China’s state security agency yesterday warned students with access to sensitive information against falling for “handsome men” or “beautiful women” who might entice them to spy for foreign powers.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security has promoted claims that foreign spies are working to lure loyal Chinese to betray their country — often in lurid and unusual ways — since opening a WeChat account last year.
It has warned that foreign spies “have countless disguises, and can even change their gender” and called on citizens to “build 1.4 billion lines of defense” against threats to the country.
Photo: REUTERS
Yesterday, it accused foreign intelligence agencies of deploying “romance traps” to lure Chinese students.
Foreign spies were using job ads and even online dating to “lure and coerce” young students, especially those with access to “sensitive scientific research data,” to hand over confidential information, it said.
“They may even disguise themselves as ‘handsome men’ or ‘beautiful women’ ... and drag young students into ‘romance trap,’” it said.
The ministry did not name which countries were behind the alleged scheme.
However, it warned that spies might be disguising themselves as university academics, scientific researchers or consultants, luring students short of cash in what it called “targeted infiltration.”
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