China celebrates the first-ever National Security Education Day. (Photo : Getty Images)
Beijing is warning female government employees against trusting good-looking foreigners who might turn out to be a spy in the country’s latest campaign on state security to raise public awareness.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, China celebrated its first-ever National Security Education Day on Friday to mark the passing of the National Security Law in July 2015.
During the celebration, the central government released a "plethora of promotional material" that summarized what would happen if public servants become too trusting of foreign visitors in the country.
One particular poster that caught the world's attention was a 16-panel comic strip titled "Dangerous Love," which talks about Xiao Li, or "Little Li," a woman working in the government who trusts a handsome foreigner with state secrets.
"Dangerous Love"
According to the Associated Press, Little Li's tale begins when she meets a red-haired young man named David who pretended to be a scholar visiting the country.
In reality, he is actually a spy who used sweet words, and even sweeter gifts to extract confidential information from the oblivious government employee.
The poster went on to narrate how Little Li provided David with confidential documents from the government propaganda office she was working at, which later led to their arrest.
The last panel showed Little Li handcuffed while being scolded by two police officers telling her how she had a "shallow understanding of secrecy for a state employee."
According to AP, the material was focused on preventing rank-and-file government employees as well as female citizens from being misguided by mere physical appearances of the people they meet.
The National Security Law
China takes its security very seriously and does not treat those who try to demolish it with much kindness.
In fact, an encryption research institute technician was made an example of how the country treats traitors and spies after he was given the death penalty for leaking thousands of confidential information to foreign intelligence agencies.
In July 2015, China's State Council passed the National Security Law that is expected to "safeguard stability and development in the country and region as a whole," according to an editorial from Xinhua.
"In contrast to some Western nations' notion that the definition was 'too broad,' the law is based on China's national conditions, follows the basic principles of international law, and draws from good experience and common practice of other countries," the article read, referring to a BBC News report when the law was passed.
According to the U.K.-based media, China's National Security Law is more of "an ideological declaration," citing East China University of Political Science and Law ex-professor Zhang Xuezhong.
"A good security law should state who on what conditions gets what punishment, but this law doesn't. Technically speaking, the law is awful, as it is difficult to enforce it on individuals and companies," Zhang was quoted saying.
