SCMP "Foreign-funded environmental group conducts espionage in Namjungseo"

Sponsored by over 20 foreign organizations since 2014

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Chinese authorities have raised suspicions that an environmental organization funded by foreign money is collecting marine data that could be used for espionage activities in the South China Sea and other areas, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 3rd.

According to the report, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (Central Political and Legal Commission) pointed out in a report posted on its official social media on the 1st that the marine data collection activities of an environmental organization could be used for intelligence activities.

The Central Political and Legal Commission stated that the organization regularly publishes reports based on data collected from volunteers at observation points along the entire Chinese coastline, including sensitive waters such as the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

It also revealed that 22 of the organization's observation points are located near Chinese military facilities.

The report pointed out, "The latitude, longitude, environmental, geological, and seawater flow data collected by this organization have a very high risk of being used by foreign intelligence agencies or military institutions, posing a potential threat to China."

The Central Political and Legal Commission is China's highest judicial authority and posted the report to mark the 7th anniversary of the enforcement of China's Anti-Espionage Law.

Although the Central Political and Legal Commission did not mention the organization's name, it confirmed that it is the 'Shanghai Lunduo Marine Public Welfare Development Center' based on a photo of the organization's report posted on social media.

The Central Political and Legal Commission also criticized the organization for providing strong evidence to foreign research institutions, including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia, thereby defaming China.

In February, CSIRO concluded based on the organization's survey data that "the amount of debris accumulated on the Shanghai coast is about ten times that of the Australian and American coasts."

The Central Political and Legal Commission pointed out, "This organization has been funded by more than 20 foreign institutions since 2014," adding, "Between 2018 and 2019, it received $2 million (about 2.36 billion KRW), but only one case was reported to the relevant authorities."

SCMP reported that as China faces increasing pressure from the United States and its allies in various fields ranging from ideology to military and economy, it has recently strengthened controls over espionage activities.