CIA's Unusual Social Media Campaign Targets Chinese Citizens
The Central Intelligence Agency has launched a series of unusual social media videos in Mandarin. These videos directly urge Chinese citizens to secretly share information about their government. This bold move has raised many questions about whether the agency is openly recruiting intelligence sources inside China.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Secret Communication
In the Mandarin-language video, the US intelligence agency tells viewers it wants to hear the truth about China. The CIA specifically seeks people who have confidential knowledge of the Chinese government. The agency wrote clearly: The CIA wants to know the truth about China, and we are looking for people who know and can tell the truth.
The video appeared across the CIA's official platforms. It features footage of Chinese businessmen and professionals at work. A narrator provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make anonymous contact with the agency.
Viewers receive specific advice about security measures. They are told to assess risks to themselves and their families carefully. The instructions recommend using public Wi-Fi networks and avoiding personal devices. The CIA suggests relying on VPNs and deleting all traces of communication completely.
Detailed Security Protocols
The CIA provides explicit purchasing instructions. Purchase new or used devices using cash or gift cards without providing any personal information related to you, the agency instructs. It further urges potential sources to create a new anonymous email address. People should avoid entering any details that could be traced back to them.
The agency offers additional travel advice. If circumstances allow, individuals should travel abroad before contacting the CIA. The video explains: If you are unable to travel abroad, any or all of these steps can be performed by a trusted close relative or friend.
Continuing Recruitment Campaign
This release follows a similar campaign from last year. At that time, the CIA published videos aimed at ordinary Chinese citizens working in specific sectors. These included defence, national security, diplomacy, science and advanced technology fields.
That previous video asked direct questions: Do you have any information about economic, fiscal, or trade policies? Do you work in the defence industry? A CIA official commented on the campaign's effectiveness to Reuters: If it weren't working, we wouldn't be making more videos.
Official Statements and Geopolitical Context
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has been open about the agency's mission. He previously stated clearly: One of the primary roles of the CIA is to collect intelligence by recruiting assets that can help us steal secrets.
This campaign emerges amid tense relations between Washington and Beijing. Tensions worsened significantly when President Donald Trump announced tariffs of up to 20 percent on Chinese imports last year. China responded strongly by warning it was ready for any type of war and vowed to fight until the end.
The CIA's direct approach through social media represents a modern intelligence tactic. By using Mandarin language and culturally relevant imagery, the agency attempts to connect with potential sources within China. This public recruitment effort occurs against a backdrop of ongoing economic and political friction between the two global powers.
