China's intelligence chief promises to organize a "powerful offensive" to combat espionage as China faces a barrage of espionage accusations from Europe and the United States, UNN reports citing Bloomberg.
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The country should "continue to carry out counterintelligence operations and improve the mechanism for coordinating counterintelligence work," State Security Minister Chen Yixing wrote Monday in Study Times, the official newspaper of the Communist Party. China must "resolutely pull out the 'nails' and destroy the traitors," he said in a front-page article.
The high-profile article was published a week after six alleged Chinese spies were arrested in Europe, complicating Beijing's efforts to reset ties with the European Union. The United States and the United Kingdom have also recently accused state-backed Chinese hackers of attacking politicians, companies, and dissidents.
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Beijing itself has stepped up its efforts to combat espionage and last year passed a new law on counterintelligence. This law expands the list of activities that can be considered espionage, increasing the risks for foreign firms.
Chen also pledged to step up propaganda efforts around the ministry's activities. The normally secretive spy agency has gained a more public status as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his entourage emphasize the need for better public education on national security issues.
Since joining WeChat last summer, the ministry has frequently posted messages on social media revealing cases of alleged espionage by the United States and Britain amid a strategic struggle with Washington and its allies, the publication points out.