ABSTRACT
Chinese intelligence operations and methods are relatively new to the Western world. The practice of espionage in China dates back to at least the fifth century b.c., when the proper employment of spies was detailed in a military manual, Sun Tzu Bing F. The People's Republic of China's intelligence needs are far more numerous and complicated than those of ancient times. Global or regional changes in political, military, and economic conditions do not diminish the need for accurate intelligence. On the contrary, a nation's need for accurate and timely intelligence corresponds to the level of global or regional instability and the scope of its interests worldwide. The shortsighted allocation of America's intelligence resources has allowed the Chinese espionage apparatus to operate outside the focus of mainstream counterintelligence concerns. Industrial espionage and illegal technology transfers are only the most publicized aspects of China's intelligence activities.
