Russia’s intelligence agency, the FSB, has confirmed that it views China as a significant threat to its national security due to Chinese espionage activities, influence operations, and expanding territorial claims. The FSB has instructed its officers to monitor and counter these efforts, which include recruiting Russian specialists for Chinese enterprises, supplying Beijing with positive information about Russian military operations, and promoting Chinese nationalist claims on border territories.
The report highlights China’s growing interest in the Arctic region, where it seeks to establish a strategic foothold to facilitate trade and expansion. The FSB warns that losing Chinese support would be worse than facing espionage threats, emphasizing the need for Russia to maintain strong ties with Beijing.
The Kremlin’s concerns about China have been evident in recent years, particularly following the 2020 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which aimed to create a vast network of economic corridors across Asia. The FSB report suggests that Russia is taking steps to counter Chinese influence in Central Asia, where China has reportedly developed a strategy to enhance its soft power.
The meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping on May 8 marked a significant moment in the two leaders’ relationship, with both sides seeking to strengthen ties and cooperate on key issues. However, the FSB report suggests that Russia’s concerns about Chinese espionage and influence remain a pressing issue for the Kremlin.
In recent years, China has increasingly been accused of supplying military equipment and technology to Russia, despite Western claims that Beijing is not doing so. The FSB report corroborates these allegations, stating that Beijing proposed creating supply chains to bypass Western sanctions in Moscow.
The Russian government’s concerns about Chinese espionage and influence are also reflected in its efforts to restrict the activities of Chinese scholars and researchers in the country. The FSB has instructed its officers to expose “revanchist” activities aimed at promoting territorial claims on border territories, emphasizing the need for Russia to protect its sovereignty and national interests.
Overall, the FSB report highlights the growing complexity of China’s relationship with Russia, which is marked by both cooperation and competition. As tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, it remains unclear how Moscow will respond to Beijing’s expanding influence and espionage activities.
Source: https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-s-fsb-calls-china-the-enemy-leaked-1749306966.html