The lack of trust or accountability inherent in all dictatorial regimes - particularly Russia and China - serves as kindling for foreign agencies operating within the ranks of their ruling elites, writes Stephen Loosley.
Nothing to do with James Bond or Harry Palmer, or even the real-life Sidney Reilly, Violette Szabo or Richard Sorge, but everything to do with espionage and a multiplicity of levels: human or technical, with the newest players on the block bearing a cyber element too.
Just recently, the US Central Intelligence Agency displayed both wit and wisdom in a Russian-language video seeking ambitious, potential spies: “Do you have information about the economy or the top leadership of the Russian Federation? Get in touch with us.” There is no trust in their system and no accountability, given the absence of an independent parliament, media or justice system, the ruling cliques are dependent upon their security services.
The system was eventually detected and broken, but it illustrated that intelligence agencies which understand the fabric of their opponents can do much damage by simply reading the tea leaves. The approach is simple: threaten people who are living, working or studying in the West with dire consequences for their families still living in China unless they cooperate.
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