On May 1, 2025, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released two Mandarin-language videos aimed at recruiting disillusioned Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials to share state secrets. These high-production videos, disseminated on platforms such as YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), quickly amassed over 5 million views within a day. The initiative, directed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, underscores the agency's commitment to enhancing human-source intelligence and countering China's expanding global influence in economic, military, and technological domains.

The videos depict fictional CCP insiders expressing dissatisfaction with the party and contemplating their futures. One video features a senior official concerned about political purges under President Xi Jinping, while the other portrays a junior official frustrated by unfulfilled promises within the party. Both characters ultimately decide to contact the CIA, with the videos concluding by providing secure methods for potential informants to reach out, including links to the CIA's public website and the darknet.

This campaign builds upon previous multilingual online outreach efforts targeting individuals in countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea. In October 2024, the CIA launched a similar drive to recruit informants in China, Iran, and North Korea, posting instructions in Mandarin, Farsi, and Korean on various social media platforms. The agency's efforts in Russia, initiated in 2022, were reportedly successful, leading to the expansion of this strategy to other authoritarian regimes.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has not officially commented on the release of these videos. However, in response to previous CIA recruitment efforts, Chinese officials have accused the U.S. of waging an "organized and systematic" disinformation campaign against China. Liu Pengyu, a Chinese embassy spokesman, stated that "any attempts to drive a wedge between the Chinese people and the CCP or to weaken their close bond will inevitably fail."

The CIA's recruitment campaign reflects an adaptation to the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes, as these countries have significantly increased their surveillance and repression of dissenting voices. By leveraging social media and online platforms, the CIA aims to reach individuals who may be disillusioned with their governments and willing to share valuable intelligence.

Experts question the campaign's effectiveness given China's strict internet censorship and surveillance under Xi Jinping’s intensified anti-espionage efforts. Despite these challenges, the CIA believes that growing dissatisfaction within China provides recruitment opportunities.

The CIA's release of Mandarin-language recruitment videos marks a significant shift in intelligence-gathering strategies, aiming to exploit internal dissent within the CCP. While the effectiveness of this approach remains to be seen, it highlights the evolving landscape of espionage in the digital age and the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.