United Front: China’s ‘magic weapon’ caught in a spy controversy

In this article by Koh Ewe and Laura Bicker of the BBC, they explain what China’s “United Front Work Department” is, what they do, and why you should care.

China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), described by leaders Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping as a “magic weapon,” is a Chinese Communist Party agency focused on influencing public opinion and policy both domestically and internationally. Its activities include targeting overseas Chinese communities, shaping narratives on sensitive issues like Taiwan and Xinjiang, and countering government critics abroad. The UFWD has been linked to espionage and foreign interference, raising concerns in countries such as the US and Australia.

This is a great article to explore how the Chinese Government has “effectively turned everyone into spies.” Read more to dive into China’s espionage around the world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c878evdp758o?al_applink_data=%7B%22target_url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.bbc.com%5C%2Fnews%5C%2Farticles%5C%2Fc878evdp758o%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1JIL_CTn98Rg5wnC0_0swqcEGeRdD1zLZ2ePl1eadcEz2CicvruYbZoRc_aem_M0oXGgrs8uXKYiFLtZHzaA%22%2C%22extras%22%3A%7B%22fb_app_id%22%3A6628568379%7D%2C%22referer_app_link%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22fb%3A%5C%2F%5C%2F%5C%2F%3Fapp_id%3D6628568379%22%2C%22app_name%22%3A%22Facebook%22%7D%7D

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