New Zealand's spy agency has accused China of running the largest foreign interference groups in the country, including the front organisations.
As per the risk assessment conducted by the country’s spy agency, “New Zealand faces one of the most challenging security environments in recent times.” The agency also stated that while different nations are trying to “increase their influence in the country, China by far remains the most active.”
The spy agency specifically accused China's United Front Work Department (UFWD) of engaging in foreign interference to build influence outside of China. The agency accuses UFWD that “its activities are deceptive, coercive and corruptive and come with risks for New Zealand organisations."
It cautioned the organisations in New Zealand that they must be aware of how China runs their security policies in foreign nations through agreements with Chinese firms. The Indo-Pacific region has become a flashpoint for strategic competition between the global powers, it said.
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The report also accused China of being an “assertive, dominant and powerful actor seeking to extend, maintain and embed influence across the region as the security competition has intensified after the formation of QUAD and AUKUS.”
"It has demonstrated both a willingness and capability to undertake intelligence activity that targets New Zealand's national interests." It is "almost certain" some foreign espionage activity is going undetected, the service said, reporting the targeting of critical organisations, infrastructure and technology, mostly through cyber exploitation.
"It is not just intelligence officers conducting this activity," the report said, adding, "Some governments take a 'whole of state approach' to intelligence gathering, which includes utilising businesses, universities, think tanks, or cyber actors to act on their behalf."
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