Suspect a Spy Is Lurking? In Beijing, Speak Up and Collect
"For actions that play a particularly large role in preventing or halting espionage activity or breaking espionage cases,
and for contributions of especially important leads, the reward will be from 100,000 to 500,000 yuan," say the rules.
As the national capital, awash with political gossip, high-tech companies
and foreigners, Beijing is a prime location for "foreign espionage and intelligence agencies and other hostile forces who are engaged in infiltration, subversion, separatism, sabotage and stealing secrets," according to an explanation accompanying the new rules.
"Do you still think that good deeds go unrewarded?" The cash-for-spies campaign is the latest addition
to the Chinese government’s battery of measures to fight foreign espionage and subversion.
"Think informing on spies is too much effort for too little reward?" the ad says in the kind of shrill voice
that might be used to sell kitchen knife sets on late-night television.
The Chinese capital’s spy hunters are offering people up to a half-million renminbi (more than $72,000) to help identify foreign espionage activities
and catch the operatives responsible, Beijing newspapers said on Monday.
Locals can inform on suspected spies by calling a state security phone line (12339, like the
Jilin number), writing to the Beijing state security bureau or showing up at its office (No.
"Steal state secrets with me and make a fortune by selling them abroad!" the swarthy foreigner tells the boy outside a hotel.