The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released a new video in Mandarin with a clear objective: recruit informants within the Chinese military taking advantage of growing unrest over corruption in high military echelons. The piece, published this Thursday, focuses on recent purges within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and features a fictional officer disenchanted with his superiors.
The launch is not coincidental. In recent weeks, Chinese President Xi Jinping has removed several top commanders from their positions, including the country’s top military officer and another high-ranking general. The authorities announced investigations for “serious violations of discipline and the law,” without detailing the charges. The dismissals affect the core of military power, supervised by the Central Military Commission, a key organ of the Communist Party.
In Washington, the background to these purges is being debated: is it a preventive maneuver in the face of possible internal challenges? A reflection of Xi’s distrust? Or a real attempt to eradicate entrenched corrupt practices? Whatever the motivation, the campaign has exposed internal tensions that US intelligence is now trying to exploit.
A direct message to frustrated officers
The video shows a middle manager who, on his way to work, listens to a briefing while narrating his growing disenchantment. “Every day it is more evident that our leaders only seek to protect their own pockets,” says the voice-over. The scene alternates images of the barracks with family moments at his house, where his wife and daughter appear. The message is clear: corruption not only erodes the institution, it also compromises the future of future generations.
The piece concludes with the agency’s logo and an implicit invitation to collaborate. The protagonist maintains that truly serving his country may involve helping reveal secrets to the CIA. The narrative appeals to both patriotism and fatigue with superiors who, according to the implicit accusation, enrich themselves at the expense of the system.
The agency’s director, John Ratcliffe, had already noted last year that the Mandarin video campaign was producing results. In his words, many Chinese citizens seek to “improve their lives and transform their country.” The initiative is part of a sustained effort to expand the network of sources within China, considered one of the priority intelligence objectives for the United States.
Corruption and strategic opportunity
The rapid increase of the Chinese military budget has generated ample room for irregularities. The PLA awards million-dollar contracts to domestic companies, which, according to US officials, facilitates practices such as the targeted allocation of awards in exchange for personal benefits. Some officers could even double their official income through these maneuvers.
For the CIA, this context creates a favorable breeding ground. Among the factors that the agency considers key are:
- The discontent of middle managers regarding the enrichment of superiors
- Fear of being caught up in internal investigations
- The perception of instability within the military leadership
Even though platforms like YouTube are blocked in China, The agency maintains that its content circulates through virtual private networks and the dark web. In fact, it has published instructions on how to establish safe contact without alerting authorities in Beijing.
The offensive, however, comes after difficult years for US intelligence in Chinese territory. Between 2010 and 2012, more than a dozen sources were killed or imprisoned after the covert communications system was compromised, allegedly due to infiltrations and security failures.
Now, in what American officials describe as a “generational challenge,” Washington is trying to rebuild its network and take advantage of internal cracks in the Chinese military apparatus. The new video is one more piece in that strategy: a direct appeal to those, within the system, who feel that loyalty to the party no longer coincides with loyalty to the country.
