China’s Ministry of State Security has issued a stark warning to its citizens: be wary of foreigners bearing smiles and sweet talk — they might be spies. In a social media post published Sunday, the country’s top intelligence agency listed a range of deceptive identities allegedly used by foreign intelligence operatives, from fake scholars and suspicious tourists to manipulative lovers.
“Don’t be fooled by sweet talk,” the ministry cautioned in the post, which is part of an ongoing public campaign to raise awareness about espionage threats. “Never disclose sensitive or classified information to them.”
The post outlined five common disguises reportedly used by foreign spies:
- Tourists who do not sightsee,
- Scholars who conduct no real research,
- Businesspeople who engage in no legitimate trade,
- Investigative consultants with no real investigations, and
- ‘Insincere lovers’ who exploit romantic relationships for intelligence gathering.
The ministry warned that foreign agents might target Chinese students studying abroad or online contacts by pretending to be like-minded friends or potential romantic partners — tactics aimed at building trust before extracting sensitive information.
The alert is part of a broader tightening of China’s national security posture. In recent years, the Chinese government has significantly ramped up its counter-espionage efforts, including the 2023 expansion of its anti-spying law, which broadened the definition of espionage and granted national security agencies greater investigatory powers.
The ministry’s latest post highlights a growing concern that foreign operatives could infiltrate key sectors by posing as academics seeking research collaboration, or as investors building ties with strategic industries. It claimed such individuals might offer financial incentives or personal favors in exchange for classified information or access to advanced technologies.
Ordinary citizens were also urged to be alert to suspicious behaviors, such as foreigners photographing sensitive areas or operating mapping equipment near military zones, and to report unusual encounters — including offers of seemingly innocent jobs like paid photography or data collection — that could be fronts for intelligence gathering.
The ministry’s message also follows recent reports of intensified espionage confrontations between China and other major powers. Earlier this year, Beijing strongly condemned CIA recruitment campaigns targeting Chinese officials, calling the agency’s public videos “provocative and dangerous.”
The Ministry of State Security’s warning serves both as a call to vigilance and a clear reminder of the Chinese government’s growing focus on internal security, particularly as it faces what it sees as mounting external threats to its technological and strategic assets.
