Exclusive: NGO with overseas backing punished for deploying monitoring network covering East, South China Sea, with 22 sites close to Chinese navy
Editor's note:
2021 is the seventh anniversary of the implementation of China's anti-espionage laws. Over the past seven years, under the national security law, a number of pieces of legislation have been unveiled including the cybersecurity law, nuclear security law, biosecurity law and data security law, providing a firm legal basis for safeguarding China's national security across a number of domains. However, the behaviors of foreign spies and intelligence agencies as well as other forces endangering China's national security are no longer limited to traditional fields, and there are more activities in non-traditional security sectors, which pose a growing risk to the country's economic and social stability and development. In recent years, China's state security authorities have identified a number of major cases in both traditional and non-traditional sectors, eliminating real and potential risks.
The Global Times learned from state security authorities that a non-profit organization focused on the oceans, which has received funding from overseas non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in recent years, has set up marine debris surveillance locations in coastal cities in China to collect sensitive data such as marine monitoring data which is reported back overseas. Before it was held accountable by Chinese security authorities in 2021, the organization has set up a monitoring network covering the country's northern to southern coastal lines and the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. Among them, 22 monitoring points were close to the military targets, which directly threatened China's military security.
A non-profit organization sets up marine debris surveillance spots basically covering China's coastal linesAfter an individual attended a non-profit conference on the oceans and learned that the organization set up marine debris surveillance spots in China's coastal cities to gather the information of the oceans, the person reported this situation to state security authorities in June 2019. The person in charge in the organization claimed that all the monitoring data was for government collection and use, and asked every surveillance location to report data through internet every two months at the excuse of certain state-affiliated departments requiring such data.
State security authorities then launched the investigation. It is worth noting that the organization has complicated oversea background. Since 2014, it has received funding from over 20 overseas institutions. From 2018 to 2019, it received more than 2 million yuan ($312,646.54) from overseas, among which the organization only reported one batch of the funding to relevant authorities.
After gaining financial support from overseas, what has the organization actually done?
The Global Times learned from the state security authorities that in accordance with the guidelines set up by a certain research institute overseas, the organization set up marine debris surveillances sites in the coastal areas of China to collect information about the type, weight, distribution density of debris, drafting and releasing China's marine debris map and research reports
The organization required other cooperative organizations to carry out beach debris surveillance activities every two months at selected monitoring points, and provided funds equal to 1,000 yuan for monitoring activities each time.
The Global Times learned that before it was uncovered by the state security authorities in 2021, it has set up marine debris surveillance sites along the coastal lines from the north to the south and covering the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea.
Sensitive data provided to overseas: a navy port can be seen on the opposite site to a surveillance spot in ShanghaiHow were these illegal marine debris surveillance sites selected? According to the state security authorities, the group asked their cooperative organizations to submit detailed data such as longitude and latitude, geographic location, geomorphology and hydrology, and site photos of alternative monitoring sites according to their work requirements (monitoring sites should be on beaches that no one will clean up).
The organization then determined the monitoring site and sent a special team for field survey. The Global Times learned from sources that some monitoring sites in close proximity to military targets were determined by the organization. For example, a monitoring site in Shanghai is across from a naval port. Though the site is surrounded by fence, the organization would still choose to bypass the beaches to access the monitoring site.
What data are available from these marine debris monitoring sites along China's coastline? The Global Times has learned from the sources that the organization distributed meters, gloves, monitoring forms, record sheets, electronic scales, camera equipment, GPS positioning equipment and other tools to partner organizations. In April 2018, the organization conducted garbage and marine trawl data surveys at multiple locations in Shanghai, collecting information on latitude and longitude, environment, geology and ocean flow. Starting from December 2020, the organization asked for ocean tides and beach slope data collected and reported.
The Global Times learned from the sources that these sensitive data was directly provided to relevant overseas institutions. In April 2019, researchers from a certain country sent an email to the organization asking for relevant data. Subsequently, the research institute of the organization sent the scanned copy of the questionnaire and on-site pictures to the other party through email.
