Russia’s spy hunters are increasingly worried about China’s espionage, even as the two countries grow closer.The New York Times reports that Russia’s spy hunters are expressing growing concerns about China’s espionage activities, despite the two countries’ strengthening relationship. While publicly, President Vladimir V. Putin has emphasized the unbreakable bond between Russia and China, a secretive intelligence unit within the F.S.B. has labeled China as “the enemy.”
This previously undisclosed unit has warned that China poses a serious threat to Russian security, with attempts to recruit Russian spies and obtain sensitive military technology. The F.S.B. officers also believe that China is closely monitoring the Russian military’s operations in Ukraine to gain knowledge about Western weapons and warfare. They fear that Chinese academics are laying the groundwork to make territorial claims on Russian land, and that Chinese intelligence agents are conducting espionage in the Arctic under the guise of mining firms and university research centers.
The F.S.B.’s concerns are outlined in an eight-page internal planning document, obtained by The New York Times. While the document is undated, it appears to have been written in late 2023 or early 2024. The F.S.B. has identified countering Chinese espionage as a top priority, according to the document.
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