‘Silent Enemy', ‘Dangerous Adversary': What Russia's Spy Files Reveal About Its Best Friend China
Moscow, New York, New Delhi: While Vladimir Putin sings praises of an 'unbreakable friendship' with China, a leaked internal document from Russia's top security agency paints a very different picture – one that could shatter illusions of brotherhood between the two authoritarian giants. In the damning eight-page report leaked from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Beijing is labelled not as a partner, but as a 'dangerous adversary' silently undermining Moscow from within.
According to the classified files accessed by The New York Times, the FSB has sounded alarm bells over China's growing espionage operations. The document accuses the country of covertly recruiting Russian agents, targeting disillusioned scientists, stealing sensitive military technologies and snooping on Russian Arctic expeditions – right under Moscow's nose.
The timing of the leak could not be more dramatic. As Putin wages war in Ukraine and leans on China to survive Western sanctions, these revelations hit like a geopolitical thunderclap.
The FSB report warns that Chinese operatives are using mining companies and academic partnerships as cover to gather intelligence and assert long-term claims on Russian territory, especially in the Arctic – a resource-rich zone Moscow considers its strategic jewel.
Even more shocking, the document alleges that China has been spying on Russian troop movements in Ukraine to extract battlefield data to study Western weapon systems in action.
Secret Spy File Leaked by Hackers
Lacking a date, the FSB document is believed to have been drafted in late 2023 or early 2024. It was leaked by a hacking group known as Ares Leaks and later verified by The New York Times after consulting six Western intelligence agencies – all of whom confirmed its authenticity.
While Moscow has stayed publicly mum, the leak is one of the strongest indicators that show that the trust between Russia and China may be a facade. The report outlines clear counter-espionage priorities aimed at stopping Chinese infiltration. It signals deep-rooted mistrust behind the scenes.
Friends with Benefits?
China and Russia have portrayed a united front. Since the Ukraine invasion, Beijing has bought up discounted Russian oil and gas, propped up Moscow's collapsing tech supply chains with chips and software and filled the vacuum left by fleeing Western companies. The two nations have even discussed joint moon bases and co-producing films.
But the FSB's own assessment makes it clear that the so-called 'friendship without limits' may in fact be a marriage of convenience and an increasingly toxic one at that.
As China continues to rise and Russia bleeds in Ukraine, Putin's trust in Xi might soon cost him more than just military secrets. It could unravel one of the world's most strategically fragile alliances.
Russia and China may smile in public but in the shadows, the knives are already out.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
24 minutes ago
- Economic Times
US News Live Updates: Donald Trump's travel ban on 12 countries goes into effect today
09 Jun 2025 | 07:38:20 AM IST U.S. President Donald Trump's order banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States goes into effect at 12:01 am ET (0401 GMT) on Monday, a move the president promulgated to protect the country from "foreign terrorists." The ban announced Wednesday applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The heightened restrictions apply to people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don't hold a valid policy takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. and does not have an end date. Show more Demonstrators torched cars and scuffled with security forces in Los Angeles on Sunday as police kept protestors away from the National Guard troops President Donald Trump sent to the streets of the second biggest US broke out for a third day, with protestors angry at action by immigration officials that have resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities say are illegal migrants and gang members. Polish and allied aircraft were activated early on Monday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace after Russia launched air strikes targeting western Ukraine, near the border with Poland, the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said."The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the regions bordering the areas at risk," the Command said on of Ukraine was under air raid alerts as of 0200 GMT on Monday after the Ukrainian Air Force warned of Russian missile and drone attacks. Israel's Foreign Ministry says a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists has been diverted to a post on X, it said the boat "is safely making its way to the shores of Israel."The passengers "are expected to return to their home countries," it added, without providing further details. Israel said a Gaza-bound boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists was redirected to Israeli shores on Monday, with the passengers set to return to their homes."The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on social media. Two people died in a fire incident caused by two e-rickshaws kept for charging in the Kodi colony, Dilshad Garden. Fire Officer Anup Singh says, "We received a call at 11.32 pm. The fire was in Kodi colony, Dilshad Garden. We reached the spot and carried out the firefighting operations. After dousing the fire, it was found that two e-rickshaws and motorcycles were gutted in the fire. Two people also lost their lives in the fire incident... Among the dead, one was 24 years old and the other was 60 years old... The charging of the e-rickshaws seems to have caused the fire. Further investigation is underway..." Dust-laden winds are expected to continue in the national capital on Monday with generally clear sky, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. According to the IMD, strong surface winds are likely in the city on Monday with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 43 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 28 degrees Celsius. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said early on Monday that the Israeli military had "boarded" the Gaza-bound charity ship the have been lost on the ship, the coalition added in a post on Telegram. President Donald Trump has banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and restricted access for those from seven others, citing national security concerns in resurrecting and expanding a hallmark policy from his first term that will mostly affect people from Africa and the Middle ban announced Wednesday applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The heightened restrictions apply to people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don't hold a valid policy takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. and does not have an end date.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
