Some New Writings; Book Progress

Greetings Friends:

I’m continuing to update this new site with the latest work, case studies, and commentary. This includes a series for Jamestown on CCP influence operations abroad. The first article in that series concerns Panama, which can be found here.

Progress on My Book

I'm making progress on the book and have completed about half of the manuscript. This year, I had a rethink. There is a lot of information available with detailed case studies showing what we know about Beijing's compromised operations and the few spies who have been apprehended. We have decent information about the "what, where, when, and the ‘small who’” of Chinese Communist espionage.

These accounts are valuable for sounding the alarm about the successes of CCP intelligence agencies. However, we still do not know much about the “why, how,” and the larger "who" of China's security state. This system is not simply the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) operating in parallel. It is a Party-directed, whole-of-system effort. This effort drives sections of the broader society, not the whole society. It integrates state agencies, commercial actors, academic institutions, and diaspora networks in pursuit of regime security and national power.

The Misconception of "Whole of Society"

This stands in contrast to the "whole of society" idea, which I do not agree with. Chinese espionage and influence efforts do not include everybody in China, even though the CCP may wish it were so. It certainly doesn't include more than a small portion of the Chinese diaspora. This group needs protection from transnational repression, not misplaced persecution.

Still, Chinese espionage is a serious problem. It is a Party-led system that integrates intelligence, security, economic policy, and political influence. Documenting cases is valuable, but we must move toward a systemic understanding and response. The effectiveness of that shift will determine whether democratic states can adapt to Beijing's challenge.

My Experience in Australia

Photo credit: Matt Zhang, unsplash.com

Moving here was not as easy as I previously imagined. We departed San Jose, California, for the Melbourne area nine months ago in a long-planned relocation that had nothing to do with recent events. Much has changed since I lived here from 2000 to 2007! The public medical system is not as thorough as it used to be. While overall spending has generally increased, specific programs, rebates, and access have tightened or lagged behind costs. This has created a widespread perception of cutbacks. However, I find treatment here to be top-notch.

Though not surprising, the presence of PRC manufacturers we do not see in the United States is striking. Companies like Huawei, DJI, BYD, and Chery are visible everywhere. A few photos tell the story.

Nonetheless, it is great to be back. The people, weather, scenery, food, coffee, and the amazing variety of bird life are just some of the advantages. The State Library of Victoria is particularly impressive. I'm enjoying making contacts and look forward to sharing more.

Future Plans

As the book moves closer to completion, I will gradually shift this occasional newsletter to Substack. Any thoughts you have about that and other points raised above are welcome.

Regards,

Matt