Marine data leakage threatens military security; so-called surveillance reports smear China's environmental protection
Military security is the first that suffered leaks of sensitive information. Personnel who dealt with the case from the state security authorities told the Global Times that through the assessment of the Navy, it is decided that the organization's 22 surveillance sites posed imminent threat to our Navy's security. The information it collected, including latitude and longitude, environment, geology, ocean flow and so on, can easily be used by foreign intelligence and military agencies, posing a potential threat to China.
Aside from the threat to the military, the organization's methodology of surveillance, validity of data and effectiveness in execution were not recognized by authorities. Most of the selected points for monitoring are located in places where the amount of garbage is much higher than the average amount of garbage on the coastline, but the coast areas with few human activities and good environmental conditions were deliberately ignored, and it then simply multiplied the length of the coastline on this base number and work out the so-called overall marine garbage data in China. It was fundamentally a biased study and investigation.
In the "monitoring report" released by the organization, it claimed that "the amount, weight and density of garbage it detected were 20 times and eight times that of China's official data." The data was used by people with ulterior motives abroad to discredit and hype China's environmental protection efforts, which had a negative impact on China's international image.
The monitoring sites should be selected randomly rather than subjectively. This investigation has broken the principle of average, a marine expert told the Global Times.
As the agency only selects places where there is a lot of garbage to sample, the data may be overestimated by many times, creating a misleading narrative.
The Global Times has learned from China's state security authorities that the organization's establishment of 22 monitoring points close to the Navy had posed a real threat to military security. According to China's Counterespionage Law, and Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Counterespionage Law, the organization's behavior belonged to acts that endanger national security other than espionage.
Accepting funding from non-governmental organizations overseas to carry out activities within Chinese borders violated the Law on the Administration of Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations within the Territory of China, which stipulates that organizations and individuals in the Chinese mainland that knowingly cooperate with an unregistered representative office of an overseas NGO or an overseas NGO that has not submitted the necessary documents for the record to carry out temporary activities, who are willfully entrusted or financed by them, or who act in the capacity of an agent or agent in any other form to carry out activities or receive or make payments of project funds shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The official from the state security authorities who handled the case told the Global Times that according to China's Counterespionage Law, the organization is ordered to rectify its activities, shut down 22 monitoring points related to the military sites, and eliminate negative impact.
According to the Counterespionage Law, the organization was punished with a "warning" and "confiscation of illegal income."
The state security agencies will adhere to the overall national security framework, resolutely crack down on and deal with the infiltration and spying from foreign forces and their domestic agencies in China's environmental protection and other fields in accordance with the law, and actively prevent and defuse risks to effectively maintain national security, the official from the state security authorities said, who also warned that it is necessary to strengthen the legal and national security awareness, carry out activities in strict accordance with the law and regulations, and not to cross the legal red line.
Personnel from relevant organizations must prevent being lured, infiltrated and used by personnel at overseas organizations with ulterior motives.
Editor's note:
2021 is the seventh anniversary of the implementation of China's anti-espionage laws. Over the past seven years, under the national security law, a number of pieces of legislation have been unveiled including the cybersecurity law, nuclear security law, biosecurity law and data security law, providing a firm legal basis for safeguarding China's national security across a number of domains. However, the behaviors of foreign spies and intelligence agencies as well as other forces endangering China's national security are no longer limited to traditional fields, and there are more activities in non-traditional security sectors, which pose a growing risk to the country's economic and social stability and development. In recent years, China's state security authorities have identified a number of major cases in both traditional and non-traditional sectors, eliminating real and potential risks.
The Global Times learned from state security authorities that a non-profit organization focused on the oceans, which has received funding from overseas non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in recent years, has set up marine debris surveillance locations in coastal cities in China to collect sensitive data such as marine monitoring data which is reported back overseas. Before it was held accountable by Chinese security authorities in 2021, the organization has set up a monitoring network covering the country's northern to southern coastal lines and the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. Among them, 22 monitoring points were close to the military targets, which directly threatened China's military security.
