China warns foreign spy agencies using satellites to steal secrets

China has been handling threats from foreign intelligence agencies who use satellites and espionage means in their attempts to steal the country's secrets, according to the Ministry of State Security.

The ministry said in an article published on its WeChat account on Wednesday that some foreign spy organizations keep using high-resolution satellites to carry out remote-sensing reconnaissance on China. Meanwhile, they continue to try to infiltrate China's space companies by tempting and intimidating Chinese scientists and engineers to obtain the latest developments in their research.

Some Western countries have been hyping up arms race in orbit and contest for "space hegemony", making all-out efforts to contain and jeopardize China's space capability, it noted.

Currently, space has become a new domain for economic growth, military conflicts and national security work. Protecting space-based systems and orbital operations from threats and infringement is an important part in the national security work because space-based assets are significant to a nation's security and development, the ministry said.

In recent years, state security bodies worked with relevant departments to handle cases in which foreign spies tried to steal secrets in China's space sector, effectively suppressing foreign intelligence agencies' espionage attempts, the ministry said.

State security departments will continue to use concrete measures to safeguard China's rights, security and interests in space, it added.