What's behind the CIA's China espionage activities?

Editor's note: Keith Lamb, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a University of Oxford graduate with a Master of Science in Contemporary Chinese Studies. His primary research interests are China's international relations and "socialism with Chinese characteristics." The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Recently mainstream U.S. corporate media published articles detailing the failings of the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) China spying efforts and how it will "remedy" this situation. Such publications only point to espionage incompetence, destroys the U.S. imagined moral high ground, and vindicates China's domestic policies. Certainly, stating these malevolent actions represents arrogance from an organization whose unofficial motto, made famous by Mike Pompeo, is "we lied, we cheated, we stole."

The crux of the articles is that due to the CIA expending its efforts on Iraq and Afghanistan, it neglected China, which was expected to "collapse" and become part of the "liberal order." The CIA's on-the-ground spy network running up to high-level Chinese governing officials was discovered and eliminated. As such, the CIA must work on rebuilding these capacities by recruiting important Chinese officials and businessmen. As always, the CIA will continue electronic snooping and gather as much intelligence on technological progress by Chinese companies.

If these publications are taken at face value, then China's fight against corruption, at the highest levels, criticized by the West, was entirely justified. Even if they are a ruse to install paranoia, considering the CIA's dark legacy, being vigilant is always wise. This goes for other states, some of which do not have the material strength, discipline, or the correct ideological thinking to root out attacks against its sovereignty.

The articles display naked U.S. hegemonic projection. For example, the U.S. portrays China as the aggressor but the CIA is openly stating its aggressive posture toward China. The CIA is seeking to deepen its espionage by acquiring data on Chinese tech development (stealing intellectual property) an action the U.S. typically blames on China.

Astoundingly, U.S. espionage shortfalls are predicated on attention being focused on Iraq and Afghanistan, emanating from the September 11 terrorist attacks. However, these are three calamitous intelligence failures. Re-examining the full events of 911 from a scientific basis would show just how misguided U.S. intelligence was. Afghanistan played no part in 911 and the U.S. could provide no evidence to Afghanistan that Bin Laden, being sheltered in Afghanistan, was guilty. Likewise, Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.

With such a poor track record in intelligence gathering, it is no wonder the articles describe that U.S. intelligence was blindsided by China's rise. Actually, espionage wasn't needed because witnesses on the ground and an understanding of China's ideology would have yielded superior conclusions than those gathered by intelligence services.

The articles make it clear that the CIA, in order to counter China, is encouraging its employees to learn Mandarin Chinese. This is a declaration that there is a lack of people who really understand China. At any rate, mastery will take years and even fluency will lead to greater people-to-people contacts, which will dispel notions of the "China threat." Furthermore, a reading of the Mandarin Chinese media will disarm those who are supposed to work against China, for they will find a media that continually emphasizes unity, one humanity, one world, and global peace and development. They will be confronted with China how it is and not how they are told it is.

Either way, understanding China doesn't necessarily need being fluent in Mandarin Chinese. The CIA can read about China's ambitions in English. Five-year plans detail China's short-term economic and technological ambitions. Xi Jinping's speeches are regularly published. China's medium-term ambition is to build a "modern socialist country" by 2049, lift all its people out of poverty, build an ecological civilization, and construct a stable developed multipolar order characterized by a shared dream of prosperity and peace. This is not a China that is a threat to the U.S. – it is a China that is a partner and a friend.

If the truth is in plain sight, why does the CIA need to throw more money at spying on China? Firstly, the CIA is run by its own logic and power structure, which needs a raison d'etre to command resources and consequently it needs an enemy.

Secondly, the CIA looks at China through its own logic and projects its own image. Yes, China stands with the oppressed, it works for global justice, it brings development, not war, to the world, its system is responsible for the human rights achievement of bringing hundreds of millions out of poverty, and its dream for humanity is not a Chinese dream but a dream for mankind.

Nevertheless, an organization, which "lies, cheats, and steals" is conditioned by its own "karma." Unable to see the light in others, even the actions that demonstrably work toward a common good can only be stepping stones for malevolent motives for the dark-hearted. Rather than reforming China espionage activities, the CIA must reform itself so that it serves U.S. democratic interests.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)