A report from the Czech national intelligence agency has shed light on covert operations conducted by the Chinese regime in the Czech Republic.
The report reveals that China has been using fake LinkedIn identities and offering money to gather information and build a network of influencers in order to further its interests. The Czech Security Information Service, in its annual report published on September 12, stated that China poses a fundamental threat to Euro-Atlantic civilization, including the Czech Republic.
The agency also highlighted how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has utilized its diplomatic mission to gather information about Prague’s political landscape as part of its influence operations within the country. Additionally, intelligence agents have been deployed by China to cultivate relationships with local influential figures, including academics.
One method used is creating fake identities on LinkedIn and posing as representatives from fictitious consulting or headhunting companies in Hong Kong and Singapore. These operatives then request reports or studies “in areas corresponding to China’s political interests,” offering financial rewards under the guise of professional cooperation.
Once foreign scholars agree to produce these reports, they may be invited to visit China with all expenses covered by Beijing. The objective is to create a network of contacts who feel indebted and may be inclined to support Chinese interests in the future.
The report also highlights concerns about CCP espionage activities worldwide, citing recent cases such as Linda Sun being charged with acting as an agent for the CCP in exchange for business benefits in New York and a parliamentary researcher being charged with providing judicial information to Beijing in Britain.
Furthermore, it raises alarms over efforts by China to silence critics while promoting propaganda, particularly targeting groups such as Falun Gong practitioners and advocates for democracy in China.
