Chinese city launches anti-spy training to prevent citizens from becoming involved in spying abroad

Chongqing is the first municipality in China to implement such counterintelligence regulations. Credit: Richard Stonehouse/Getty Images Europe

Chinese students going abroad will be trained on how not to be involved in spying for foreign intelligence agencies under strict new anti-espionage laws that went into effect on Friday.

The move in Chongqing, a city in southwest China with a population of over 32 million, comes after local authorities first drafted a strict version of a national anti-espionage law that was radically expanded in July .

This step The bill has raised concerns among many foreign companies, who fear that day-to-day business activities may now be considered illegal.

But the new rules in Chongqing go even further.

< p>A set of 29 articles has been introduced. anti-spyware training for government employees and students, strict oversight of all foreign exchange programs, and requiring courier services in the region to obtain a national security clearance before they can operate.

It also includes strict oversight of «collaboration projects with foreign countries that may contain national secrets» and says related information must be verified before it is released to prevent any espionage.

Thursday State Ministry Security Service, China's leading anti-espionage agency, said Chongqing was the first municipality to implement such counterintelligence regulations and praised the city for its «simple», «quick» and «effective» legislation.

Chongqing's rules follow sweeping changes to China's anti-espionage laws that went into effect in July. Photo: Future Publishing

«[China's] revised national anti-espionage law has provided a powerful legal weapon to deepen the fight against spies in the new era,» the agency said in a WeChat post.

«[The legislation in Chongqing] further improves its implementation by providing Chongqing with clearer and clearer legislative guidance on conducting counterintelligence work.”

The city's regulations are a massive overhaul of China's anti-spyware laws. it went into effect in July.

The new measures banned the transmission of national security information and expanded the scope of what the government would define as espionage. The revised law also allows authorities conducting anti-spyware investigations to have access to data, electronic equipment and information about personal property.

Beijing has long complained that international espionage is being used by the West to curb China's rise.

< p>Shortly after the national legislation went into effect last month, Chen Yixin, Minister of National Security, wrote an article arguing that China needs to «actively defend» against spies in order to strengthen both national security and the leadership of the Community Party.< /p>

In August, the normally secret state security agency also used its first social media post to call on every Chinese citizen to join the anti-espionage effort.