A non-profit organization sets up marine debris surveillance spots basically covering China's coastal linesAfter an individual attended a non-profit conference on the oceans and learned that the organization set up marine debris surveillance spots in China's coastal cities to gather the information of the oceans, the person reported this situation to state security authorities in June 2019. The person in charge in the organization claimed that all the monitoring data was for government collection and use, and asked every surveillance location to report data through internet every two months at the excuse of certain state-affiliated departments requiring such data.
State security authorities then launched the investigation. It is worth noting that the organization has complicated oversea background. Since 2014, it has received funding from over 20 overseas institutions. From 2018 to 2019, it received more than 2 million yuan ($312,646.54) from overseas, among which the organization only reported one batch of the funding to relevant authorities.
After gaining financial support from overseas, what has the organization actually done?
The Global Times learned from the state security authorities that in accordance with the guidelines set up by a certain research institute overseas, the organization set up marine debris surveillances sites in the coastal areas of China to collect information about the type, weight, distribution density of debris, drafting and releasing China's marine debris map and research reports
The organization required other cooperative organizations to carry out beach debris surveillance activities every two months at selected monitoring points, and provided funds equal to 1,000 yuan for monitoring activities each time.
The Global Times learned that before it was uncovered by the state security authorities in 2021, it has set up marine debris surveillance sites along the coastal lines from the north to the south and covering the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea.
Sensitive data provided to overseas: a navy port can be seen on the opposite site to a surveillance spot in ShanghaiHow were these illegal marine debris surveillance sites selected? According to the state security authorities, the group asked their cooperative organizations to submit detailed data such as longitude and latitude, geographic location, geomorphology and hydrology, and site photos of alternative monitoring sites according to their work requirements (monitoring sites should be on beaches that no one will clean up).
The organization then determined the monitoring site and sent a special team for field survey. The Global Times learned from sources that some monitoring sites in close proximity to military targets were determined by the organization. For example, a monitoring site in Shanghai is across from a naval port. Though the site is surrounded by fence, the organization would still choose to bypass the beaches to access the monitoring site.
What data are available from these marine debris monitoring sites along China's coastline? The Global Times has learned from the sources that the organization distributed meters, gloves, monitoring forms, record sheets, electronic scales, camera equipment, GPS positioning equipment and other tools to partner organizations. In April 2018, the organization conducted garbage and marine trawl data surveys at multiple locations in Shanghai, collecting information on latitude and longitude, environment, geology and ocean flow. Starting from December 2020, the organization asked for ocean tides and beach slope data collected and reported.
The Global Times learned from the sources that these sensitive data was directly provided to relevant overseas institutions. In April 2019, researchers from a certain country sent an email to the organization asking for relevant data. Subsequently, the research institute of the organization sent the scanned copy of the questionnaire and on-site pictures to the other party through email.
Marine data leakage threatens military security; so-called surveillance reports smear China's environmental protection
Military security is the first that suffered leaks of sensitive information. Personnel who dealt with the case from the state security authorities told the Global Times that through the assessment of the Navy, it is decided that the organization's 22 surveillance sites posed imminent threat to our Navy's security. The information it collected, including latitude and longitude, environment, geology, ocean flow and so on, can easily be used by foreign intelligence and military agencies, posing a potential threat to China.
Aside from the threat to the military, the organization's methodology of surveillance, validity of data and effectiveness in execution were not recognized by authorities. Most of the selected points for monitoring are located in places where the amount of garbage is much higher than the average amount of garbage on the coastline, but the coast areas with few human activities and good environmental conditions were deliberately ignored, and it then simply multiplied the length of the coastline on this base number and work out the so-called overall marine garbage data in China. It was fundamentally a biased study and investigation.
