August 2023 Intelligence News

First local legislation supporting Counter-Espionage Law takes effect in SW China's Chongqing Global Times 31 Aug 2023 -- The Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress has reviewed and passed the Anti-espionage Regulation, which will officially take effect on Friday. The regulation represents the first local legislation in China to be implemented following the revision of the Counter-Espionage Law.
Facebook deletes thousands of accounts, citing Chinese troll army 'covert operation' Radio Free Asia 30 Aug 2023 -- Facebook's parent company Meta has deleted thousands of accounts with suspected links to the Chinese government, describing them as "the largest known cross-platform covert influence operation in the world."
China's security ministry lashes out against US Intelligence Strategy by exposing four US dangerous modes of thinking Global Times 28 Aug 2023 -- China's security ministry lashed out against a new US Intelligence Strategy on Monday by exposing four dangerous, ill-suited and parasitic modes of thinking emerging from the US intelligence community - Cold War mentality of targeting China, zero-sum thinking, hegemonic thinking and confrontational thinking.
Russia's FSB Says Stopped Illegal Activity of Informant of US Embassy in Moscow - Shonov Sputnik 28 Aug 2023 -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday that it had stopped the illegal activities of the informant of the US Embassy in Moscow and an ex-employee of the US Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russian citizen Robert Shonov.
Russia charges former U.S. consulate employee with spying People's Daily 29 Aug 2023 -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday it has charged a former U.S. consulate employee with spying on information about Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.
Lebanon arrests two Israeli spies at Beirut airport trying to flee Press TV 26 Aug 2023 -- Lebanese security authorities have arrested two people in connection with espionage for Israel as they were trying to leave the country through Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport in the Lebanese capital, local media reported.
Beijing nabs another 'CIA spy' Radio Free Asia 22 Aug 2023 -- Less than a month after the new National Security Law came into effect, China's security ministry has announced another espionage case allegedly involving the American spy agency.
China unveils second CIA espionage case within 15 days Global Times 22 Aug 2023 -- China unveiled the second US-led espionage case against China within half a month on Monday, indicating that the country's national security authority cracked a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) espionage case involving a Chinese government employee who had been instigated by the Japan branch of the US intelligence agency.
China's state security authority cracks CIA espionage case involving Chinese state official Global Times 21 Aug 2023 -- Chinese state security authority recently revealed a case concerning espionage activities of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) against Chinese state officials, the Ministry of State Security released a statement on Monday, indicating that investigations into the individuals implicated in the case have been initiated in accordance with the law, and the case is still under investigation.
China says probing state security agent over ties with CIA Press TV 21 Aug 2023 -- China's Public Security Ministry has announced an underway investigation of a former employee suspected of spying for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after being recruited at an American embassy abroad.
2 charged with accepting money from Chinese state security services CNA 18 Aug 2023 -- Two men accused of accepting money from the Chinese state security services in exchange for setting up an espionage ring in Taiwan were indicted on corruption and national security charges Friday, according to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office.
Prosecutors opt not to indict Chinese executives in security case CNA 18 Aug 2023 -- Taiwan's High Prosecutors Office has agreed with a decision made by Taipei prosecutors not to indict Chinese businessman Xiang Xin (向心) and his wife Kung Ching (龔青) on national security charges due to a lack of evidence.
Experts warn of renewed Chinese Communist Party 'cognitive warfare' on US campuses Radio Free Asia 18 Aug 2023 -- As college students gear up to start studies after the summer, experts are warning that Beijing's infiltration of U.S. universities will continue, despite the closure of dozens of its Confucius Institutes.
Prime Minister announces changes to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Prime Minister of Canada 18 Aug 2023 -- The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency were established in 2017 and 2019, respectively, to keep Canadians safe and protect our values, rights, and freedoms.
Former Special Agent in Charge of the New York FBI Counterintelligence Division Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate U.S. Sanctions on Russia US Department of Justice 15 Aug 2023 -- Former Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI Counterintelligence Division in New York, Charles McGonigal, 54, of New York City, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to commit money laundering in connection with his 2021 agreement to provide services to Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines Releases the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy for the Intelligence Community Director of National Intelligence 10 Aug 2023 -- Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines today released the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy (NIS), which provides strategic direction for the Intelligence Community (IC) over the next four years.
New US Intelligence Strategy Calls for More Partners, More Sharing VOA 10 Aug 2023 -- U.S. intelligence agencies are looking to vastly expand the roster of countries, companies and even nonstate actors with whom they partner in order to get — and share — information on threats to the United States and its allies.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on US Cyber Espionage Targeting Japan PRC MofA 10 Aug 2023
Two US Navy Sailors, Alleged Spies, Ruled Flight Risks in Pretrial Hearing VOA 09 Aug 2023 -- Two Navy sailors who allegedly spied for China appeared in separate federal courts in California on Tuesday for pretrial detention hearings, days after being arrested and accused of providing sensitive government information to intelligence officials from the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Five indicted in China espionage cases CNA 08 Aug 2023 -- The Tainan branch of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office has indicted five people in two separate cases for allegedly spying for China, including one in which secrets related to Taiwan's Han Kuang exercises allegedly changed hands.
