CIA Makes New Push To Recruit Chinese Military Officers as Informants (reuters.com) 72
An anonymous reader shares a report: Just weeks after a dramatic purge of China's top general, the CIA is moving to capitalize on any resulting discord with a new public video targeting potential informants in the Chinese military. The U.S. spy agency on Thursday rolled out the video depicting a disillusioned mid-level Chinese military officer, in the latest U.S. step in a campaign to ramp up human intelligence gathering on Washington's strategic rival.
It follows a similar effort last May that focused on fictional figures within China's ruling Communist Party that provided detailed Chinese-language instructions on how to securely contact U.S. intelligence. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that the agency's videos had reached many Chinese citizens and that it would continue offering Chinese government officials an "opportunity to work toward a brighter future together."
It follows a similar effort last May that focused on fictional figures within China's ruling Communist Party that provided detailed Chinese-language instructions on how to securely contact U.S. intelligence. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that the agency's videos had reached many Chinese citizens and that it would continue offering Chinese government officials an "opportunity to work toward a brighter future together."
That is one (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This is psyop to sell the American people that China is not in a happy place and that the armed services are demoralised.
You don't start a spy recruitment campaign by advertising it to the host.
Besides, USA and PRC are continuously trying to recruit in each others countries, just like the other major powers.
Re: (Score:2)
I suspect that most of the people the video is "reaching" are passing it around for laughs. The Chinese people are no more stupid than people in the rest of the world, unfortunately the Ivy League elites that the Company consistently recruit for management positions will never believe it.
Not very subtle (Score:2)
This sort of thing used to be done very subtly...it's generally not good practice to let your adversaries know you're actively recruiting fired subordinates, lest those subordinates "commit suicide."
Re: Not very subtle (Score:5, Insightful)
Demoralizing your enemy by making him more concerned about looking over his shoulder than paying attention to you is not a bad strategy.
Re: Not very subtle (Score:5, Interesting)
Correct. Xi is already hyperparanoid. Nobody in the PLA command structure is truly safe. Sowing a little discord could be advantageous.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It's also CYA for CIA recruiters, they can claim that they're recruiting people hand over fist and just plug ChatGTP into the other end of their "secure" connection. Meanwhile most of the people actually replying to the ads will be deliberately feeding them disinformation by the truckload, with CPC approval. Look for intel out of Langley to get even more disconnected from reality than it is already.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You forget how bush-league is this alleged administration. They don't attract the top talent who know better than to work for bunch of numpties and knobs.
Re: (Score:3)
This sort of thing used to be done very subtly...it's generally not good practice to let your adversaries know you're actively recruiting fired subordinates
Depends on the goal.
lest those subordinates "commit suicide."
Sometimes that kind of destablization is the goal.
The Donald Trump Clown Car (Score:4, Insightful)
Nobody with the least bit of common sense would undertake anything that entails any kind of risk and assume that anyone involved in the current administration and management of the United States would be remotely capable of protecting their identity, let along doing the right thing.
The good and trustworthy people are all long gone. And it'll take decades to rebuild, assuming it can be done at some point in the future.
Re:The Donald Trump Clown Car (Score:4, Interesting)
Anyone remember that time that Hillary Clinton leaked the IDs of CIA spies in China to China and the CPC executed them all?
No, because it didn't happen. There is no public record, evidence, or official accusation from the FBI, CIA, or Department of Justice linking her to that specific intelligence failure. Also, I think you meant the CCP instead of the CPC, but hey, gaslight on!
Re: (Score:2)
Also, I think you meant the CCP instead of the CPC
There are many issues with the post you're responding to, but that isn't one of them. The ruling political party of China refers to itself as the "Communist Party of China" in English.
Re: (Score:2)
I stand duly corrected. Have been playing too much EVE Online probably :)
Re: The Donald Trump Clown Car (Score:2)
They refer to themselves In both ways but it's abbreviated, CCP.
I live in changshu China and it's better than dealing with you lot.
The alchol is cheap, as God intended. Giddy up, this is the year of the horse.
Re: (Score:2)
The Year of the Drunken Horse.
GOT IT!
Re: (Score:2)
Trying to distract from the Jared-Kushner-is-a-foreign-asset news, I see.
The prolific Russian troll. (Score:2, Informative)
oh it's numbers guy. The prolific Russian troll.
Trying to distract from Trump being an asset of Putin?
Re: (Score:2)
How has the US treated people who helped it during the war in Afghanistan? The UK screwed many of the over, with promises to protect then or help them come to the UK not being upheld.
Re: (Score:2)
Pretty fucking messed up that they've stopped issuing those visas.
Re: (Score:2)
All I know is 2 of them work under me, and they're really good dudes.
They worked for the US in Afghanistan as high-end technical workers (both network engineers), and it's fucking nonsense that we have suspended issuing those visas.
When the Taliban took over, a lot of those people had to go to ground. They're still making it out of that country, and we do owe them something.
That we don't owe all of them something is no reason to declare that we ow
Re: (Score:2)
Nobody with the least bit of common sense would undertake anything that entails any kind of risk and assume that anyone involved in the current administration and management of the United States would be remotely capable of protecting their identity, let along doing the right thing.
