China warns against fake spy claims after jealous public servant frames rival

A Chinese state worker who falsely accused a colleague of spying for Beijing following a failed overseas job application has been penalized by the Ministry of State Security (MSS). The agency made the unusual move in a social media post on Tuesday to underscore the repercussions of making false accusations. The culprit, identified only as Liu, had a master's degree from a top university and was considered a rising star at his public institution.

Tensions rose in 2024 when the institution began recruiting for an overseas position. Liu, convinced of his superiority, was disappointed when his employer chose another colleague, surnamed Li. Overwhelmed by anger, Liu fabricated allegations that Li was a Chinese spy and sent an anonymous report to an "overseas entity" in an attempt to seek revenge.

While the investigation found Liu acted "solely to vent personal grievances without endangering the state," his false report still adversely affected China's national security. Liu received an administrative warning under China's counter-espionage regulations and expressed remorse, admitting his actions were driven by "impulse and ignorance."

The MSS report did not disclose the identities of Liu's employer, the foreign organization to which he sent the false report, the impact on Li's overseas posting, or how the agency discovered the case. The MSS urged the public not to treat national security matters lightly, warning that fabricating evidence or using security apparatus to settle personal grudges violated statutory boundaries and led to legal consequences.

The agency launched a WeChat account in August 2023, shortly after China passed its revised Counter-Espionage Law, and has since cautioned the public about foreign spy agencies exploiting everyday activities to breach company security and steal secrets, as well as the notion of bioweapons targeting the Chinese population, which experts dismiss as a conspiracy theory.