BEIJING —
Chinese citizens offering
information that leads to the discovery of “acts endangering national security”
could be rewarded as much as 100,000 yuan ($15,000), depending on their role in
preventing or solving a case, according to the guidelines, state media
reported, in Beijing’s latest move to whip up fears of external foes. They may
also be given “rewards in spirit,” the reports said Tuesday, including in the
form of certificates.
اضافة اعلان
The
Chinese government has for years offered
monetary rewards for information on security breaches, but a new guideline
issued this week by the Ministry of State Security seeks to standardize the
practice, the state-owned Legal Daily reported.
The measure is “conducive to fully mobilizing the
enthusiasm of the general public to support and assist in national security
work, widely rallying the hearts, morale, wisdom and strength of the people” a
ministry representative told Legal Daily.
Beijing has increasingly encouraged the public to be
vigilant against perceived national security violations, including teaching children
to be on the lookout for supposed threats to the country. State broadcaster
CCTV in April published a series of infographics asking readers to be alert for
spies in their midst, describing “eight faces of spying” including people
posing as romantic partners and plant lovers.
China has also
used national security as a justification for detaining foreign nationals
during times of diplomatic tension with the detainees’ home countries.
Australian journalist Cheng Lei was detained in 2020 on suspicion of national
security breaches and could face life imprisonment if deemed to have committed
serious violations. Weeks before Cheng disappeared, Australian authorities
raided the homes of Chinese state media journalists as part of a foreign
interference probe. The timing of her detention and the lack of clarity about
the charges against her led to speculation that the case was politically
motivated or a tit-for-tat retaliation.
Months after Cheng’s disappearance, Chinese
authorities also detained Bloomberg News employee Haze Fan — a Chinese citizen
— on allegations of endangering national security. Another Chinese-born
Australian, writer Yang Jun, has been accused by Beijing of espionage and is
facing a trial that started last year behind closed doors.
In semi-autonomous
Hong Kong, a national security law
imposed in 2020 was used to stamp out dissent after widespread and sometimes
violent pro-democracy protests rocked the city the year before.
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