Direct contact information for Chinese intelligence agencies, such as the Ministry of State Security, is rarely publicized. Public inquiries are typically handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which received over 85,000 requests in 2022, with 12% related to security policy. For specific cases, consult local embassies or submit formal requests through government information disclosure applications.
The Ministry of State Security disclosed little information
The Ministry of State Security is the Chinese government department responsible for domestic and foreign intelligence collection and national security maintenance, with little public information and high confidentiality. According to the limited statistics made public from 2019 to 2023, the number of public policy documents issued by the Ministry of State Security is less than five per year, most of which focus on specific security law revisions or large national security propaganda campaigns. During the same period, the official website of the Ministry of State Security has a very low frequency of page updates, an average of only about 4 times a year, and the content is mostly universal policy introduction and legal interpretation, lacking specific operational guidelines and contact information.
In terms of access channels, the number of international public consultations publicly received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2021 exceeded 70,000, of which security policy consultations accounted for about 10%, or about 7,000, and most of the issues related to the Ministry of State Security were still ultimately classified as state secrets or sensitive information, with a response rate of less than 5%.
In terms of national security education and publicity, the Ministry of State Security will participate in national security education Day activities every year to publicize basic knowledge related to preventing security risks. It is estimated that about 150 million people will participate in Safety Education Days at all levels in 2022, which will take the form of online and offline lectures, exhibitions and safety knowledge tests. These activities are mainly aimed at ordinary citizens and students, and mainly involve basic knowledge such as how to identify network security threats and protect personal privacy, without in-depth policy interpretation for professional organizations or individuals.
Official channel contact
Official channel contact In China, although intelligence agencies such as the Ministry of State Security disclose little information to the outside world, the Foreign Ministry, as the main external communication window, undertakes a considerable part of the relevant public consultation. According to the 2022 statistics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles an average of about 85,000 public and international consultation requests per year, of which security policy consultations account for about 12%, or about 10,200. In most of these requests, information queries involving intelligence services will be classified by the Foreign Ministry and provide a more general response, and in the few cases where there is a genuine need, the Foreign Ministry may provide indirect policy explanations.
As the front line for policy advice and support, Chinese embassies and consulates around the world also undertake a portion of national security-related advisory requests. In 2021, for example, Chinese embassies and consulates in the United States handled more than 25,000 public consultation requests, of which security policy inquiries accounted for about 8%, or about 2,000. Embassies and consulates abroad usually advise the public to consult basic information through the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first, and for specific policies or regulations, they will direct the public to submit formal consultation forms.
According to the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Disclosure of Government Information, the public can obtain policy documents and information from certain government departments by submitting information disclosure applications, although requests involving national security will be strictly vetted. In 2021, national ministries received a total of about 750,000 requests for information disclosure, of which about 4,000 were related to national security matters, and fewer than 15 percent of the requests were answered, with most of the information disclosed being general laws and regulations, while specific matters involving the Ministry of State Security were classified as sensitive information and could not be disclosed.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs website Resources
The official website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the main channels for the public to obtain information on the government’s foreign policy and international affairs. According to statistics, the total number of visits to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2022 exceeded 500 million, of which the page views related to national security and foreign policy accounted for about 18%, that is, nearly 90 million visits. Users usually check China’s position on international cooperation, security policy and global hotspot issues through the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as obtain statements and news briefings on specific events.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website is also available in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic, so that international users can directly access and obtain information. According to the traffic data of the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the proportion of international visits to the website in 2021 reached 35%, of which the visits from the United States, France and Japan topped the list, with 25 million, 14 million and 12 million visits respectively. This multilingual resource makes it easier for the public in different countries and regions to understand China’s foreign policy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website also provides channels for public interaction, such as online questions and answers and submissions. In 2022, the number of public comments and questions submitted online through the website exceeded 80,000, of which more than 15% related to security policy and international affairs, or about 12,000. These issues mainly focus on China’s defense policy, counter-terrorism cooperation and international sanctions. The Ministry’s response to these questions is usually completed within 3-5 working days, and although some sensitive questions involving national security will not be specifically answered, it will generally give an overview at the policy level.
Consular services and International affairs
The consular service system of the Chinese Foreign Ministry provides overseas Chinese citizens with a wide range of services, including emergency assistance, passport and visa processing, and epidemic prevention and control guidance. In 2022, the Chinese Consular Service Center handled about 1.6 million public inquiries, of which about 800,000 were for passports and travel documents, accounting for 50 percent of the total. During the pandemic, the need for consular services is even more acute due to restrictions on international travel. From 2020 to 2022, the number of consultations related to epidemic prevention and control has increased dramatically, accounting for more than 40% of the total consultation volume of the service center. In 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also coordinated about 150 chartered flights to help evacuate Chinese nationals from areas at high risk of the epidemic, bringing back nearly 70,000 Chinese nationals.
