• China is using fake consulting firms, social media, and professional networking sites like LinkedIn to recruit current and former U.S. officials as spies, targeting those with security clearances or financial struggles.
• Sophisticated tactics include lucrative job offers, promises of quick payments, and covert online recruitment, with cases like Navy Chief Petty Officer Thomas Zhao demonstrating the risks.
• The FBI warns these efforts threaten U.S. national security and economic stability, urging individuals to stay vigilant and safeguard classified information.

China is ramping up efforts to recruit current and former U.S. officials as spies, using covert tactics like fake consulting firms, headhunters, and think tanks, according to a recent federal counterintelligence warning. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) revealed in a one-page advisory that Chinese agents are leveraging professional networking sites and social media to lure individuals with sensitive government experience.

The FBI, which leads domestic counterintelligence, reaffirmed this concern. On X (formerly Twitter), the bureau posted: “China and other foreign intelligence entities are targeting former and current U.S. government employees on social and professional networking sites.”

Sophisticated Recruitment Techniques

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Chinese intelligence entities, particularly the Ministry of State Security (MSS), are employing increasingly sophisticated methods. These include lucrative job offers, flattery, and promises of quick payments. For example, Navy Chief Petty Officer Thomas Zhao was recruited via a stock trading group on social media. In exchange for over $14,000, Zhao handed over sensitive U.S. military data, including photos and documents about radar systems and Pacific military exercises — a treasure trove for China’s military.

Even platforms like LinkedIn are being exploited. A study cited by former Defense Intelligence Agency specialist Nicholas Eftimiades showed that the MSS conducted 20,000 online recruitment attempts in Britain, 4,000 in France, and 10,000 in Germany. These “offers” often start subtly, with promises of paid consultancies or free trips to China, but quickly escalate into demands for classified information.

U.S. Officials in the Crosshairs

Interestingly, the MSS targets those with security clearances, financial struggles, or valuable professional connections. Former and current officials working in defense, intelligence, and scientific sectors are particularly vulnerable. Even professional platforms like Bluesky have been used to recruit dismissed researchers from the National Institutes of Health, baiting them with career opportunities in Shenzhen, China.

A Broader Espionage Strategy

China’s recruitment isn’t limited to individuals. Think tanks, security firms, and political campaigns are being co-opted for intelligence efforts. For example, Chinese agent Christine Fang (aka Fang Fang) infiltrated U.S. politics under the guise of a student. She raised funds and built relationships with numerous politicians, including Eric Swalwell and Tulsi Gabbard, impacting policy and national security.

Implications for National Security

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China’s whole-of-society espionage approach is a critical element in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war. Experts warn it threatens the global balance of power, U.S. economic stability, and foreign policy development. The FBI’s new leadership, under Director Kash Patel, has promised reforms but said little about counterintelligence. With growing concerns over Chinese espionage, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing has even advised Americans to sever personal ties with Chinese nationals.

Your Role in the Fight

Former officials are reminded of their legal obligation to safeguard classified data even after leaving government roles. Be cautious of job offers promising high pay for limited work or requests for non-public information. Protecting national security requires vigilance from every individual.

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