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Espionage

Espionage
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Espionage. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi waves as she departs from Canberra on May 5 after a three-day official visit to Australia. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japan’s new spy agency receives FBI backing with eyes on China and Russia

Japan has not had a centralised intelligence service since World War II. Sanae Takaichi wants to change that.

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Crime

Southern California mayor will plead guilty to acting as Chinese agent

United States

Netflix sued by Texas for allegedly spying on children, addicting users

US-China relations

US trial hears witness claims of harassment over Chinese ‘secret police station’

Witness testifies he was harassed after holding a protest against the establishment of alleged Fuzhou-controlled facility in New York.

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Supporters of Lu Jianwang stand outside a federal courthouse before the opening of his trial in New York, on May 6. Photo: AP
US-China relations

China’s study of Ukraine, Iran wars could sharpen Taiwan propaganda tactics

Beijing’s study of Iran, Ukraine wars could help hone its ability to wage information warfare against the US during a Taiwan Strait crisis.

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Nordic nations

Norwegian police arrest Chinese citizen on spying allegations

Authorities allege the woman had a suspected role in spying on Norwegian satellite data.

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Hong Kong-UK spying row

Beijing hits out at UK over conviction of 2 men tied to Hong Kong trade office

Foreign ministry accuse UK of abusing the law after Bill Yuen and Peter Wai found guilty of spying on Hong Kong activists in Britain.

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The case has put the role of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices under the spotlight. Photo: Google Maps
US-China relations

US trial opens over alleged Chinese ‘secret police station’ in New York

Lawyers of Lu Jianwang, who has lived in the US for decades, said the alleged covert police station was just a community centre.

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Russia

Austria expels 3 Russian diplomats over signals spying

Vienna, home to a large diplomatic presence, has long had a reputation as a den of spies.

Taiwan

Why Beijing now wants its spies executed in Taiwan back in the spotlight

Mainland China is seeing a surge in interest over ‘invisible martyrs’ such as Wu Shi, a KMT defector who was executed in Taipei in 1950.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Crime

Italy extradites Chinese national wanted by US for alleged hacking

Xu Zewei was arrested in Milan in 2025 at ⁠the request of US authorities.

The US Department of Justice has alleged operations were conducted at the behest of the Chinese government. Photo illustration: Shutterstock
The Philippines

How fake job ads in Philippines led to alleged spy recruitment pipeline

The ads, some of which experts say were linked to China, aimed to get unsuspecting Filipino defence specialists to give up key information.

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US-China trade war

US lawmakers slam China’s ‘parasitic’ theft of military and tech secrets

US senators pointed to legal channels, including work visas and university research, as potential pathways for China-linked espionage.

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Canada

Canadian who was detained by China warns against Carney’s EV deal

Ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig was imprisoned for three years after Canada arrested Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition request.

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Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in 2023. Photo: AP
China jobs

China warns university students about lucrative job offers from foreign spies

Data processing or research jobs promising easy money could be ‘traps’ aimed at illegally collecting sensitive information, ministry says.

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A job fair at Harbin University of Science and Technology in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, last month. Photo: Xinhua
Technology

Opinion | In Asia-Pacific, the real maritime contest is over satellite surveillance

States’ ability to exercise territorial rights is increasingly mediated by their access to satellite data and analytics, but the tech is dominated by a powerful few.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Rights groups raise alarm after Iran executes 2 more opposition group members

The hangings are the latest targeting members of the banned People’s Mojahedin of Iran after four others were executed earlier in the week.

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Malaysia

DarkSword threatens Malaysian iOS users, exposing spread of elite spyware

DarkSword can compromise vulnerable iPhones through hacked legitimate websites and siphon off highly sensitive data, researchers warn.

DarkSword can compromise vulnerable iPhones through hacked legitimate websites, and Apple has urged users to update their phones to stay protected. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

Philippine military uncovers alleged new China spy tactics in sea row

China called the allegations ‘malicious smears’ after three people were arrested on suspicion of leaking sensitive information to foreigners.

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Britain

2 men charged with spying for Iran on UK Jewish targets

The men are accused of spying on targets given to them by Iran, including the Israeli embassy and Britain’s oldest synagogue.

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran can still attack US interests, government appears intact: US spy chief

If a hostile regime survives, it will seek ‌to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its missiles and drone forces, she told US lawmakers.

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US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: AP
US, Israel war on Iran

Stockholm says Iran executed Swede after Tehran announces spy put to death

This is the first public announcement of an execution since Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran on February 28.

A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran, on March 2, 2026. Photo: AP
France

‘I’m not a spy’: Frenchman jailed for 10 years in Azerbaijan

Prosecutors say Martin Ryan passed on secrets about Azerbaijan, as well as Russian and Chinese firms, to the French security service.

Britain

3 arrested in UK on suspicion of spying for China, including MP’s husband

They are the latest in a number of arrests in the UK of people accused of spying or causing political interference on behalf of China.

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The Philippines

Philippines arrests Filipino nationals suspected of spying for China

China has dismissed the espionage allegations as fabricated and politically motivated, accusing Manila of ‘stigmatisation’.

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A screen grab from China’s CCTV news footage shows (from left) David Servañez, Albert Endencia and Nathalie Plizardo, the three Philippine nationals arrested on suspicion of spying in China. Photo: CCTV
Crime in China

China’s latest box office draw: spy thriller backed by state espionage agency

Scare Out – supported by the intelligence services and made by acclaimed director Zhang Yimou – is one of the most popular films over Lunar New Year.

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The film was produced under the direct supervision of the Ministry of State Security. Photo: Handout
Iran

Iran sentences British world travellers to 10 years for spying

Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested while travelling through the country on a round-the-world trip, according to relatives.

China's military weapons

Will China’s state-backed thriller spill details of little-known spy cases?

‘Scare Out’ depicts leak of PLA jet secrets, and some speculate the plot could be based on true story involving stealth fighter tech.

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