Fourteenth edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 14:53:11 GMT)

Agency profile: China

A couple of years ago a Chinese numbers station surfaced on 11028 kHz. The station most probably transmitted from mainland China and was definitely not New Star that broadcasts from Taiwan. It looks like China uses satellites for its military/intelligence comms as I have never seen any log in my life.

Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)

The Second Department of the PLA is responsible for collecting intelligence. The agents operate from the various Chinese embassies and as under cover agents in foreign countries. The 'Autumn Orchid' branch is assigned to Macao and Hong Kong. Their main tasks are the gathering of information about political movements and the local media.

The Third Department is responsible for monitoring the telecommunications of foreign armies. They have sigint stations all over the country.

The General Political Department (GPD) is responsible for discipline, indoctrination and political education within the PLA.

Central Security Regiment, the 8341 unit

The Central Security Regiment, or '8341 Unit', was responsible for the security of the Chinese leaders, but was deactivated in the late seventies.

Ministry of State Security (MSS / Western Garden)

The Ministry of State Security was formed in 1983 with the merger of the entire Central Investigation Department and the counter-intelligence department of the Ministry of Public Security. The Central Investigation Department was known as Xiyuan, or Western Garden, an organ which came directly under the CPC Central Committee. The MSS is the primary Chinese HUMINT collection organization.

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). China monitors radio traffic from all countries in the region. There are monitoring stations all over the country. One of the largest is located on Hainan Island. This station monitors US naval activities in the region. The facilities on the island include satcom intercept gear. Another satcom intercept site is located near Beijing.

The MSS has a number of bureaus. What follows is a brief description of the bureaus.

First Bureau (Domestic): The First Bureau operates within China and recruits people for the MSS. They also accomodate their agents.
Second Bureau (Foreign): The Second Bureau is responsible for operations abroad. Xinhua, well known to many dxers is one of the companies that is used to provide a cover for Chinese agents. The bureau also analyzes the collected intelligence and recruits agents in foreign countries.
Third Bureau (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan): The Third Bureau is responsible for operations in Macao and Taiwan and Hong Kong. The main activities of the Bureau include operations in the above mentioned areas. The MSS increased its activities against pro-democracy elements in Hong Kong in 1997 when Hong Kong was returned to China. 'Winter Chrysanthemum' is a department which collects data about political activities in the three areas.
Fourth Bureau (Technology): The Fourth Bureau is responsible for the technology. They make all kind of devices like wiretapping-, photo-, sigint-, and tracking devices.
Fifth Bureau (Local Intelligence): The Fifth Bureau is responsible for directing and coordinating the work of local departments and bureaus of the MSS.
Sixth Bureau (Counterintelligence): The Sixth Bureau's primary task is to counter foreign anti-communists activities in China.
Seventh Bureau (Circulation): The Seventh Bureau checks and verifies incoming intelligence and submits the reports to the various departments.
Eighth Bureau (Institute of Contemporary International Relations): The Eight Bureau is one of the largest institutes for research on international relations.
Ninth Bureau (Anti-Defection and Counter-Surveillance): The Ninth Bureau is responsible for countering efforts by foreign intelligence services to recruit MSS or other security personnel.
Tenth Bureau (Scientific and Technological Information): The Tenth Bureau collects economic, scientific and technological intelligence.
Eleventh Bureau (Computers): The Eleventh Bureau is responsible for analyzing intelligence gathered with the help of computers, and operating the computer network of the MSS. It also collects information on advanced electronic systems from the West, and protects the information systems of the Chinese secret service from attacks by foreign intelligence agencies.
Foreign Affairs Bureau: The Foreign Affairs Bureau coordinates cooperation with foreign intelligence organizations.
Xinhua - New China News Agency: Xinhua is China's largest news agency. They transmitted Chinese news via shortwave for many years and is now active on the Internet. The agency also takes part in intelligence operations. It provides analysis of news from all over the world and acts as cover for MSS agents.

Research:
Laogai Research Foundation, Federation of American Scientists, Amnesty International reports, various newspapers.