Tokyo downplays US report of Chinese military hack on Japan Radio Free Asia 08 Aug 2023 -- Tokyo on Tuesday declined to confirm reports that Chinese military hackers had compromised the most classified military secrets of the U.S.'s vital East Asian ally, in a case that dates back to 2020.
China's Ministry of State Security stipulates strict restrictions and supervisions on the state organs' counter-espionage work Global Times 07 Aug 2023 -- China's revised Counter-Espionage Law has clearly stipulated the strict restrictions and supervisions on the state organs' counter-espionage work in terms of four aspects, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) said on its recently debuted WeChat account on Monday.
Espionage act is clear and transparent People's Daily 05 Aug 2023 -- The provisions of China's Anti-Espionage Law are transparent and clear and Chinese law enforcement agencies have always acted in strict accordance with the law, said the Ministry of National Security in a statement responding to foreign media outlets' misinterpretation of the law.
US navy sailors arrested for allegedly selling secrets to China Radio Free Asia 04 Aug 2023 -- Two U.S. Navy sailors have been arrested for allegedly spying for China, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Taiwanese Man Convicted of Spying in China Shares Story of 'Painful 4 Years' VOA 03 Aug 2023 -- For 51-year-old Taiwanese businessman Lee Meng-chu, the last four years have been a life-altering journey.
Two U.S. Navy Servicemembers Arrested for Transmitting Military Information to the People's Republic of China US Dept. of Justice 03 Aug 2023 -- In two separate cases in the Southern and Central Districts of California, two U.S. Navy servicemembers were arrested for transmitting sensitive military information to the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen Delivers Remarks on U.S. Navy Servicemembers Arrested for Transmitting Military Information to the People's Republic of China US Dept. of Justice 03 Aug 2023
US concerns over China's counter-espionage efforts 'a misinterpretation, defamatory label' Global Times 03 Aug 2023 -- As China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) made its debut on Chinese social media platforms and opened a channel to report suspected spy activities, and also released on Thursday a video featuring major incidents such as the black-clad riots in Hong Kong in 2019 and the return of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou, the US raised its so-called concerns over the mobilization of all parts of Chinese society in counterintelligence and espionage prevention, which some experts said is a misinterpretation and defamatory label that Washington has put on Beijing.
Chinese Ministry of State Security unveils channel to report espionage activities Global Times 03 Aug 2023 -- After China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) debuted on WeChat on Tuesday, calling on the whole society to contribute to counter-espionage efforts, the agency released detailed guidelines on Thursday on how to report and where to report suspected spy activities while emphasizing the importance of punishing espionage and protecting human rights.
Australia rebukes US for refusing to drop case against Assange Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- Australia has rebuked the United States for the latter's refusal to cease its prosecution of Julian Assange, saying it would persist in its efforts to have Washington drop its legal proceedings against the WikiLeaks founder.
Army lieutenant colonel detained over alleged espionage for China CNA 02 Aug 2023 -- The Taiwan High Court on Monday approved a motion filed by prosecutors to detain an Army lieutenant colonel and hold him incommunicado on suspicion of recruiting military officers to collect military intelligence for China.
Anti-espionage means YOU! Radio Free Asia 02 Aug 2023 -- China's security ministry has opened its official account on the country's popular everything app, urging its citizens to participate in counter-espionage work.
US Voices Concerns Over China's Counterespionage Push VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- The United States is pushing back at a Chinese government initiative that encourages its nationals to participate in counterespionage activities. The State Department said on Wednesday that encouraging citizens to spy on each other is "something that's of great concern."
Chinese Ministry of State Security unveils channel to report espionage activities Global Times 03 Aug 2023 -- After China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) debuted on WeChat on Tuesday, calling on the whole society to contribute to counter-espionage efforts, the agency released detailed guidelines on Thursday on how to report and where to report suspected spy activities while emphasizing the importance of punishing espionage and protecting human rights.
China's Ministry of State Security debuts on WeChat, calls on society to contribute to counter-espionage efforts Global Times 01 Aug 2023 -- China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) said on Tuesday that counter-espionage work requires the mobilization of all parts of society, which also combines the "open work" and "secret work" as well as the specialized work with the mass public work, the authority said in its first article published on its official WeChat account.
Mossad chief advices US on Iran, push for Saudi-Israel ties in secret visit to Washington Press TV 01 Aug 2023 -- Chief of the Israeli regime's infamous Mossad spy agency has reportedly paid a secret visit to Washington for talks with White House and CIA spy agency officials on Biden administration's persisting bid to pressure Saudi Arabia into normalizing ties with Tel Aviv.
Australian Lawmakers Highlight Social Media's Threat to National Security VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- A parliamentary committee investigating foreign interference in Australia has found that Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat could present major security risks.
HK encourages taxi drivers to report suspected terrorism-related information Global Times 01 Aug 2023 -- The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF)'s Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit launched a citywide campaign on Tuesday encouraging taxi drivers to report suspicious messages related to terrorism and violence. If they successfully assist in solving a case and securing a conviction, they may receive a reward.

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