A newly leaked Russian intelligence memo has revealed a startling contradiction at the heart of Moscow’s “strategic partnership” with Beijing — behind the warm public displays of unity, the Kremlin allegedly considers China one of its most serious espionage threats.
According to documents reviewed by The New York Times and verified by six Western intelligence agencies, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) believes Beijing is actively trying to steal military secrets, recruit Russian experts, and infiltrate sensitive Arctic development projects.
The eight-page internal memo, reportedly authored by the FSB’s 7th Service — a unit specializing in countering Asian espionage — starkly states: “China is the enemy.” This private assessment stands in sharp contrast to the Kremlin’s official rhetoric, which brands the two powers as “strategic allies” united against Western influence.
The Leak and Its Source
The document, dated late 2023 or early 2024, was allegedly obtained by hacker collective Ares Leaks. While its precise origin remains murky, analysts suggest it is authentic, offering a rare glimpse into Russia’s counterintelligence priorities against a supposed ally.
The memo outlines “Entente-4” — a covert FSB program launched just days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its mission: block Chinese infiltration without triggering a diplomatic crisis. Officers are reportedly instructed never to publicly identify China as a threat, underscoring Moscow’s delicate balancing act as it leans heavily on Beijing for oil purchases, tech imports, and sanctions relief.
Alleged Chinese Espionage Tactics
The FSB accuses Chinese intelligence agencies of:
- Targeting Russian military scientists and engineers from shuttered Cold War projects, especially those facing financial hardship.
- Exploiting Russians with Chinese spouses for recruitment leverage.
- Using WeChat as a surveillance and communication tool for covert operations.
- Sending academics, businesspeople, and scientists to gather intelligence under the guise of joint research or trade missions.
In a particularly sensitive claim, the memo says Beijing has been subtly promoting historical narratives that challenge Russian sovereignty in the Far East — including publishing maps labeling Vladivostok with its old Qing Dynasty-era Chinese name.
Espionage in the Arctic and Beyond
The Arctic emerges as a key battleground in the memo, with the FSB alleging that Chinese universities and companies are disguising intelligence-gathering operations as environmental or infrastructure studies. The goal, it says, is to influence policy in regions where Russia is racing to secure resources and military dominance.
Beijing’s growing “soft power” push in Central Asia is also flagged, with suggestions that it could serve as cover for deeper strategic infiltration.
Russia’s Countermove: Controlled Misinformation
Interestingly, the leaked memo does not portray Moscow as a purely defensive player. Instead, it reveals a calculated strategy to manipulate Chinese intelligence assessments — feeding Beijing selectively positive information about Russia’s war in Ukraine to maintain the image of military strength.
By shaping China’s perception of the conflict, Moscow hopes to prevent Beijing from losing faith in Russia’s capabilities and to sustain the flow of economic and political support.
An Alliance of Convenience, Not Trust
The memo ends with a warning: while China poses a clear espionage risk, any overt move against it must be cleared at the highest political levels. The underlying message is blunt — alienating China would be far more damaging to Russia’s survival than tolerating its spying.
Alexander Gabuev, a Carnegie Russia expert quoted by The New York Times, notes: “Putin believes that he can go much deeper into this Chinese embrace, and it’s not risk-free, but it is worth it.”
In other words, the Kremlin appears to be playing a dangerous game — publicly embracing Beijing as a vital partner against the West, while privately preparing to defend itself against Chinese espionage.
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