What are you talking about? They're using Signal, what could possibly go wrong [wikipedia.org]?
But also: should you or any of your team be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.
Re: (Score:2)
Signal? Really? **sigh** We used to be the world's leader in technology.
Re: (Score:2)
Fortunately, we've got Claude and OpenAI to take the place of 'good and trustworthy' people!
It's not only the current administration, the back-stabbing and traitor-labelling has been going on for decades and will only get worse in the future. Now that spies don't use OTP or designated secure phones (everything's digital), nothing is secure. Only way to securely upload something to a three-letter agency would be to get a new laptop, do the upload, then smash it and then set it on fire, then more smashing (
Dangerous job under the current regime. (Score:5, Informative)
Around that time the CIA had dozens of informant captured and executed. [thehill.com]
So, I'd give it a few years. The current regime is probably going to take your details and sell the information back to China after the next presidential election.
Re: (Score:2)
China already has my information from the OPM cyber attack years ago. You can't sell them so wing they already have.
The comment you're replying to isn't referring to information that China has, it's specifically referring to the topic of the post -- former Chinese generals that the U.S. hasn't recruited yet. Since the U.S. hasn't recruited these individuals yet, it's by definition, information China doesn't yet have.
You are not very smart and need to work on your reading comprehension before sharing your thoughts 3
death wish (Score:4, Insightful)
Anyone would be a fool to think that their identity as an informant would be safe with the US government.
The CIA Tried this with the Soviet Union... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
And just a few years ago, Chinese agencies compromised a CIA communication systems and obtained a list of spies working for the US. They were all arrested and imprisoned and executed. I don't know if you can call it "murder" when high treason is the one crime that still carries a death penalty even in countries like Australia that are mostly opposed to capital punishment.
Re: (Score:1)
high treason is the one crime that still carries a death penalty even in countries like Australia that are mostly opposed to capital punishment
Australia doesn't have the death penalty for anything.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't know if you can call it "murder" when high treason is the one crime that still carries a death penalty even in countries like Australia that are mostly opposed to capital punishment.
Incorrect.
The Commonwealth abolished capital punishment in the 70s, the last of the individual States the following decade.
Out of curiosity, what led you to say such a thing?
Re: (Score:2)
I thought there was some technicality that meant that the abolition of the death penalty didn't apply to treason. Back in 2001 when Australian man David Hicks was captured apparently fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan, there were plenty of Australians calling for him to be charged with treason so he could face the death penalty. I guess they were all misinformed?
Re: (Score:2)
I guess they were all misinformed?
Probably.
People like to act like terrible civics and geography education are American diseases, but really they're universal.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, the Chinese military aren't that stupid. Being purged is unpleasant, but being executed is worse. And your children will probably be punished too.
Re: (Score:2)
A USA spy for the Soviet Union gave the entire list of soviet spies to them. All of them were murdered or died in a gulag.
His name was Aldrich Ames [wikipedia.org]. He recently died [brave.com] (in prison).
Re: (Score:2)
Another gave a partial list to Israel, which sold it to the Soviets in exchange for releasing some Jewish criminals and allowing to emigrate.
Don't need a video to recruit US Spies (Score:2)
Just watch a few white house briefings, that should be enough.
How long will the military stand by while Trump sits on his golden loo, shits on the American people and wipes his arse with constitution?
Re: (Score:2)
How the fuck are you better than your average MAGA shit-for-brains? Fucking hell.
Re: (Score:2)
Clue's in the title mate, "spies", your mind leapt to military coup.
And mind your language, mum taught you better than that.
There is a lot more honour in the US military than there is in the white house at present. You could be thankful they are sworn to protect the constitution specifically against tyrants. If your man Trump turns out to be a tyrant, then yes, it would be right and constitutional for a military intervention. I doubt the world would complain much, many would be cheering and feel safer.
I
Re: (Score:2)
Mine was a speculative question, I refer you to my comments above.
And you sound scared. Guess I would be too if I was living in your country as we view it from the outside. Poor education, low moral standards, politically polarised, huge wealth inequality and lots and lots of guns. Volatile situation. You have my sympathy. I wish you peace.
Simple Offer (Score:2)
3,500 Yuan and tickets to Macua in exchange for any salacious info on Pooh Bear.
#1 biggest vulnerability (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
You're about three decades out of date.
This is not the funny you were looking for? (Score:2)
The joke I was seeking would have been something about the risk/reward balance for any member of the Chinese military who cooperated. I'm unable to figure out what rewards the CIA can offer to offset the risks of getting executed. Happens even at the top of the chain of command in China...
Golden opportunity for the Chinese (Score:2)
to plant their disinformation of choice into the American intelligence network. Usually you want to STFU about recruiting asserts.
Meanwhile in China (Score:2)
Who's the anonymous asshat? (Score:1)
Seriously? What traitor posted this?
like the recruitment posters of bygone days (Score:2)
Uncle Sam wants you. And Yiu. No, not chu. Tsu is the guy we want. Hold off on that press release. There are a few typos we need to straighten out first. Bad enough we got ICE scaring away fifth graders..