China’s spy agency warns of foreigners posing as scholars, tourists or ‘insincere lovers’

‘Don’t be fooled by sweet talk,’ ministry says in social media post highlighting deceptive identities used by foreign spies

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A man looks at his phone near a heart-shaped display in southwest China’s Chongqing on Monday. The country’s top spy agency has warned citizens to be wary of overseas friends who were “overly eager” in pursuit of romance. Photo: AP

Published: 5:00pm, 25 May 2025Updated: 8:00pm, 25 May 2025

Chinese citizens should be on alert for friendly foreign faces who could be spies – from scholars who do not do research and tourists who do not sightsee, to lovers who only want information, the country’s top spy agency has warned.

In a post on its official social media account on Sunday, the Ministry of State Security said foreign spies might be hiding in plain sight, using various identities to carry out activities that threaten China’s national security.

It highlighted five deceptive identities commonly used by foreign spies: tourists who do not sightsee, scholars who conduct no real research, businesspeople who do not do business, investigation consultants who do not investigate, and “insincere lovers” who exploit relationships to gather information.

The post warned that some agents could approach Chinese students abroad and appear to be “like-minded foreign friends who shared the same interests”, only to try to recruit them through romantic relationships.

“Don’t be fooled by sweet talk, and never disclose sensitive or classified information to them,” it said.

The ministry also urged members of the public to alert national security authorities about any suspicious people and activities.

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