China’s Expanding Spy War Against the West

For years, Western governments viewed Chinese espionage as a manageable problem, but that’s changing rapidly.

A security guard stands at his post during the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2024. Wang Zhao /AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

For decades, China has leveraged its access to Western markets, technology, academic and scientific institutions to build its economy and grow its now formidable technology sector. Much of that has been through mutual agreements, some from stealth, theft, graft, and spying.

The Five Eyes Sound the Alarm

Today, intelligence agencies across the Five Eyes alliance, consisting of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, are warning that Beijing has dramatically expanded both the scale and sophistication of its spying operations. Recent joint warnings suggest China’s intelligence apparatus is no longer focused solely on stealing technology and trade secrets.