In the "monitoring report" released by the organization, it claimed that "the amount, weight and density of garbage it detected were 20 times and eight times that of China's official data." The data was used by people with ulterior motives abroad to discredit and hype China's environmental protection efforts, which had a negative impact on China's international image.
The monitoring sites should be selected randomly rather than subjectively. This investigation has broken the principle of average, a marine expert told the Global Times.
As the agency only selects places where there is a lot of garbage to sample, the data may be overestimated by many times, creating a misleading narrative.
The Global Times has learned from China's state security authorities that the organization's establishment of 22 monitoring points close to the Navy had posed a real threat to military security. According to China's Counterespionage Law, and Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Counterespionage Law, the organization's behavior belonged to acts that endanger national security other than espionage.
Accepting funding from non-governmental organizations overseas to carry out activities within Chinese borders violated the Law on the Administration of Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations within the Territory of China, which stipulates that organizations and individuals in the Chinese mainland that knowingly cooperate with an unregistered representative office of an overseas NGO or an overseas NGO that has not submitted the necessary documents for the record to carry out temporary activities, who are willfully entrusted or financed by them, or who act in the capacity of an agent or agent in any other form to carry out activities or receive or make payments of project funds shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The official from the state security authorities who handled the case told the Global Times that according to China's Counterespionage Law, the organization is ordered to rectify its activities, shut down 22 monitoring points related to the military sites, and eliminate negative impact.
According to the Counterespionage Law, the organization was punished with a "warning" and "confiscation of illegal income."
The state security agencies will adhere to the overall national security framework, resolutely crack down on and deal with the infiltration and spying from foreign forces and their domestic agencies in China's environmental protection and other fields in accordance with the law, and actively prevent and defuse risks to effectively maintain national security, the official from the state security authorities said, who also warned that it is necessary to strengthen the legal and national security awareness, carry out activities in strict accordance with the law and regulations, and not to cross the legal red line.
Personnel from relevant organizations must prevent being lured, infiltrated and used by personnel at overseas organizations with ulterior motives.
2021 is the seventh anniversary of the implementation of China's anti-espionage laws. Over the past seven years, under the national security law, a number of pieces of legislation have been unveiled including the cybersecurity law, nuclear security law, biosecurity law and data security law, providing a firm legal basis for safeguarding China's national security across a number of domains. However, the behaviors of foreign spies and intelligence agencies as well as other forces endangering China's national security are no longer limited to traditional fields, and there are more activities in non-traditional security sectors, which pose a growing risk to the country's economic and social stability and development. In recent years, China's state security authorities have identified a number of major cases in both traditional and non-traditional sectors, eliminating real and potential risks.
The Global Times learned from state security authorities that a non-profit organization focused on the oceans, which has received funding from overseas non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in recent years, has set up marine debris surveillance locations in coastal cities in China to collect sensitive data such as marine monitoring data which is reported back overseas. Before it was held accountable by Chinese security authorities in 2021, the organization has set up a monitoring network covering the country's northern to southern coastal lines and the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. Among them, 22 monitoring points were close to the military targets, which directly threatened China's military security.
The non-profit organization conducts marine debris collection activities
A non-profit organization sets up marine debris surveillance spots basically covering China's coastal linesAfter an individual attended a non-profit conference on the oceans and learned that the organization set up marine debris surveillance spots in China's coastal cities to gather the information of the oceans, the person reported this situation to state security authorities in June 2019. The person in charge in the organization claimed that all the monitoring data was for government collection and use, and asked every surveillance location to report data through internet every two months at the excuse of certain state-affiliated departments requiring such data.
State security authorities then launched the investigation. It is worth noting that the organization has complicated oversea background. Since 2014, it has received funding from over 20 overseas institutions. From 2018 to 2019, it received more than 2 million yuan ($312,646.54) from overseas, among which the organization only reported one batch of the funding to relevant authorities.
After gaining financial support from overseas, what has the organization actually done?
