Espionage operations run by China’s Ministry of State Security increasingly focus on American technology firms and artificial intelligence assets, according to reports from CNBC.
Intelligence agencies in Washington believe the ministry recruited businesswoman Alice Huang to gather information on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, The Financial Times and The New York Times reported, citing sources. The two individuals are not related.
Over the weekend, Jensen Huang acknowledged having an affair, though whether any confidential data was compromised remains uncertain.
As reported Wednesday by The FT, citing an individual who was interviewed, the Ministry of State Security contacted someone acquainted with Alice Huang earlier this year to gather details regarding her professional network and operations. The report stated it was unclear whether she was suspected of any wrongdoing.
Intelligence Gathering Expansion Since 1983
Research conducted by Sheena Chestnut Greitens indicates that China founded the agency in 1983 to manage threats stemming from the nation’s newfound openness to outsiders following roughly three decades of heavily restricted borders.
“strengthen China's protections against espionage and foreign infiltration,” Greitens wrote last year in China Leadership Monitor, saying the ministry gained political influence under Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The opaque government entity oversees a range of provincial and national-level bureaus for intelligence gathering. The U.S. Treasury Department has in recent years sanctioned Chinese entities and individuals it alleges are affiliated with the ministry following hacking attempts on U.S. entities, as detailed in Treasury Department releases.
Beijing Targets US Tech Sector for AI Gap
Beijing has targeted the U.S. tech sector to narrow the gap in artificial intelligence capabilities, Matt Pearl told CNBC.
An agent allegedly posed as a Stanford student for years to gather sensitive information, the university’s newspaper reported last year. Data from cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike reveals that in the year leading up to March 31, Chinese actors were responsible for over half of all state-backed cyber operations aimed at tech companies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence resources.
State Security Minister Chen Yixin published a rare article in September about improving artificial intelligence governance and preventing related security risks.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Intelligence Operations
Why was the Ministry of State Security created?
China established the agency in 1983 to address security risks arising from the country’s new openness to foreigners after decades of closed borders, according to research by University of Texas-Austin associate professor Sheena Chestnut Greitens.
What is the connection between Alice Huang and Jensen Huang?
The two individuals are not related, though U.S. intelligence believes the Ministry of State Security recruited Alice Huang to gather information on the Nvidia CEO.
Are the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Public Security the same entity?
No, the Ministry of State Security is separate from the Ministry of Public Security, though the entities can work together.