Monthly Archives: August 2025 - 3. page

Xinhua News Agency reported on August 15, 2025, that Xi Jinping, in line with a decision by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, appointed and dismissed 20 ambassadors. Major reshuffles took place in Cameroon, Guinea, Cape Verde, Comoros, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Burkina Faso, Jamaica, Barbados, and Thailand.

Many of the dismissed ambassadors were longtime associates of Wang Yi. For instance, Han Zhiqiang, recalled from Thailand, served as chief of staff when Wang Yi was foreign minister (2016–2018). Yan Xiusheng, removed from Barbados, had been the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) secretary at the Foreign Ministry from 2013 to 2018.

Several others were linked to Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) International Liaison Department (ILD). Foreign media reported that after Liu returned from visits to Singapore, South Africa, and Algeria on July 30, he was taken in for questioning in early August, and his residence was searched.

Those affected include Qian Naicheng, ambassador to Turkmenistan and longtime ILD official, and Zhang Jianwei, former ILD Middle East and North Africa Bureau director, who became China’s Ambassador to Kuwait in 2022 and was just now reassigned to Thailand. Also dismissed was Lu Shan, 54, ambassador to Burkina Faso and Liu Jianchao’s fellow Beijing Foreign Studies University alumnus, who had frequent ties with Liu at the Foreign Ministry.

Source: Epoch Times, August 15, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/8/15/n14574441.htm

China’s Ministry of State Security has disclosed that foreign intelligence agencies are attempting to exploit food delivery workers for espionage activities, taking advantage of their mobility, street knowledge, and flexible access to various locations.

The ministry revealed this warning through its official WeChat account on August 12, citing a recent incident involving a delivery worker named Wang. The case began when Wang received a suspicious order for pork knuckle rice, with pickup and delivery locations less than 800 meters apart. When the customer called demanding photos as “proof of delivery,” Wang became suspicious, especially since the delivery address was a classified sensitive facility with strict security protocols.

Despite Wang’s explanation that photography was prohibited near the classified unit, the customer persisted, offering additional payment for photos of the surrounding area. Wang’s vigilance led him to report the suspicious request to national security authorities.

Investigation revealed the customer had a personal dispute with an employee at the classified facility and was unaware of security requirements. However, security officials emphasized that this incident highlights a broader concern about foreign intelligence services potentially exploiting delivery workers’ unique advantages.

The Ministry outlined four warning signs delivery workers should watch for: unusual photography requests targeting specific buildings like research institutes or energy facilities; requests to carry non-food items such as USB drives or document bags; abnormal conversations aimed at gathering information about sensitive areas under pretenses of curiosity or research; and orders offering exceptionally high payments or tips for vaguely defined tasks.

This case underscores China’s ongoing concerns about espionage activities and the need for heightened awareness among workers who have regular access to various locations throughout cities.

Source: Sputnik News, August 12, 2025
https://sputniknews.cn/20250812/1066817314.html