US, China seek to extend trade truce with London talks
Washington: After a round of talks in Geneva last month, the United States and China will sit down at the negotiating table in London on Monday to attempt to preserve a fragile truce on trade, despite simmering tensions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will lead the US delegation, President Donald Trump announced Friday. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng -- who led Beijing's negotiating team in Geneva -- will also lead the team in London, the foreign ministry announced at the weekend. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Click Here) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo "The meeting should go very well," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told Fox News on Sunday: "We want China and the United States to continue moving forward with the agreement that was struck in Geneva." Live Events While the government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that it was not involved in the content of the discussions in any way, a spokesperson said: "We are a nation that champions free trade." UK authorities "have always been clear that a trade war is in nobody's interests, so we welcome these talks," the spokesperson added. 'Correcting the course' The talks in London come just a few days after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally held their first publicly announced telephone talks since the Republican returned to the White House. Trump said that call, which took place on Thursday, had reached a "very positive conclusion." Xi was quoted by state-run news agency Xinhua as saying that "correcting the course of the big ship of Sino-US relations requires us to steer well and set the direction." The call came after tensions between the world's two biggest economies had soared, with Trump accusing Beijing of violating a tariff de-escalation deal reached in Geneva in mid-May. "We need China to comply with their side of the deal. And so that's what the trade team will be discussing tomorrow," Leavitt said Sunday. In April, Trump introduced sweeping worldwide tariffs that targeted China most heavily. At one point the United States hit China with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation. China's countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent. Then in Switzerland, after two days of talks, the two sides agreed to slash their staggeringly high tariffs for 90 days. But differences have persisted, including over China's restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals used in tech products. 'Green channel' Throughout its talks with Washington, China also has launched discussions with other trading partners -- including Japan and South Korea -- in a bid to build a united front to counter Trump's tariffs. On Thursday, Beijing turned to Canada, with the two sides agreeing to regularize their channels of communication after a period of strained ties. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang also discussed trade and the fentanyl crisis, Ottawa said. Beijing proposed establishing a "green channel" to ease the export of rare earths to the European Union, and fast-tracking approval of some export licenses. That proposal from the commerce ministry in Beijing came after talks on Tuesday between China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. China is expected to host a summit with the EU in July, marking 50 years since Beijing and Brussels established diplomatic ties.
Mint
35 minutes ago
- Mint
Harvard's China ties become new front in battle with Trump
In his war with Harvard, President Trump has sought to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding from the school and strip its tax exemptions, measures the White House initially tied to perceived antisemitism at the school amid Israel's war in Gaza. In recent weeks, long-simmering Republican anger over Harvard's links to China has increasingly gained traction. In escalating calls to punish the school, a training event two years ago in the Chinese city of Kunming has emerged as Exhibit A. The training, on the bland topic of healthcare financing, was co-hosted by a Harvard professor and involved a few dozen provincial-level bureaucrats. Among them was at least one representative from Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a large Chinese Communist Party paramilitary organization in the country's far west that also handles civilian government services, including managing hospitals. U.S. authorities in 2020 imposed sanctions against the Xinjiang corps, accusing it of ethnic and religious abuses against Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities and forbidding U.S. persons from providing it 'funds, goods, or services." On Wednesday, as Trump moved to bar Harvard from enrolling foreign students, his order cited the event, charging that in exchange for Chinese funding the school 'has, among other things, 'repeatedly hosted and trained members of a Chinese Communist Party paramilitary organization.' " Harvard, which didn't respond to questions, hasn't publicly addressed the allegations involving the Xinjiang corps. The school is fighting Trump in court, calling some of the administration's measures illegal. To its detractors, Harvard epitomizes American elite universities' dependence on Beijing as a profit center—and how that helps the country's rulers, the Chinese Communist Party, challenge the U.S. The conservative Heritage Foundation took aim at higher education in its Project 2025 recommendations, saying, 'Universities taking money from the CCP should lose their accreditation, charters, and eligibility for federal funds." Chinese citizens represent some 23% of Harvard's international students, and Education Department data show that in recent decades individuals and companies from China and Hong Kong together have been the university's No. 2 source of large foreign gifts and contracts, behind only England. In 2023 and 2024 combined, the