Beijing, China. Tired of attempted western penetration of their government and corporate interests, China has decided to go on an international man hunt, offering cash rewards for those captured trying to harm China’s best interests from within.
China is offering rewards of almost $80,000 to people who hand over information on suspected spies, the latest in a series of national security measures from Chinese authorities. The reward program is being rolled out after a spy hot line was set up and warnings issued over Chinese citizens forming romantic relationships with foreigners.
The robust measures come amid increasing reports of threats from domestic and foreign security risks, and as a part of security measures that have been launched since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013.
In a special report on the reward program, the state-run Beijing Morning Post said: “The anti-spy work should involve the mobilisation of the masses in order to build a steel and iron Great Wall to defend against spies.”
“Overseas spy agencies and other hostile forces have been stepping up efforts to politically penetrate and subvert China and they have been engaging on activities such as intelligence theft and instigating incitement,” it added.
The Beijing City National Security Bureau is offering rewards of between $1500 to $60,000 for information on spies. China’s government passed a national security law in 2015 to deal with increased western efforts to infiltrate their national security establishment.
As an additional countermeasure, a new hot line was set up to report spies, and in 2016 cartoon posters entitled “Dangerous Love” begun appearing around Beijing warning people to be aware when dating foreigners.