China’s Ministry of State Security, the country’s top counter-espionage watchdog, has hailed the introduction of regulations in Jiangsu province that reward postal and parcel workers for reporting clues about threats to state security. The regulations, which are the first of their kind in China, are aimed at severely cracking down on the use of delivery services to endanger national security.
According to the 25-article regulation, courier companies and their employees are obliged to report “clues about national security violations and crimes” discovered during their work. The regulation establishes a three-tiered reward system, with rewards ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 yuan for tips leading to criminal cases involving national security. Informants providing less significant clues can receive payments of less than 1,000 yuan.
Delivery workers in Jiangsu are expected to remain vigilant for suspicious parcels containing dangerous items related to national security, such as weapons, bullets, drugs, explosives, and threats to biosecurity. They are also required to watch out for books and printed or audiovisual materials that could harm national security. The regulations also mandate express carriers to report any “spy equipment or suspected spy equipment” they encounter.
The Ministry of State Security has emphasized that informants will be protected and that national security agencies will determine the final reward amounts based on the circumstances of each case, the usefulness of the information provided, and relevant policies and regulations.
The move by Jiangsu province is in line with national regulations issued by the Ministry of State Security in June 2022, which set the criteria for rewards for reporting national security threats. The 2022 regulation authorizes rewards exceeding 100,000 yuan for citizens who report behavior deemed a threat to national security.
The Ministry of State Security has increased its social media presence over the past year, highlighting the threat posed by foreign spies and encouraging the public to share information about suspicious activities. The revised anti-espionage law, effective since July last year, expanded the definition of espionage and the investigative powers of state security agencies. Similarly, the newly revised law on state secrets, taking effect next month, broadens its coverage by adding 12 new articles.
