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Espionage

Espionage
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Espionage. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
If approved, the European Commission plan could be the tip of the iceberg for Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese operators. Photo: Shutterstock
China-EU relations

EU moves to force Huawei out of networks, opening door to wider China tech bans

European Commission plan would make vendor removals mandatory within three years and allow broader curbs if China is deemed a cyber risk.

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China’s Communist Party

China warns of ‘honey trap’ risks after defence official jailed for espionage

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US-Venezuela conflict

China-linked hackers ‘used Venezuela-themed phishing to target US agencies’

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US-China relations

Biden administration decision to scrap China Initiative flawed: White House

US top science adviser Michael Kratsios says ceasing programme aimed at combating economic espionage from Beijing ‘damaging’.

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Michael Kratsios, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said the Biden administration’s decision to terminate the China Initiative programme was “damaging”. Photo: Reuters
France

France charges maths professor accused in China spying case

The academic allegedly let a Chinese delegation visit sensitive sites and could be jailed for years if convicted.

Crime in China

China warns of covert mapping by foreign forces to steal sensitive geodata

Counter-espionage agency says ‘anti-China’ actors are gathering information on natural resources, energy facilities and terrain in key areas.

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Defence

Former US Navy sailor gets 16 years for selling ship secrets to Chinese contact

Jinchao Wei, 25, provided information about the USS Essex and other ships in exchange for about US$12,000.

Crew on the deck of the USS Essex during a visit to Hong Kong in 2010. Photo: Sam Tsang
US-Venezuela conflict

Could China execute special forces operation like US precision Maduro abduction?

The Pentagon sees China’s 20,000-30,000 special operation personnel as limited by logistics support and fragmented command structure.

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The Philippines

Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security

The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.

Semiconductors

China’s CXMT in crosshairs of South Korean prosecutors over Samsung tech leak

Prosecutors in Seoul indict 10 people, including ex-Samsung executives, for allegedly leaking the firm’s technology to memory chipmaker CXMT.

Seoul prosecutors say the leak of Samsung’s proprietary DRAM technology benefited Chinese memory chip rival CXMT. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Mistrial in case of ex-top aide to New York governor charged as China agent

Linda Sun, ex-deputy chief of staff to Kathy Hochul, walked free after jury was deadlocked on all 19 counts and could not reach a verdict.

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Linda Sun arrives at US District Court in New York earlier this month. A mistrial was declared on Monday in the case of the former senior New York official charged with acting as a Chinese agent. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Israel-Iran conflict

Man executed in Iran for spying for Israel tortured to confess: rights group

The 27-year-old, arrested while taking pictures of a military headquarters, was accused of executing over 200 similar assignments for Mossad.

Britain

UK spy and military chiefs give threat assessment in ‘age of uncertainty’

Head of MI6 says ‘we are now operating in a space between peace and war’, as defence chief urges ‘whole nation’ prepare for evolving threats.

Britain

UK sanctions Russian and Chinese firms, warns of cyber threats, hybrid warfare

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says dangers range from disinformation campaigns to physical attacks and sabotage.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Locarno Treaties in London on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
China’s Communist Party

China’s security chief hints at US decline, says tech theft is a major concern

State Security Minister Chen Yixin says ‘unipolar hegemony’ is on the wane in article for party newspaper that does not directly mention US.

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Chen Yixin, Beijing’s state security minister, has identified issues such as Taiwan independence forces and technology theft as major threats. Photo: AP
Britain

UK Novichok report blames Putin for ‘reckless’ poisoning of ex-Russian spy

Inquiry concluded that the assassination attempt of Sergei Skripal must have been ‘authorised at the highest level’.

Britain

Collapsed UK China spy case due to ‘shambolic’ failures, not conspiracy: inquiry

The spy case against two British men collapsed as the UK failed to deem Beijing a threat, prompting cover-up speculation just before their trial.

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North Korea

North Korean air force to gain ‘strategic assets’ amid heightened tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says the air force will be entrusted with ‘a new important duty’ and play a role in nuclear war deterrence.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter, Ju-ae, watch an air show during an event to celebrate the Air Force’s 80th anniversary in Wonsan on Friday. Photo: KCNA/Reuters
China-UK relations

Starmer met Premier Li Qiang at G20 in South Africa amid Beijing visit rumours

Speculation on a Beijing trip comes as Britain’s PM said he would protect UK national interests after questions about engagement with China.

China-UK relations

UK PM Keir Starmer to visit China in January, Sky News reports

The trip would come soon after Britain decides on the approval of a new Chinese embassy in London that critics say will pose a security risk.

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Britain

UK says ‘military options’ ready as Russian ship points lasers at British pilots

The Russian embassy said that Moscow has no interest in undermining the UK’s security as it sails spy ship on the edge of British waters.

A screen displays an image of Russian military ship Yantar, operating off the northern coast of Scotland. Photo: AFP
Britain

MI5 warns UK lawmakers of Chinese spies on LinkedIn

The ‘espionage alert’ warned that Chinese nationals were ‘actively’ reaching out to lawmakers via recruitment headhunters.

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Britain’s domestic intelligence agency warns MPs of Chinese spies using LinkedIn and recruiters to target UK politicians. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

Opinion | US national security focus throws a spanner in the workings of global trade

While attention to legitimate national security interests is justified, trade matters have traditionally been viewed as a parallel sphere.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | A post-Brexit Britain in decline cannot afford to alienate China

Brexit showed sentiment without strategy ends in decline. London risks a repeat by letting anti-Beijing posturing dictate policy.

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Britain

UK man who dreamed of ‘being like Bond’ jailed for trying to spy for Russia

Howard Phillips tried to pass information about a former British defence secretary to undercover UK agents posing as Russian intelligence.

Howard Phillips was jailed on Friday for assisting a foreign intelligence service. Photo: Metropolitan Police via Reuters
China-Australia relations

Hot-button regional issues expose Australians to foreign agents: spy chief

‘More Australians are being targeted for espionage and foreign interference than ever before,’ ASIO head Mike Burgess says.

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Mike Burgess, ASIO director general of security, delivers the 2025 Lowy Lecture in Sydney. He says Australia’s community cohesion is under threat from outside influences. Photo: Reuters
Russia

Freed French cyclist describes ‘strange experience’ after Russian detention

Sofiane Sehili, who had faced a possible two-year sentence for illegally crossing the border, did not complain of mistreatment in detention.

US-China relations

US lawmakers urge Trump to press Xi on American detainees, exit bans

Legislators call Beijing the ‘world’s largest hostage-taker’ that uses exit bans and detentions as ‘tools’ for leverage.

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