Last year, soon after the end of zero-COVID measures, China expanded a counter-espionage law making it more vague and therefore more of a threat to any company or individual who falls under suspicion. Here’s what CNN reported about the new law last April:
The new language in the amendment suggests “any organization and anyone can be suspect … and anything can be counted as a threat to national security” in the arbitrary application of the law, [Professor Yasuhiro] Matsuda said. “This will definitely cause a chilling effect,” he said…
According to analysts, topics such as the origin of Covid, China’s real pandemic death toll, and authentic data on the Chinese economy could all fall within the crosshairs of the law.
“Before (some activities) used to be normal engagement, but now they could be espionage,” said Alfred Wu, an associate professor in Lee Kuan Yew School of…
