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China's Spy Secrets

March

A PLA Chengdu J-20S stealth fighter jet on the tarmac at an air show in China in November.

China ‘presents’ top military, cybersecurity threat to US

Beijing is using “whole of government” efforts including military, economic and influence operations to assert itself, the American intelligence community said.

February 2024

China’s ruling Communist Party determined the law needed updating because of advances in science and technology.

New China spying law sparks foreign investor fears

The legal change, which could further limit access to information, is part of an increasingly hostile environment facing foreign businesses in the country.

December 2023

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been criticised for spreading misinformation.

China can use TikTok to ‘radically reshape’ global opinion: Garnaut

US Congress is looking to Australian security adviser John Garnaut for advice on how to combat China’s use of misinformation to wield political influence.

October 2023

FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks to journalists at the bureau’s Omaha office about the threats.

Five Eyes nations gather to fight China IP theft

Leaders of the Five Eyes intelligence agencies have gathered in Silicon Valley to call out China over intellectual property theft.

September 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant.

Putin need not fear arrest at next year’s G20 summit

‘There’s no way’ Brazil would arrest the Russian leader at the Rio meeting; the latest Chinese data shows the worst may be over for some parts of China’s economy; Richard Marles offers another reason to block Qatar flights. Here’s how the day unfolded.

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February 2023

The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.

The $630k missiles the US uses to shoot down UFOs and balloons

The US relies on these Sidewinder missiles to take down flying objects such as the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon.

Balloon

China has been using spy balloons for years, just ask Taiwan

Even in this hitherto obscure corner of military innovation, China sees big stakes.

The remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of the Carolinas after the US shot it down.

Why a balloon is better than a drone for spying

Balloons may be antiquated technology compared to satellites and drones, but they can produce better quality intelligence – and they’re a lot cheaper.

Balloon

China condemns US for shooting down spy balloon

US officials are searching for wreckage from the balloon that flew over North America for a week, after a fighter jet shot it down with a Sidewinder missile.

June 2021

The Department of Home Affairs reviewed use of TikTok on work phones in 2020.

Australia should consider TikTok ban, say US cyber experts

A new executive order could still deliver a ban on TikTok and Australia should consider doing the same, cyber experts say.

November 2020

China Zhenhua refers to its suite of databases as the Internet Big Data Military Intelligence System.

Chinese spies 'trawling LinkedIn for espionage targets'

Professional social media profiles and foreign students are fertile recruiting opportunities for Chinese spies, according to a former CIA chief.

September 2020

Former Macquarie Bank Executive Ian Robert Chalmers was jailed for 12 years.

Drug kingpins, fraudsters and a jailed banker on database

Hundreds of people smugglers, fraudsters, drug kingpins and a former Macquarie banker jailed for dealing ecstasy are named on a leaked Chinese database.

Australia's top judges appear on the China files.

Why China is interested in Australia's judges

Many of Australia's most senior judges have been included on the list of influential figures compiled by Chinese military contractor Zhenhua Data.

Zhenhua's website was taken down after questions were put to the company.

You're on the China list, now what?

If you're one of 35,000 Australians whose name appears on China's leaked social media warfare database, here's a few things to think about.

Former intelligence officer 'Witness J' served time in jail after a secret trial.

As the vaccine race intensifies, it's spy against spy

Every major spy service around the globe is trying to find out what everyone else is up to in the biggest intelligence gathering contest since the space race.

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July 2020

Chinese hackers allegedly stole COVID-19 research.

US accuses Chinese nationals of hacking Australian defence contractor

US authorities said Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi stole a vast trove of weapons data from the company and many others around the world as part of a decade-long cyber espionage campaign endorsed by China.

John Bolton: China is "not just in secret communications; not just in government communications, but in commercial communications - or... just personal communications".

Businesses, individuals should fear Huawei too, says Bolton

Former US national security adviser warns China's ability to spy through Huawei's 5G network is as dangerous for businesses and individuals as governments.

June 2020

The government will power ahead with its defence plans despite the downturn in the economy, says Senator Linda Reynolds.

Industry doubts over cyber defence cash splash

Australian cyber security experts and industry groups have raised concerns that new government cyber spending will not help businesses defend themselves better.

A woman walks by a Chinese flag in Belgrade, Serbia. Chinese envoys have set off diplomatic firestorms with a combative defence whenever their country is accused of not acting quickly enough to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chinese newspaper accuses Australia of spying offensive

A Chinese tabloid accuses Australia of sending agents to China to spy, gather intelligence and recruit students and citizens for espionage operations.

January 2020

Britain clears away barriers against Huawei in the West.

The West's problem isn't Huawei, it's monopolies everywhere

The British government has wisely chosen a too-powerful Chinese supplier over a bullying Washington.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/china-s-spy-secrets--1naz