CIA releases recruitment video targeting Chinese military personnel

The CIA has released a new video on its YouTube channel targeting Chinese citizens with information about how to securely contact the agency using the encrypted Tor Browser. The video, which is the latest addition to a series aimed at Chinese and Russian individuals, was posted on Thursday.

The video features a fictional character who is having doubts about their government before deciding to spy for the United States. It depicts the character going through the motions of their job while expressing growing concerns about their country’s leadership. The narrator references ancient China’s military strategist Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” text, stating that China’s leadership is eager to send its citizens to battle.

The video then shows the protagonist removing a bag from a work safe and driving to a deserted car park, where they log onto a computer to contact the CIA. The agency provides instructions on how to download the Tor Browser to initiate contact.

A message accompanying the YouTube video asks users if they have information about high-ranking Chinese leaders or are military officers with dealings in intelligence, diplomacy, economics, science, or advanced technology fields. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously described US intelligence recruitment drives as malicious “smears and attacks” that deceive and lure Chinese personnel to “surrender”.

The CIA’s network in China was dismantled by Beijing between 2010 and 2012, resulting in the death or imprisonment of at least 30 people. The collapse of the US spying network was linked in part to a botched communication system.

Source: Al Jazeera