[20 April 2022] In the West of the post-Cold-War era, intelligence has typically been an esoteric preoccupation. That is neither good nor bad. It can be argued that healthy democracies should not prioritize intelligence and security matters, as a matter of principle. On the other hand, because of its openness, democracy is a fragile political system, whose security infrastructure requires much attention by all, especially in times of crisis. Recent events serve to remind us that disaster is never too far away. Yet, on balance, it is fair to say that Western citizens desire to live in secure states, without having to endure life in a security state.
Not so in other parts of the world. Take China, for instance. It was reported earlier this month that the country marked “National Security Education Day”, on April 15. What is that, you ask? Apparently, the decision to designate April 15 “National Security Education Day” was adopted by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2015, during its 12th National People’s Congress. Since then, the Chinese state has promoted April 15 as part of a wider effort to create a “positive atmosphere of national security” across the nation.
It appears that “National Security Education Day” can take many forms, though it usually involves students, workers and retirees attending unexciting talks by CPC officials on the importance of combatting the “espionage offensive” that is allegedly being perpetrated against China by foreigners. This past April 15, Chinese citizens were urged to “wage a people’s war” against foreign espionage, by reporting suspicious activities by foreigners and locals alike to the authorities. Additionally, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), China’s highest government agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal activity, issued a call to Chinese citizens to be watchful of using “popular social media platforms”, as the latter have become “a hotbed for the infiltration of foreign hostile forces”.
Those of us who remember the Cold War will recognize these calls, albeit without the social media component. We have been down that path before, thus none of it is new, strictly speaking. And yet, in the words of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he is not the same man”. In an important sense, the rise of yet another security state in our time —in the form of China— feels different. It comes with its own set of risks and challenges. The West is once again called to navigate these risks, without losing its identity in the process. Intelligence professionals must inevitably be at the forefront of this effort, while at the same time preventing the emergence of a “people’s war on espionage” here at home. [EIA]