CIA publishes recruitment video aimed at disaffected Chinese soldiers

"America's Central Intelligence Agency has published a Mandarin-language recruitment video aimed at Chinese soldiers, in an apparent attempt to capitalise on the recent instability in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) following a series of high-level purges. The video, published on the CIA's YouTube channel on Thursday, is titled The Reason for Stepping Forward: To Save the Future. It depicts a fictional Chinese military officer who contacts the CIA after becoming disillusioned with his own leaders."

"The voiceover of the video says: This is the world I know, defending the homeland and protecting the people. But day after day, the truth becomes increasingly obvious: what leaders are really protecting is their own self-interest. Later, the officer says: I could not let their madness be a part of my daughter's future. The video is the fifth Mandarin-language recruitment advert published by the CIA since October 2024."

"The PLA is in turmoil after Xi Jinping, China's leader and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, placed his highest-ranking general under investigation for suspected corruption last month. The purging of Zhang Youxia, once seen as Xi's closest military ally, sent shockwaves through western intelligences agencies. Liu Zhenli, another member of the PLA's ruling body, the Central Military Commission, was also placed under investigation."

The CIA published a Mandarin-language recruitment video targeting Chinese soldiers amid instability in the People's Liberation Army after a series of high-level purges. The video portrays a fictional PLA officer who contacts the CIA after becoming disillusioned with his leaders, declaring that leaders protect their own self-interest and refusing to let that future affect his daughter. It is the fifth Mandarin recruitment advert since October 2024. CIA director John Ratcliffe said the videos reached many Chinese citizens despite YouTube being blocked, with users able to access blocked sites using specialised software. PLA turmoil followed investigations into senior generals including Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.

Read at www.theguardian.com