In 2021, China has more than 280 diplomatic and consular missions abroad, of which the Embassy in the US and the diplomatic and consular missions in the EU handled about 30,000 and 25,000 public inquiries respectively. At the US embassy, for example, nearly 30 percent of the 30,000 inquiries involved legal aid and consular protection, particularly in dealing with the safety of international students, investors and tourists.
In terms of global diplomatic affairs, one of the priorities of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s consular services is to promote cooperation and assistance to countries along the Belt and Road. According to 2022 data, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invested about 300 million yuan in consular service support in countries related to the Belt and Road Initiative, for facility improvement and the supply of emergency aid materials. In the same year, the Foreign Ministry also provided security assessment and support to about 120,000 projects along the Belt and Road together with its overseas agencies. In the Middle East and Africa, for example, the number of Chinese investment projects in these regions accounts for about 35% of the total number of “Belt and Road” projects, and the corresponding security services account for 40% of the overall investment in services.
Chinese embassies abroad
By the end of 2022, China has more than 280 embassies and consulates worldwide, covering most countries and regions. In 2021 alone, the total number of inquiries handled by embassies abroad reached 1.5 million, including passport and visa services, emergency assistance, legal assistance and security alerts. In particular, some major foreign embassies, such as those of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, handle more than 50,000 public inquiries per year, accounting for more than 10% of the total.
The Chinese Embassy in the United States, for example, handled more than 60,000 requests for public consultation and consular services in 2022, an increase of 15 percent over the previous year, with 20 percent of the requests involving emergencies. When dealing with emergencies, the Embassy in the United States will coordinate the local consular protection team to provide necessary assistance to Chinese citizens. For example, during natural disasters in the United States, such as hurricanes and wildfires, the Embassy in the United States has launched emergency plans to provide temporary accommodation and emergency supplies for affected Chinese citizens. In 2022, the Embassy in the United States provided emergency assistance to more than 2,000 Chinese citizens stranded by emergencies.
Embassies in countries along the “Belt and Road” are more committed to promoting economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. Take the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan as an example. In 2021, the embassy coordinated more than 200 China-Pakistan business fairs, providing policy advice and resources to more than 3,000 Chinese business representatives and local partners in Pakistan. In the same year, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan handled a total of 18,000 public inquiries, including issues related to project security, visa policy and trade policy. In contrast, Chinese embassies and consulates in the EU handled about 25,000 similar requests for advice in 2021, focusing on investment policy, technical cooperation and talent exchanges.
Chinese Ministry of Public Security website
The website of China’s Ministry of Public Security is an important platform for the public to obtain information about the public security system, covering public security management, traffic management, entry-exit policies, anti-terrorism information, and police disclosure. According to 2022 statistics, the website of the Ministry of Public Security has more than 1 billion annual visits, of which the page visits involving traffic management and immigration services account for the highest proportion, 35% and 22% respectively, that is, about 350 million and 220 million visits. Visits to the immigration service page have continued to increase since the outbreak, with more than 100 million visits in 2021 alone, an increase of 20% compared to 2020.
The website of the Ministry of Public Security also has a “12389” police public reporting platform, through which the public can report violations of discipline and irregularities within the public security system. According to 2021 data, the 12389 platform received a total of about 500,000 reports from the public, of which about 30%, or 150,000, were reports involving disciplinary violations by the police.
The Ministry of Public Security website also provides the anti-fraud center with online consultation and early warning functions. In 2022, the Anti-Fraud Center of the Ministry of Public Security issued more than 200 telecom fraud alerts through its website, covering common fraud techniques and the latest online fraud trends. The cumulative reading of these warning messages reached 200 million times, and the average visit of each warning message was about 10 million times. The MPS also uses the platform to help the public identify potential risks and provide preventive advice. According to the statistics in 2022, 100,000 cases of fraud successfully avoided by referring to the early warning of the anti-fraud center have directly saved public property losses of about 1.5 billion yuan.
Interior and defense ministries
China’s interior and defense ministries are responsible for maintaining national security, managing military affairs, and implementing domestic policies. The Ministry of National Defense has a number of command centers and offices across the country, and releases the latest military policy information to the public through annual defense white papers, public statements and policy documents. According to the 2021 statistics, the annual visits of the Ministry of Defense website reached 680 million times, of which the page visits involving the interpretation of national defense policy and analysis of the international security situation accounted for about 30%, that is, more than 200 million times.
The National Emergency Management Department of the Interior also plays an important role in emergency response. In 2022, there were more than 2,000 sudden natural disasters across the country, and the State Department of Emergency Management coordinated about 3,000 rescue teams and invested more than 10 billion yuan in emergency rescue funds, covering flood, earthquake, typhoon and other types of disasters. For example, during the southern floods in the summer of 2022, the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched more than 50 professional rescue teams to help more than 50,000 people evacuate to safety, successfully reducing property and personal losses.