The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released a Mandarin-language recruitment video aimed at officers in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), heightening tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Published on February 12, 2026, the clip follows a mid-level PLA officer who grows frustrated with corruption and internal purges, ultimately contacting the CIA to protect his family and the country’s future.
The video instructs viewers on secure ways to reach the CIA, including encrypted channels and tools like the Tor Browser, despite China’s internet restrictions. This release continues the CIA’s ongoing effort to rebuild intelligence networks targeting China’s military.
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the video as foreign interference and espionage. Spokesperson Lin Jian warned that Beijing would take “all necessary measures” to protect national security, accusing the US of attempting to infiltrate and sabotage the PLA.
The timing comes amid internal unrest in the PLA, with anti-corruption campaigns and investigations into senior officers creating unease. Analysts see the video as both a recruitment effort and a political signal in the growing US-China intelligence rivalry, underlining deepening mistrust between the two powers.
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