The Five Eyes intelligence alliance has issued an unprecedented joint warning that Chinese spies are using professional networking sites and online job platforms to recruit people with access to sensitive government, military and economic information.
The rare bulletin says China’s military intelligence services are posing as recruiters, consultants and think tank staff to approach targets on platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed.
The warning was issued by the FBI, Britain’s MI5 security service and the domestic intelligence agencies of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
According to the joint statement, China’s military intelligence services are using an increasingly wide range of professional networking websites and online job platforms to target Five Eyes government and military personnel.
The agencies said the campaign is also aimed at anyone with access to classified, privileged or sensitive information.
How Chinese spies allegedly approach targets
The agencies said Chinese intelligence officers or their affiliates often pretend to be employees of private consultancies, think tanks or human resources firms.
They also place online job advertisements for roles such as foreign policy analysts and defence analysts.
The bulletin said the strategy is aggressive and designed to make the approach appear like a legitimate professional opportunity.
Intel sought from govt, military personnel
The Five Eyes agencies said China’s military intelligence services ultimately seek privileged military, political and economic intelligence.
According to the notice, the goal is to give China a strategic and tactical advantage over the Five Eyes alliance. Those targeted include nationals with security clearances, especially people working in foreign affairs, security, intelligence and military roles.
The agencies said military personnel stationed in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions are among those of particular interest.
Academics, journalists, think tank staff also targeted
The warning said China is not only targeting people with direct access to classified material.
Individuals with more peripheral access to government information, including academics, journalists, freelance writers and think tank employees, are also being approached.
The agencies cautioned that even non-classified information can be valuable when combined with other data already collected by intelligence services.
The bulletin warned that certain types of information can put frontline military and other personnel at risk, weaken economic prosperity and enable interference in democratic processes.
According to the agencies, Chinese spies have commissioned written reports from people they approached online. Targets were allegedly asked to write reports on topics related to China, defence and the Indo-Pacific region.
The agencies said payments ranged from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per report, with some payments made in cryptocurrency.
“Military members may be asked about their roles and unit activities, home base or naval vessel,” the notice said.
Criminal cases and job losses reported
The Five Eyes agencies said they have identified individuals who took part in such activities. According to the bulletin, some cases have resulted in criminal prosecutions, job losses and the revocation of security clearances.
The notice also warned that people who pass sensitive information may face prosecution under espionage laws.
The alert highlights continued concern among the United States and its allies about Chinese espionage, even as Western governments seek to maintain diplomatic contact with Beijing.
US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also visited China this week. UK Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis said Britain would continue to tackle hostile actions by a range of states, including China.
Jarvis said the UK would still engage with Beijing where it serves the national interest, adding that diplomacy allows London to directly challenge behaviour it will not tolerate while also working with China on areas that benefit Britain.
China rejects espionage allegations
China strongly rejected the Five Eyes warning.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London condemned the alliance’s move, saying allegations of a so-called “Chinese espionage threat” were “entirely fabricated and constitute malicious slander”.
Beijing has repeatedly denied accusations of espionage raised by Western governments.
What is Five Eyes alliance?
The Five Eyes alliance is one of the world’s most comprehensive intelligence-sharing partnerships. It includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The alliance traces its roots to US-UK intelligence cooperation during World War II and gives the five English-speaking countries special access to each other’s intelligence and security threat assessments.
Although individual countries have issued similar warnings before, officials described this joint bulletin as unprecedented. The US has previously warned that Chinese intelligence services use deception to target current and former US government employees.
Britain’s MI5 also warned lawmakers last November that Chinese agents were trying to spy on parliament, including through LinkedIn.
Wider concerns over online infiltration
The report also comes amid broader concern over hostile states using digital platforms to infiltrate governments and companies. North Korea has been found using fake remote IT workers to access major companies.
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group has said North Korea’s approach is driven by both state objectives and personal financial gain, making the activity particularly dangerous.
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