(Bloomberg) — China’s spy agency is intensifying its crackdown on weather stations with foreign connections, citing national security concerns. This signals a growing assertiveness within the secretive group under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.
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The Ministry of State Security announced on Tuesday that there are hundreds of illegally operating meteorological facilities transmitting information overseas, some of which are located in sensitive areas such as military bases, industrial sites, and grain-producing regions.
The spy agency stated in a social media post that several of these stations receive direct funding from foreign governments and share data with overseas security officials. The agency, however, did not disclose which nations are allegedly involved. China’s security authorities are currently investigating and addressing these illicit activities.
Since summer, when the spy agency joined the popular WeChat social media app, it has been more visible. It frequently posts about its efforts to safeguard national security, even advising primary school students on what type of photos they should not share on social media. Moreover, it has exposed cases of alleged espionage by the United States. This move from the spy agency followed Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns’ statement that his agency has made progress in rebuilding its network in China, despite facing setbacks.
See: Xi’s Security Obsession Turns Ordinary Citizens Into Spy Hunters
Foreign embassies and research groups collect weather data in China, which becomes especially crucial during periods of extreme weather such as the flooding experienced in the Beijing area this summer.
Also: China Adds World’s Biggest Energy Sector to Anti-Spy Push
Back in 2012, during a period of severe smog that alarmed the public in Beijing, China urged foreign governments to stop releasing air-quality information. This request arose as the US embassy in the Chinese capital shared data it gathered on Twitter.
Chinese officials argued that this activity by foreign governments did not align with the spirit of diplomacy since their air-quality standards differ from those used abroad.
More: China Begins National Anti-Spy Crackdown on Consulting Firms
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