parties, in addition to their security record.

Control tools

The 2014 Anti-Espionage Law provides for adherence to the principles of combining open work with covert action, combining private work with the public line, active defense and punishment according to the law, but the new regulations place Chinese social groups, companies and public entities increasingly responsible for combating foreign espionage, and enhancing the enforceability of the laws. And the old regulations.

The new regulations – which Al Jazeera Net reviewed – allow the National Security Agency to conduct inspections and technical precautionary tests to combat espionage, to enter the relevant units and places to conduct technical inspections on the site, or to remotely verify, and to issue orders for correction within a period of time according to the law in case The existence of a security gap, and the deployment of special equipment and infrastructure – if necessary – to improve national security in these entities.

An investigation of criminal responsibility is required if agencies, groups, companies, institutions, and other social organizations and their employees fail to fulfill the responsibilities and security obligations to combat espionage in accordance with the regulations, and this leads to negative consequences or effects.

Analysts believe that Beijing wants to make commercial companies, universities, media, and think tanks more under government control to monitor and report the activities of Western operating entities, so that Chinese companies and entities – in addition to individuals – should strengthen the security protection responsibility system for countering espionage, in order to achieve full coverage of society. Entire in all areas in the fight against espionage.

A graph published by government media warned that foreign espionage operations may target everyone from government employees to university students to active young Internet users by resorting to soliciting money, friendship or “beauty”, which is what the new regulations indicate, and calling for combating it and addressing it by reporting. Prompt for any suspicion.

Chinese authorities have arrested a number of foreigners on charges of national security or espionage in recent years. “The Chinese government will continue to strengthen the national security system and build capacity, and make efforts to thwart, curb and punish all kinds of activities that endanger national security to support national sovereignty, security and development interests,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin during a press conference.