The alert comes amid a comprehensive national security initiative undertaken by Chinese authorities.
The alert comes amid a comprehensive national security initiative undertaken by Chinese authorities.
China’s Ministry of State Security has issued a direct warning to Chinese students, urging them to be wary of the risks posed by foreign spies while studying overseas.
The alert comes amid a comprehensive national security initiative undertaken by Chinese authorities, the South China Morning Post reported.
The ministry, through its official WeChat account, shared a cautionary tale of a purported real-life incident involving a Chinese graduate identified only as Zhang.
Despite failing China’s rigorous college entrance exam in 2006, Zhang allegedly managed to secure admission into a prestigious foreign university.
However, upon graduation, Zhang faced severe consequences for allegedly leaking Chinese scientific research to foreign entities.
While the ministry refrained from disclosing Zhang’s exact educational institution, it revealed that Zhang had excelled in his studies abroad and was noticed by a senior figure within the university.
Tensions in China-US relations and student susceptibility
Subsequently, Zhang was introduced to two individuals purportedly acting as foreign spies, who enticed him with financial incentives in exchange for sensitive information, including intelligence on Chinese international students.
According to the ministry’s account, these foreign operatives facilitated Zhang’s employment at a Chinese research institution, despite his lack of proper credentials. Zhang was allegedly instructed to feign cooperation with his colleagues to gather intelligence.
The Ministry of State Security emphasized that Zhang had jeopardized his promising future by succumbing to emotional manipulation and monetary allurements from a foreign intelligence agency.
It urged the public to remain vigilant against national security risks and to scrutinize seemingly innocuous interactions while abroad.
The warning comes amid heightened concerns over national security in China, with the Ministry of State Security actively utilizing social media platforms to alert citizens about the threat posed by foreign spies.
State Security Minister Chen Yixin previously stressed the need for proactive defense against foreign espionage to safeguard national security and uphold the Communist Party’s leadership.
In July 2023, China implemented a new counter-espionage law, broadening the scope of spying activities and enhancing the investigative authority of national security agencies.
Despite recent pledges between China and the US to enhance academic exchanges, Chinese students studying in America remain susceptible to the escalating tensions between the two nations.
In a separate incident, China accused US authorities of harassing Chinese students upon their arrival at Washington’s Dulles airport, subjecting them to extensive interrogations and allegedly attempting to recruit them as spies.
According to China’s Ministry of Education, over 8 million students have pursued education abroad between 1978 and 2021, with the US, Britain, and Singapore being the most favored destinations.
Trends and statistics
In 2023, Chinese students remained the largest group of international students in the United States, although there was a slight decrease in their numbers compared to the previous year, the VOA News reported.
Despite this dip, China still holds the top position as the leading country of origin for foreign students pursuing education in the US.
The State Department granted over 600,000 international student visas in fiscal 2023, the highest since fiscal 2017, with more than 289,000 visas awarded to Chinese students.
Wait times for visa processing have decreased globally, except for first-time visitors, with current wait times for student visas from China ranging from three to eight days. Despite the complexity of the visa process, students like Shawn Zhan find it worth the effort, with Zhan planning to continue his education in the US. for graduate school.
The total number of Chinese students in the US. has decreased in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been modest increases in graduate students, non-degree seekers, and students on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
The US has experienced a rebound in international student enrollments following the pandemic, with over a 14 percent growth in new enrollments in the past year.
The State Department, in an email to VOA, cited its commitment to facilitating legitimate travel to the US while maintaining high national security standards.
It said that it is “committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States while maintaining high national security standards.”
