China's spooked spooks bet on cartoon to convince people to look out for spies

China is rebuilding its spy networks amid concerns over alleged foreign spies wandering everywhere. As part of this, the central intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, want the entire population across the country on the lookout for spies. Also, an unusual public awareness campaign has also been launched and an online comic strip titled “Shenyin Special Investigation Squad” has been launched. The move was expected to engage people, but critics argue that China’s response is fueled more by paranoia than genuine vigilance. The first installment, released by China’s MSS on 7 January, depicts the capture and interrogation of a foreign-looking man suspected of violating China’s counter-espionage law. The comic plot unfolds in the Xishan mining area, inspired by real counter-espionage cases, according to the the ministry. The comic introduces characters like A Zhe, a tech enthusiast fond of bubble tea, and Dan Dan, a long-haired police officer skilled in martial arts. It also has Lao Tan, an experienced agent with unspecified but presumably unique skills. The characters are designed to engage a younger audience, highlighting the MSS’s effort to cultivate national security awareness among the youth of the country. While the MSS seeks to reinforce the notion of heightened security, such propaganda efforts are often met with indifference or derision. There are arguments that predictable themes and a lack of subtlety is diminishing the impact on the intended audience. The comic strip contributes to the government’s narrative that any interaction between Chinese citizens and foreigners should be viewed with suspicion. China’s government, amplifying its anti-espionage stance, expanded the counter-espionage law last year, prohibiting the transfer of information related to security and national interests without clear definitions. This legal ambiguity has impacted the business environment, with the European Chamber of Commerce in China stating it as one of the main reasons for diminishing confidence among its members. In a bid to combat espionage, Chinese officials set up a hotline in 2015 for citizens to report suspicions. Local governments offer substantial rewards for espionage tips, contributing to an environment conduitive of increased vigilance. The annual National Security Education Day was established to further bolster awareness. The release of the Shenyin Special Investigation Squad comic coincided with Police Day on 10 January. While some view the comic as a valuable piece of propaganda, nationalist commentator Hu Xijin has cautioned against going too far stating that it could isolate China from the world.