Dark clouds hang over Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
[People News] Following the Ministry of State Security of the CCP, the National Confidentiality Bureau has also stepped into the spotlight. Recently, the CCP's National Confidentiality Bureau published a statement on its WeChat public account, warning that certain media outlets have included sensitive information from confidential documents in their news reports, thereby leaking CCP secrets. Analysts interpret this as evidence of the escalating internal and external crises facing the CCP, which is currently in a state of heightened alert.
Rare Criticism from the CCP's Confidentiality Bureau Regarding Media Leaks
On the 10th, the WeChat public account 'Confidentiality View' under the CCP's National Confidentiality Bureau released an article highlighting three instances of media leaks. One case involved a propaganda official from a confidential unit who accepted an interview from a reporter of a superior unit without the required approval and unilaterally provided confidential documents for reference. In an effort to create original content, the reporter included sensitive information from the confidential documents in the news report, which was published after receiving approval from superiors. This news circulated widely online, resulting in what was described as a 'serious leak.'
In another instance, personnel from a state agency's newspaper received a CD containing classified materials from agency officials. The media editor drafted a news release based on the relevant materials, which was later reprinted and interpreted by various self-media outlets, leading to what was termed a 'leak.'
Additionally, a leader visited a key military-industrial enterprise, and a local television station sent reporters to cover the inspection. The reporter, 'knowingly committing an offence,' filmed the appearance of new weaponry that was still under confidentiality and aired it in the news, which was subsequently reprinted by numerous domestic and foreign websites, resulting in serious repercussions.
The article titled 'Secrecy Perspective' highlights that government portal websites, WeChat public accounts, and other news media disseminate information rapidly and have a broad outreach. However, these public messages often attract the attention of external forces. If news publicity is not rigorously monitored and confidentiality reviews are absent, it can easily result in information leaks. The article further emphasises that confidentiality review is a crucial aspect of regulating the public disclosure of news reporting, among other points.
The Office of the Central Confidentiality Commission of the Communist Party of China (referred to as the Central Confidentiality Office) and the National Confidentiality Bureau operate as two entities under one institution. They oversee the classification of sensitive materials related to the Communist Party, the establishment and enforcement of regulations, supervision, investigation of confidentiality breaches, and administrative penalties. These bodies are subordinate to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and are managed by the State Council's ministries and commissions, currently under the purview of the General Office of the Central Committee.
Li Zhaozong serves as the current director of the Central Confidentiality Office and the head of the National Confidentiality Bureau. The high-ranking Communist Party officials responsible for confidentiality include Cai Qi, who is currently a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the director of the General Office.
Current affairs commentator Li Linyi remarked to Dajiyuan that the Communist Party's confidentiality department has seldom issued public documents in the past, much like the Ministry of State Security, which traditionally operated behind the scenes. Now, these previously concealed stability maintenance organisations are gradually stepping into the limelight, suggesting that the Communist Party is no longer hiding its malevolent nature.
The Ministry of State Security, which once functioned in the background, has become unusually prominent in recent years, frequently addressing 'national security issues' across various domains, including diplomacy and economics. On October 13, the Ministry of State Security disclosed a confidentiality case, revealing that a warehouse manager sold hundreds of sensitive specialised equipment online and received a sentence of 7 years and 6 months in prison.
As the Communist Party faces escalating internal and external crises, the National Confidentiality Bureau has issued a strong warning.
In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increasingly tightened its control over information. This includes the banning of various economic data that could undermine the stability of the CCP regime, such as land sales, foreign exchange reserves, and bond trading. The public resumes of senior political figures and officials have started to shrink. High-ranking officials are frequently going missing, with the reasons for their disappearances and their whereabouts kept secret. Additionally, personnel changes within the CCP military are no longer formally announced.
The annual press conference of the Premier during the CCP's "Two Sessions," a tradition that has lasted for over 30 years, was cancelled in March 2024. Observers believe this indicates a further tightening of the CCP's information control.
Two years ago, there was a wave of shutdowns of new media accounts related to government affairs, with many accounts being deregistered across various regions. Some speculate this may be linked to financial difficulties faced by the authorities, while others suggest it stems from poor management, with officials worried that these government accounts could easily leak sensitive information.
Zhong Zhidong, an assistant researcher at the Taiwan National Defence Security Research Institute, previously told Dajiyuan that the CCP's various actions to tighten information control are a response to both internal and external crises, reflecting Xi Jinping's extreme insecurity regarding his regime. "Insecurity is why there is a constant emphasis on security."
Tang Jingyuan, a political commentator based in the United States, told Dajiyuan that this situation reveals the CCP's lack of trust even in its official media. This recent announcement may signal that the CCP is initiating a new round of crackdowns on media leaks. This crackdown suggests two things: first, the CCP is facing significant external pressure. Following Xi Jinping's adoption of wolf warrior diplomacy, the CCP's diplomatic environment has deteriorated dramatically, leading to a heightened sense of vigilance where even minor developments are perceived as potential threats to its secrets.
Tang Jingyuan noted that the release of this article further confirms the serious crisis facing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime. A fierce power struggle is underway among the CCP's top leaders, and the authorities are deeply concerned that the media may inadvertently or deliberately disclose some internal matters.
As a result, analysts suggest that the Fourth Plenary Session is imminent, and a flurry of related rumours is circulating overseas, some of which are quite alarming, revealing the intensity of the internal conflicts among the CCP's leadership, which can be characterised as a life-and-death battle! At this juncture, the CCP's National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets has issued a rare public statement condemning media leaks, which undoubtedly serves as a stern warning to all media operating within the Great Firewall!
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