data show, Harvard reported $55.6 million in gifts of $250,000 or more from China, including Hong Kong, plus $13.7 million in contracts, some 13% and 8.2% respectively among all large-scale funding from non-U.S. partners. The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps booth during a 2021 trade fair in Beijing. In previous responses to questions about its China exposure, such as acceptance of financial gifts, the school has cited its broad global alumni network across over 200 nations. With some 90 million members, the Chinese Communist Party has a deep reach into Chinese society. But while some tuition payments and funding might ultimately be traced to decisions by Chinese Communist Party officials, neither China's government nor the party would be likely to directly underwrite activities involving universities abroad, and there is no indication of such payments to Harvard. The Xinjiang corps, colloquially known as Bingtuan, is central to the Chinese Communist Party's ironclad rule over Xinjiang. Widespread evidence shows its paramilitary operations have played a leading role in Beijing's suppression of Uyghurs, including the detention of more than a million people. In imposing sanctions on the corps and its leaders in 2020, the Treasury Department cited 'their connection to serious human-rights abuse." The organization also has a massive administrative role in providing social services to ordinary citizens, such as managing hospitals and healthcare systems, the topic of the 2023 Harvard training, co-hosted by Winnie Yip, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Analysts say the Xinjiang corps's participation in the training—organized by a Chinese health-insurance regulator, the National Healthcare Security Administration—was hardly the kind of nefarious activity American sanctions are designed to halt. Still, U.S. sanctions laws don't differentiate between types of interaction, said Julian Ku, a law professor at New York's Hofstra University. 'Providing services to a blocked entity is prohibited, so Harvard does indeed face some possible liability here," he said. Trump indicated that his concern about the Xinjiang corps was based on findings of a House Select Committee on China. Its chairman, Rep. John Moolenaar (R., Mich.), late last month wrote to Harvard President Alan Garber, demanding explanations about university activities that 'create risks to U.S. national security and further the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) genocide in Xinjiang." Harvard President Alan Garber A China committee statement about Moolenaar's letter charged that Harvard researchers did transplant studies with 'PRC-based collaborators, amid mounting evidence of the CCP's forced organ harvesting practices." Allegations that Beijing is engaged in institutionalized theft from prisoners and others of body parts for organ transplants have recently gained traction among Republican China critics. While few human-rights groups make that claim today, the anti-Beijing spiritual group Falun Gong has forcefully promoted the issue. The Moolenaar letter described a number of Harvard studies as problematic, including one on cardiac transplants involving mice, detailed in a March 2024 scientific paper that indicated one of the 20 researchers had an affiliation with a hospital in northern China. A spokeswoman for Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital told The Wall Street Journal that the study was done at that institution and had no association with China. By the time the paper was published, she said, one researcher had joined the Chinese hospital. Harvard hasn't responded to Moolenaar's May 19 letter, which was also signed by Reps. Tim Walberg (R., Mich.) and Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), but by no Democrats on the China committee. Winnie Yip, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health In a response to questions, Moolenaar called the Xinjiang corps 'a sanctioned, paramilitary organization complicit in genocide" and said, 'I stand by the letter, and I will continue demanding answers from those enabling or ignoring the CCP's abuses." Criticism over the Xinjiang organization's participation in the 2023 healthcare event originated in a late April report by Strategy Risks, a research firm run by Isaac Stone Fish, a New York-based journalist, which concluded that Harvard's behavior raised doubts about its effectiveness in 'limiting [Chinese Communist Party] and authoritarian influences." The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a New York public-policy organization, funded the report but hasn't independently published the findings. Last month the report found an audience with Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), who cited Strategy Risks in an open letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that urged an investigation into Harvard's potentially 'prohibited behavior" with the Xinjiang organization. Rep. John Moolenaar Four days later, Moolenaar and his fellow House members sent their letter to Harvard's Garber, noting the Xinjiang organization's role in mass detentions and describing healthcare efforts in Xinjiang as a 'fig leaf" to whitewash crimes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem then called out the training as she moved to strip Harvard of its right to educate foreign students. Harvard's public materials on the meetings don't say how the corps came to participate in the training, an iteration of a series on healthcare finance basics known as the Flagship Program developed by the World Bank and Harvard in the 1990s. It has been offered to bureaucrats in dozens of low- and middle-income nations; the 2023 version in China had a special focus on eldercare insurance. A Chinese-language website published by Harvard said the Xinjiang group joined the annual training in 2019, but an internet archive tool showed that reference to its participation was later deleted. Yip, far left, at healthcare-finance training event in China in 2023. The congressional letter also took issue with a photo Harvard published from the 2023 event that blurred out name plates in front of four speakers, which the politicians charged 'raises questions about why Harvard wanted to keep their identities hidden." It couldn't be determined who had obscured the nametags; the photo had previously been widely published that way in China. Key participants are nonetheless easily identified, including the Harvard professor, Yip. Write to James T. Areddy at
