New Zealand says China tried using space investments to spy on local affairs

New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) has accused Chinese companies of constructing space stations within the country to collect military intelligence. In their annual threat environment assessment, NZSIS Director-General Andrew Hampton stated that China aims to exploit New Zealand's thriving space sector, which is advantageous for monitoring satellites, debris, and gathering scientific information.

The NZSIS also discovered that the "Purple Mountain Observatory," a Chinese organization with ties to Beijing, attempted to establish GBSI in New Zealand. The report explains that the organization worked with a local company, which might have been unaware of the equipment's ability to gather intelligence data. Due to China's laws, Purple Mountain could be forced to provide information to the government.

NZSIS believes that the organization would willingly share the data it collects. The assessment rates China as the only country targeting New Zealand at scale, due to the observed activities. Chinese intelligence officers or their associates employ a strategy of posing as consultants, employees of think tanks, or recruitment firms.

They post job advertisements to attract analysts in foreign policy, international relations, defense, and security. Candidates are then vetted by Chinese intelligence to assess their access to information and willingness to disclose it. Additionally, the report highlights that some cyber-attacks in New Zealand might have been state-backed attempts to destabilize the country.

The NZSIS also focuses on domestic threats, particularly violent extremism, which requires identifying whether online extremist pronouncements have links to real-world activities. The intelligence agency faces challenges in differentiating between genuine support for violent extremism, hateful language meant to shock, or content created to increase engagement.

Furthermore, the NZSIS monitors encrypted messaging services and gaming platforms to counter violent online communities. New Zealand residents are not only targeted by such content but also become participants in spreading it, including weapon tutorials and objectionable material.