The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released a new Mandarin-language recruitment video aimed at members of China’s armed forces, urging them to share information with Washington through secure channels.
The nearly two-minute clip, posted on YouTube, follows a fictional Chinese military officer who grows increasingly uneasy about his country’s leadership. The character suggests senior officials are protecting their own interests rather than the nation’s future. Scenes of him with his wife and daughter frame cooperation with the CIA as an act of responsibility to family and country.
The video ends with step-by-step guidance on how to use the encrypted Tor Browser to contact the agency safely. In the description, viewers are asked whether they have access to information on senior leaders or work in the military, intelligence, diplomacy, science, economics, or advanced technology sectors.
The production is part of a broader digital outreach campaign previously targeting Russian and Chinese audiences. Analysts say it reflects a shift toward online recruitment efforts, allowing intelligence agencies to reach potential sources directly inside tightly controlled states.
Beijing has repeatedly condemned such campaigns, accusing Washington of spreading “smears” and attempting to lure Chinese personnel into betrayal. In the past, China dismantled a CIA informant network between 2010 and 2012, leading to arrests and reported executions, a major setback for US intelligence operations.
The latest video highlights how espionage between global powers is increasingly playing out in the open and online as geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing intensifies.
