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Espionage

Espionage
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Espionage. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Indiana University, Bloomington, told Xiaofeng Wang on March 28 it was terminating his employment “effective immediately”. Wang’s wife Nianli Ma, who was also dismissed, says the university did not abide by due process. Photo: Handout
Science

Nianli Ma, wife of cyber expert Xiaofeng Wang, speaks out over FBI raids

Ma says lack of due process by Indiana University is devastating after she and Wang were dismissed within days of each other.

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US-China relations

China issues warrants for 3 alleged NSA agents after Asian Winter Games hacked

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Taiwan

Former aide to Taiwan’s security chief expelled from DPP over spying allegations

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United States

US-Russian citizen released in Moscow-Washington prisoner swap

Ksenia Karelina was convicted of treason on charges stemming from a donation of about US$52 to a charity aiding Ukraine.

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Russian-American dual citizen Ksenia Karelina attends a court hearing in Russia on august 15, 2024 after she was accused of treason for making a donation to a charity supporting Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

South Korea probes claim teen caught filming F-16s is son of Chinese official

Authorities said the teen and another Chinese student were in possession of nearly 100 images of military aircraft taken at an airbase.

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China-EU relations

Man detained in Sweden on suspicion of spying on Uygurs for China

Beijing has denied accusations from rights organisations about abuses against the ethnic minority group in Xinjiang.

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The Philippines

Philippines disputes China’s arrest of alleged Filipino spies

The Philippines says the three were ordinary citizens and the arrests could be retaliation for Manila’s arrest of alleged Chinese spies.

State media published pictures of the three alleged spies. Photo: CCTV
Royalty

Prince Andrew sent China’s Xi birthday letter every year, spy case files say

The files feature in a legal challenge by businessman Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on the grounds he was a suspected Chinese spy.

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China-Philippines relations

Mounting China-Philippine spy cases risk rattling economic relations

Chinese firms might consider the atmosphere ‘not friendly enough’ to continue investing in the Philippines, analyst says.

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China-Asean relations

China detains 3 Philippine nationals on suspicion of spying

State media publishes images of the trio being questioned by the police after Manila detained a number of alleged Chinese spies.

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State media published pictures of the three alleged spies. Photo: CCTV
United States

Pentagon watchdog to probe use of Signal for Yemen attack plans

Inspector General’s office looking into Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of app to discuss air strikes against Houthis.

Democrat congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi points to text messages by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during an annual worldwide threats assessment hearing in Washington last week. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

US-China decoupling: Washington bans diplomats from romance and sex with Chinese

Those who do not receive exemption and are found violating the ban will be subject to immediate expulsion from China, according to report.

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Donald Trump

Waltz team set up 20 Signal chats on China, other global issues: US report

Trump officials have been slammed for using the app to discuss highly sensitive information, including war plans.

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Science

Exclusive | US cyber expert Wang Xiaofeng ‘is safe’ after FBI raids, source says

Unverified statement circulating among Wang’s colleagues says case linked to research grant in China from about seven years ago.

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Wang Xiaofeng was a tenured professor at Indiana University Bloomington. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

US YouTube star in China, Beijing ‘hackers for hire’: 7 US-China relations reads

From IShowSpeed’s Great Wall adventures to espionage fears, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in March 2024.

YouTube star Darren Jason Watkins Jnr, aka IShowSpeed, is seen streaming live from the Great Wall of China during his visit to Beijing in March 2025. Photo: Youtube/IShowSpeed
US-China relations

As extension winds down for TikTok sale, analysts say deadline may not matter

US President Donald Trump might ignore the law Congress passed and use the app as a bargaining chip in trade talks with Beijing.

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Science

FBI raids on Chinese-American scientist revives China Initiative fears

Two Indiana homes of cybersecurity researcher and professor raided by FBI and Homeland Security but no reason cited, local media report.

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US-China relations

Trump, some Republicans differ on TikTok ahead of sell-or-ban deadline

‘If ByteDance stays involved in any way, the deal is illegal – plain and simple,’ said one senior Republican lawmaker.

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A woman poses with her smartphone displaying the @realdonaldtrump TikTok page, in Washington in January 2025. Photo: Reuters
China-Germany relations

Chinese agency briefs German diplomats, business community on anti-espionage law

Ministry of State Security says recent presentation was part of efforts to foster ‘internationally friendly business environment’.

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United States

‘Scary, reckless’: US allies alarmed by leaked group chat about war plans

The incident is seen as a major security breach that casts doubt on intelligence-sharing and the security of joint operations with the US.

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US-China relations

Signal chat furore may push US workers to China’s side, Democrat warns

Senate intelligence committee vice chair says China is ‘luring individuals with national security clearance who’ve been pushed out’.

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Left to right: National Security Agency Director General Timothy Haugh, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse appear during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on Tuesday in Washington. Photo: AFP
United States

‘Don’t panic!’ Mystery sky spiral caused by SpaceX rocket fuel, experts say

The Falcon 9 rocket was carrying classified cargo on a mission for the US agency that manages the country’s military’s spy satellites.

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A picture taken in the countryside near Dalby-Viggeby, south of Uppsala, Sweden, on Monday shows a blue and white spiral in the night sky reportedly created by frozen fuel tumbling from a SpaceX rocket. Photo: Bertrand Ilhe via AFP
Asian diaspora

As US Justice Department cuts focus on foreign agents, will China cases ease?

US Attorney General Pam Bondi disbands a task force and cuts back on foreign registration cases, but analysts say any relief may be limited.

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China’s Communist Party

Engineer gets death penalty for selling state secrets to foreign spy agencies

Former assistant engineer had copied classified documents when he was working at a research institute, Ministry of State Security says.

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Japan

Belarus sentences Japanese man to 7 years in prison for spying

Japanese national Nakanishi Masatoshi was convicted of conducting espionage activities from 2018 to 2024.

Government House in Minsk, Belarus. Japanese national Masatoshi Nakanishi was accused of taking pictures of military and civilian facilities. File photo: Shutterstock
Russia

Lithuania blames Russian military intelligence for Ikea store arson

The Ikea store was set ablaze in Vilnius in May 2024 and caused no casualties.

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People cool off in a public fountain in Vilnius, Lithuania. Lithuania, a Baltic state and Nato member, has been a staunch ally of Kyiv since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and frequently warned against sabotage attempts inspired by Russia. photo: AP
China’s Communist Party

Chinese official caught in honey trap set by foreign spy agency: security ministry

Ministry says official named Zhang agreed to share classified information after being caught up in contrived brothel sting overseas.

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The Philippines

China’s alleged spy network in Philippines raises concerns about outdated laws

Officials have long called for an update to its World War II-era espionage law, which may not be sufficient to address modern threats.

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