China's top intelligence agency has warned students who have access to sensitive information to be wary of “handsome men and beautiful women” who may only feign affection for them to trick them into spying for foreign entities, which would endanger national security, Reuters reported today, quoted by BTA.
The Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China today released on its public social media account “WeChat“ (“WeChat”) detailed warnings to students who, according to the ministry, can be manipulated into sharing information in many ways.
The ministry said state security services had found that officials of foreign espionage structures and intelligence agencies had carried out targeted courting and indoctrination of young students.
„They take advantage of the characteristics of young students' strong curiosity and desire to try new things,”, the statement said.
China has been cracking down on perceived threats to state security, issuing several warnings to citizens this year and publicizing cases of espionage it has uncovered.
Employees of foreign intelligence agencies are more specifically targeting students with access to classified and sensitive information. They posed as university researchers, employees of research institutions and consulting companies, Chinese intelligence said.
Agents of foreign organizations lure young students “with high-paying hourly opportunities in the name of market research and academic exchanges”, the warning added.
Once students show interest, according to Chinese intelligence, foreign agencies will provide so-called free training and guidance through social media, by phone or by video link. It is even possible that they mislead with “covering behind nice men and beautiful women who are affectionate and caring (and lead young students into the trap of love with insincere feelings).
The Chinese intelligence agency did not provide specific data on foreign companies that aimed to attract students. The agency could not be reached for immediate comment.