China and the United States are engaged in an escalating covert battle to gather intelligence regarding each other’s leadership thinking and military capabilities.
For the United States, espionage has become a pivotal component of President Biden’s strategy to curb China’s rapid growth in military and technology sectors. On the other side, Beijing’s increased willingness to engage in audacious espionage activities can be attributed to Xi Jinping, China’s paramount leader, who has urged the nation’s foreign intelligence agencies to expand their reach to more distant regions.
U.S. officials have significantly enhanced their capacity to intercept electronic communications, often deploying spy planes near China’s coast. Meanwhile, Chinese operatives have adopted more modern tactics, such as leveraging social media platforms like LinkedIn to entice potential recruits. China has even developed artificial intelligence software capable of identifying the distinctive walking patterns of American spies.
This shadowy intelligence battle between the United States and China exceeds the scope of the Cold War-era rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, as noted by Christopher Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). China’s sheer population and robust economy provide it with the resources to establish intelligence agencies that surpass those of the United States.
