China has sharply condemned the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for releasing two Chinese-language videos aimed at recruiting Chinese officials as spies. The videos, circulated on social media platforms, were denounced by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian as a “blatant political provocation.”
At a regular press briefing on May 6, Lin accused the United States of long engaging in “despicable tactics” to steal state secrets, meddle in other nations’ internal affairs, and undermine foreign governments. He called the CIA’s latest outreach campaign “yet another piece of self-incriminating evidence” of these efforts.
“The U.S. not only maliciously slanders and attacks China, but also openly lures Chinese citizens into betrayal—directly targeting government personnel,” Lin said. “This constitutes a serious violation of China’s national interests.”
He emphasized that China would take all necessary steps to “resolutely combat infiltration and sabotage activities by anti-China forces abroad” and “firmly defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
The two three-minute videos released by the CIA are titled “Reasons to Cooperate: Become the Master of Your Fate” and “Reasons to Cooperate: Create a Better Vision.” The first depicts a high-ranking Chinese official suffering from anxiety during a banquet amid perceived internal crises within the Communist Party. The second attempts to appeal to lower-level bureaucrats with limited career prospects.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe expressed confidence that the videos would break through China’s digital censorship infrastructure — often referred to as the “Great Firewall” — and reach their intended audience. The CIA has also established anonymous hotlines to encourage Chinese nationals to share intelligence.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 6, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202505060292.aspx