A secret Russian intelligence report obtained by The New York Times reveals deep suspicion within Russia’s security services about their supposed ally, China. While President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping regularly boast of a “no limits” partnership, behind the scenes, Russian spy hunters refer to China as “the enemy.”

Tension in the Shadows

The document, drafted by a little-known unit of Russia’s domestic security agency, the F.S.B., lays out a detailed view of Chinese espionage activities in Russia. It highlights concerns that Beijing is aggressively targeting Russian military secrets, especially regarding operations in Ukraine. Chinese agents are also said to be using mining firms and university centers in the Arctic as covers to gather sensitive data.

According to the memo, these efforts include trying to recruit Russian scientists disillusioned by canceled weapons programs, such as the Soviet-era ekranoplan hovercraft, or those dealing with financial hardship. Russian counterintelligence officers have been ordered to intercept these recruitment efforts and to warn Russians working closely with China about the threat.

Cracks in the Alliance

Despite public talk of friendship, Russian intelligence believes China is taking advantage of Moscow’s distraction in Ukraine. The document describes a surge of Chinese intelligence activity that coincides with the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including an attempt to understand how Russia is fighting the West-backed Ukrainian army. Chinese officials have reportedly offered to help Moscow bypass Western sanctions by setting up supply chains and producing military components.

But this alliance comes at a cost. The F.S.B. report notes that while China may be providing lifelines to Russia’s economy and military, it is also actively gathering information that could be used against Russian interests in the future.

The WeChat Angle

One of the most striking aspects of the document is its focus on the Chinese messaging app WeChat. The F.S.B. says it is using a special software tool called “Skopishche” to analyze data from WeChat accounts belonging to Russians who might be talking to Chinese spies. Because WeChat’s encryption is weak by design, it becomes an easy target for Russian surveillance.

Officers have been told to gather login information and contact lists from seized phones. This surveillance extends to monitoring conversations that might involve Chinese agents posing as harmless contacts.

WeChat, owned by Tencent, is a digital giant in China with more than 1.4 billion users. Despite its popularity, it has been seen by Russian security services as a convenient tool for Chinese intelligence gathering in Russia.

The intelligence memo also exposes old fears about China’s ambitions in Russia’s Far East. Chinese academics have been accused of searching for traces of ancient Chinese civilization in these regions to bolster territorial claims. In 2023, China published a map showing historical Chinese names for Russian cities—an act that alarmed Moscow.

Russian intelligence believes this is part of a broader campaign by Beijing to influence local opinions and challenge Russia’s hold over the region. The F.S.B. has warned officers to expose these activities and to block foreigners involved in them from entering the country.

Even as Russian intelligence gathers evidence of Chinese spying, the report urges caution. Officers are told not to publicly label China as an enemy, aware that any confrontation could jeopardize critical economic and military ties.

ACZ Editor: Most people know that the purpose of a cooperation effort is less to help the host country and more to recruit agents within the host country. Russian intelligence was not born yesterday, they see this and are suspicious of any friendly hand from China.