Our allies have been accused of similar unscrupulous espionage and intelligence-gathering activities around the globe

  • The Chinese embassy in the UK.

The Chinese embassy in the UK strongly condemned the accusations, calling the allegation of Chinese espionage threats "entirely fabricated" and "malicious slander". They claim the Five Eyes members had also been engaged in such activities, pointing out the hypocrisy.

The Chinese embassy's response suggests a growing unease between China and the West regarding espionage activities. This is because the Five Eyes allies – Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, and New Zealand – issued a joint warning about Chinese spies infiltrating LinkedIn with fake profiles and job offers recently.

According to the agencies, Chinese spies have commissioned reports to be written by those they've approached, paying them anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, with payments sometimes made in cryptocurrency. This is just one of the tactics they use to recruit individuals.

“Military members may be asked about their roles and unit activities, home base or naval vessel,” the notice said. The Five Eyes agencies have identified individuals who have undertaken these activities, leading to criminal prosecutions, job losses, and security-clearance revocation.

The Five Eyes, which has its roots in US-UK cooperation during World War II, is one of the world’s most comprehensive spying alliances. The five anglophone nations give special access to each other’s intelligence and share information on security threats. They work closely together to counter common security threats.

According to the agencies, Chinese spies have targeted not only military personnel but also civilians, particularly those with access to classified information or working in the defence and foreign affairs sectors. People with more peripheral access to government information, such as academics, journalists, and think tank employees, were also being approached.

The notice warned that Chinese spies often use online job platforms and professional networking sites to pose as employees of private consultancies, think tanks, or human resources firms. They create fake profiles and use these platforms to gain the trust of their targets.

The agencies have identified several instances where individuals have been recruited and provided with sensitive information by Chinese spies. In one case, a military member was asked about their unit activities and home base, while another was offered a job at a private consultancy with ties to the Chinese government.

Warning Signs of Chinese Espionage

The joint warning from the Five Eyes allies has highlighted the increasing use of online platforms by Chinese spies to recruit assets. Chinese spies often use fake profiles and job offers to gain the trust of their targets. The agencies have identified several warning signs of Chinese espionage, including the use of aggressive online recruitment strategies and the commissioning of reports from unsuspecting individuals.

The notice urges individuals with security clearance to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. This is essential in preventing Chinese espionage and protecting national security.