Thread by @Anne_MarieBrady

Xi Jinping is the most powerful CCP leader in the past 40 years. The fact that he has steadily been able to place his people at the top of all China's core intelligence agencies, as well as over the propaganda & thought work xitong is a sign of his political strength. However, 1/

...it is not a guarantee of absolute control of the security agencies, who have been seeded from top to bottom by the allies of Xi’s rivals in the CCP, & in any case, by design, operate by their own rules. 2/

The CCP’s concept of national security has significantly changed under Xi. It now incorporates the security of all aspects of China’s political, social & economic life, including its culture, science/technology, ecology, resources, & nuclear capabilities. 3/

Xi’s position at the top of multiple intelligence-related policy groupings means that there is a much higher level of policy coordination & policy prioritisation on covert activities than ever before. 4/

My latest paper "Party Faithful- How China Spies", outlines Xi Jinping's reform of China's Party, State, & Military intelligence agencies. Out now in @AusForeign
australianforeignaffairs.com/essay/2020/07/…

China has a vast number of personnel engaged in intelligence-gathering, counter-surveillance, & espionage, & likely has more professional intelligence agents operating overseas than any other country, from sleeper agents (沉底鱼) to those sent abroad for short missions. 6/

CCP espionage frequently uses the cover of journalism, academia, business links, government-to-government exchanges, CCP officials’ “study tours” abroad, think tank partnerships, city-to-city “friendship” links, academic conferences, & proxy diaspora organisations.

CCP intelligence operations have always cooperated with secret societies, triads, & criminal gangs. The doyen of China Watchers, Pierre Ryckmans observed: the CCP “is in essence a secret society. In its methods & mentality it presents a striking resemblance to an underworld mob”.