‘10 cups of tea’: for first time China’s top intelligence agency spells out reasons for questioning by authorities

Name: China airs 4-part anti-corruption series on prime-time TV amid renewed crackdown on graft
Uploaded: 2024-01-31T08:14:19.000Z
Duration: 7 min
Description: China airs 4-part anti-corruption series on prime-time TV amid renewed crackdown on graft

Ministry of State Security details 10 actions – including spying and endangering national security – that trigger an ‘invitation to tea’

Foreigners found violating the anti-espionage law could be ordered to leave the country within a designated period

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China’s Ministry of State Security has published the reasons a person could be called on by authorities for “a cup of tea”, a euphemism for being summoned. Photo: Shutterstock

Vanessa Caiin Shanghai

Published: 4:14pm, 31 Jan 2024Updated: 8:54pm, 31 Jan 2024

For the first time, Beijing’s top intelligence agency has laid out 10 conditions subject to scrutiny by its agencies – mainly concerning national security, state secrets and violating the country’s updated anti-espionage law – that could lead to questioning, known in slang as “an invitation to tea”.

In an article posted to its WeChat account on Tuesday, the Ministry of State Security acknowledged the euphemism by referring to the“10 cups of tea” that could lead to a summons.

These include endangering national security, illegally acquiring or holding state secrets and committing or assisting espionage. It warned against refusing to cooperate in an espionage investigation, leaking state secrets related to counter-espionage and intelligence works and failing to take precautions against spying.

The emphasis comes as authorities in mainland China and Hong Kong plug legal loopholes to tackle potential threats to national security.

Also on Tuesday, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled plans to enact sweeping domestic national security legislation targeting offences including treason, theft of state secrets and espionage.

Beijing ramped up its anti-espionage efforts last year, and the ministry has called for tip-offs from the public about suspected foreign spy activity.

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China airs 4-part anti-corruption series on prime-time TV amid renewed crackdown on graft

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‘10 cups of tea’: for first time China’s top intelligence agency spells out reasons for questioning by authorities

Ministry of State Security details 10 actions – including spying and endangering national security – that trigger an ‘invitation to tea’ Foreigners found violating the anti-espionage law could be ordered to leave the country within a designated period

Ministry of State Security details 10 actions – including spying and endangering national security – that trigger an ‘invitation to tea’

Foreigners found violating the anti-espionage law could be ordered to leave the country within a designated period