China needs to ‘proactively defend’ against spies, state security minister says
- Chen Yixin calls for big data, blockchain and AI to be used to tackle threats
- His remarks come soon after expanded anti-espionage law came into force
02:28
Beijing raids offices of consulting firm Capvision in widening crackdown over national security
In April, China’s legislature voted to drastically overhaul its anti-spy law from 2014. The new counter-espionage law expands the definition of spying and investigative powers of the national security law enforcement agencies. It outlaws cyberattacks against government and secretive agencies, and obtaining documents, data and information “related to national security and interests” without permission.
“China’s development now stands at a new historical starting point,” Chen wrote in the Democracy and Legal System magazine run by the China Law Society, a government-controlled group that promotes the party’s ideology and concept of law.
“The external environment and security situation have changed significantly. All kinds of predictable and unpredictable risks and challenges, dangerous obstacles, and even ‘high winds and huge waves’ demand a higher standard for national security work.”
He said although counter-espionage operations must be proactive, they should be effective and not “blindly engage in a struggle against spying”. Chen also warned law enforcement not to abuse their powers and said evidence should be collected lawfully.