Western intelligence agencies are raising alarms about the scale of Chinese espionage, calling it larger than anything they’ve encountered before. From cyberattacks on critical infrastructure to physical espionage, China is increasingly seen as a growing threat to global security.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the FBI recently reported a Chinese state-linked hack of 260,000 internet-connected devices across the U.S. and Europe, while a cxongressional probe highlighted Chinese cargo cranes with embedded technology capable of espionage.
Experts estimate that China’s intelligence apparatus may involve up to 600,000 people, dwarfing the capabilities of other nations. The FBI estimates China’s hacking personnel currently outnumbers its cyber division staff 50 to 1.
In the U.K., Chinese hackers reportedly accessed voter registration records, exposing sensitive data of millions. Additionally, Western officials are investigating whether Chinese intelligence has infiltrated broadband providers used by U.S. law enforcement for wiretapping, raising serious concerns about national security.
China denies these allegations, portraying itself as a frequent target of foreign intelligence. However, Western intelligence experts warn that Chinese espionage efforts will likely intensify, especially as China’s economy slows down and Xi Jinping’s government faces increasing pressure to maintain technological and military dominance.
