The recent arrest of an assistant to German MEP Maximilian Krah, who is a main candidate for the far-right AFD party in the upcoming elections for the Strasbourg assembly, has brought attention to Beijing’s extensive intelligence operations in Western countries. This unofficial espionage work has been facilitated by a 2017 law that requires all Chinese citizens living abroad to cooperate by providing information to their home country. This law allows Beijing to explicitly request collaboration from Chinese citizens and companies in gathering intelligence.
According to Cyber Security expert Antonio Teti, author of ‘China Intelligence’, the 2017 law mandates organizations and citizens to support national intelligence work and maintain confidentiality. This means that every Chinese company or citizen, regardless of their location, can be used as a platform for collecting information. This strategy has been likened to an anthill by Alberto Manenti, former director of the Aise, with Chinese intelligence operatives working tirelessly to collect and piece together vast amounts of information.
Meanwhile, the use of academic ghostwriting services continues to be a topic of discussion in online forums. Some forums debate the individualized approach of ghostwriters in academic writing, while others question the role and impact of these services on academic integrity. As academic writing and intelligence operations continue to evolve, important questions about privacy, security, and ethical considerations arise.
In conclusion, Beijing’s extensive intelligence operations in Western countries are a cause for concern as they have been facilitated by a 2017 law that requires all Chinese citizens living abroad to cooperate by providing information to their home country. Additionally, academic ghostwriting services have become increasingly popular but raise important questions about privacy, security and ethical considerations.
