Beijing is offering rewards of almost £60,000 to people who hand over information on suspected spies, the latest in a series of national security measures from increasingly sensitive Chinese authorities.
B eijing is offering rewards of almost £60,000 to people who hand over information on suspected spies, the latest in a series of national security measures from increasingly sensitive Chinese authorities.
The reward scheme is being rolled out after a spy hot line was set up and warnings issued over Chinese citizens forming romantic relationships with foreigners.
The measures come amid increasing reports of threats from domestic and foreign “hostile forces”, and as a raft of security measures have been launched since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013.
S uch measures are often designed to bolster Communist Party rule, rather than defend the country against spies, some observers say.
In a report on the reward scheme, the state-run Beijing Morning Post said: “The anti-spy work should involve the mobilisation of the masses in order to build a steel and iron Great Wall to defend against spies.”
The newspaper said China’s national security concerns had grown following the country’s “opening up” and increased travel by Chinese citizens.
