Espionage: how French intelligence perceives the Chinese threat

French intelligence services now consider Chinese spies to be one of the most significant threats to foreign interference. Beijing’s interests focus mainly on research, new technologies and the world of defence. And specificity of Chinese espionage, it relies on its diaspora abroad.

“Exploit the loopholes”

It is used to collect information, which can sometimes seem insignificant. But “little by little, Beijing is putting the puzzle back together and ends up having a good photograph of our country to exploit its flaws”, warns a French intelligence executive. Chinese spies make a point of not getting caught by counter-intelligence services. This imperative of discretion sometimes leads them to attract their French targets to other countries. They also do not hesitate to resort to intermediaries to make up their covers.

All operations, including sensitive ones, are managed from the Chinese Embassy in Paris. Journalists, soldiers or parliamentarians are particularly targeted. As well as researchers in the field of science and high technology. Beijing makes sure to make them dependent on its subsidies. “China is giving itself the means to obtain the information it needs,” attests a senior official. And take care of its influence strategy. She wants the Chinese in France to have a good image. For this, she has her speech carried by non-Chinese. And muzzles its own nationals living abroad, including the 2nd and 3rd generations whom it considers to be “Overseas Chinese”, according to the expression of a French intelligence source.