05:29
China executes scientist for spying in 2016, among 10 ‘shocking’ cases revealed in documentary
China executes scientist for spying in 2016, among 10 ‘shocking’ cases revealed in documentary
The 25-article regulation states that courier companies and their employees are obliged to report “clues about national security violations and crimes” they discover during their work.
If the tip-off leads to a criminal case involving national security, authorities will give the source a cash reward of 10,000-30,000 yuan, the highest level of the regulation’s three-tiered reward system. And at the lowest level, informants will receive less than 1,000 yuan for clues that “play a certain role”.
The regulations add that national security agencies “will determine the final amount based on the circumstances of the case, the actual usefulness of the information, and relevant policies and regulations”.
According to the regulations, delivery workers in Jiangsu should be aware of suspicious parcels, including “dangerous items related to national security”, such as weapons, bullets, drugs, explosives and threats to biosecurity.
They should also be on the lookout for books and printed and audiovisual material that “harm national security”, according to the rules.
The regulations state that express carriers should report any “spy equipment or suspected spy equipment” they find.
National security authorities in Jiangsu hope to be informed about clues to “documents, data, information, and other items suspected of being state secrets” and the regulations guarantee informants will be protected.
According to an article posted on April 18 to the Jiangsu Express Association website, which is overseen by the provincial postal bureau, a meeting was held on April 15 between the provincial postal bureau and the national security department to plan how to implement the regulations.
The meeting called on delivery companies to “step up inspections by opening parcels and strengthening security checks by machines at places where [parcels] are handled”.
According to data released by the Jiangsu provincial postal bureau in January, the province sent 13.4 billion parcels last year, accounting for 8.2 per cent of the 162.5 billion articles sent in China.
In its article on Wednesday, the Ministry of State Security said Jiangsu’s rules were consistent with a national regulation it issued in June 2022, which set the criteria for rewards for national security tips.
The 2022 regulation said authorities would offer rewards that could exceed 100,000 yuan to citizens who report behaviour deemed a threat to national security.
01:58
China denies accusations of state-sponsored hacking from US, UK and New Zealand
China denies accusations of state-sponsored hacking from US, UK and New Zealand
The Ministry of State Security has become more active on social media over the past year, warning of the threat of foreign spies and urging the public to share information about suspicious activity.
The revised anti-espionage law, which took effect in July last year, expanded the definition of espionage and the investigative powers of state security agencies.
The newly revised law on state secrets, which takes effect from next month, adds 12 new articles, expanding the depth and breadth of its coverage.
