China’s intelligence and security ministries have warned Chinese residents to beware of “exotic beauties,” which are allegedly traps by foreign spies, write BBC.
But analysts believe that the warnings rather reflect uncertainty on the part of Chinese authorities.
“Looking for beauties? You can be the prey”. So reads one of the Ministry of Security’s warnings in one Wechat postsaccording to the British BBC.
China’s Ministry of Security, which acts as the country’s intelligence agency, is increasingly warning its citizens about the dangers of foreign spies. The ministry has also begun to publicize cases where people have been arrested for espionage in China. Recently they announced that they had arrested a person who was allegedly spying for Britain’s secret service, MI6.
Are attracted by beautiful women
But the use of these “traps” where people are allegedly attracted by beautiful women is no more widespread now than in the past, says Ian Chong, an expert on Carnegie China. According to him, espionage has always played on exploiting human weaknesses such as lust or greed.
The expert believes that the Ministry of Security’s warning campaign and the increased focus on these risks reflect a sense of uncertainty and threat, especially from the outside world, by the Chinese leadership.
Blackmailed after visiting a strip club
The authorities refer in their posts also to a Chinese man who they believe may have been subjected to blackmail attempts by a foreign intelligence service after he visited a foreign strip club.
On the spot, he is said to have then been asked to “choose an exotic girl”. According to the post, he was then assaulted by several men who took pictures of him while he was naked and the photographs were later used to blackmail and force the man to join their intelligence organization. He is said to have then handed over his work computer, which according to the ministry contained almost ten years of classified information.
Trial
Despite his return to China, he was continuously required to hand over classified information to the organization. According to the ministry, the man has now been arrested and will be brought to justice in the country.
The Ministry of National Security has been warning the Chinese public through regular updates on its official Wechat page since August, the BBC writes.