The Global Times learned from the state security authorities that in accordance with the guidelines set up by a certain research institute overseas, the organization set up marine debris surveillances sites in the coastal areas of China to collect information about the type, weight, distribution density of debris, drafting and releasing China's marine debris map and research reports
The organization required other cooperative organizations to carry out beach debris surveillance activities every two months at selected monitoring points, and provided funds equal to 1,000 yuan for monitoring activities each time.
The Global Times learned that before it was uncovered by the state security authorities in 2021, it has set up marine debris surveillance sites along the coastal lines from the north to the south and covering the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea.
The group asked their cooperative organizations to submit detailed data such as longitude and latitude, geographic location and so on
Sensitive data provided to overseas: a navy port can be seen on the opposite site to a surveillance spot in ShanghaiHow were these illegal marine debris surveillance sites selected? According to the state security authorities, the group asked their cooperative organizations to submit detailed data such as longitude and latitude, geographic location, geomorphology and hydrology, and site photos of alternative monitoring sites according to their work requirements (monitoring sites should be on beaches that no one will clean up).
The organization then determined the monitoring site and sent a special team for field survey. The Global Times learned from sources that some monitoring sites in close proximity to military targets were determined by the organization. For example, a monitoring site in Shanghai is across from a naval port. Though the site is surrounded by fence, the organization would still choose to bypass the beaches to access the monitoring site.
What data are available from these marine debris monitoring sites along China's coastline? The Global Times has learned from the sources that the organization distributed meters, gloves, monitoring forms, record sheets, electronic scales, camera equipment, GPS positioning equipment and other tools to partner organizations. In April 2018, the organization conducted garbage and marine trawl data surveys at multiple locations in Shanghai, collecting information on latitude and longitude, environment, geology and ocean flow. Starting from December 2020, the organization asked for ocean tides and beach slope data collected and reported.
The Global Times learned from the sources that these sensitive data was directly provided to relevant overseas institutions. In April 2019, researchers from a certain country sent an email to the organization asking for relevant data. Subsequently, the research institute of the organization sent the scanned copy of the questionnaire and on-site pictures to the other party through email.
In February of this year, a research institution in a certain country published a "research article," falsely claiming that the garbage density of Shanghai's coastline is 10 times that of Australia and the US.
Marine data leakage threatens military security; so-called surveillance reports smear China's environmental protection
Military security is the first that suffered leaks of sensitive information. Personnel who dealt with the case from the state security authorities told the Global Times that through the assessment of the Navy, it is decided that the organization's 22 surveillance sites posed imminent threat to our Navy's security. The information it collected, including latitude and longitude, environment, geology, ocean flow and so on, can easily be used by foreign intelligence and military agencies, posing a potential threat to China.
Aside from the threat to the military, the organization's methodology of surveillance, validity of data and effectiveness in execution were not recognized by authorities. Most of the selected points for monitoring are located in places where the amount of garbage is much higher than the average amount of garbage on the coastline, but the coast areas with few human activities and good environmental conditions were deliberately ignored, and it then simply multiplied the length of the coastline on this base number and work out the so-called overall marine garbage data in China. It was fundamentally a biased study and investigation.
In the "monitoring report" released by the organization, it claimed that "the amount, weight and density of garbage it detected were 20 times and eight times that of China's official data." The data was used by people with ulterior motives abroad to discredit and hype China's environmental protection efforts, which had a negative impact on China's international image.
The monitoring sites should be selected randomly rather than subjectively. This investigation has broken the principle of average, a marine expert told the Global Times.
As the agency only selects places where there is a lot of garbage to sample, the data may be overestimated by many times, creating a misleading narrative.
When a monitoring point near a military installation has been blocked by a fence and the gate is locked, the organization will still allow people to bypass the tidal flat and arrive at the location to carry out monitoring activities.
"It is 10 times or 20 times higher than the actual situation. It's like only one thing comes into view, but it has become 10 or 20 things when it is displayed in data. This completely subverted concept," the expert said.The Global Times has learned from China's state security authorities that the organization's establishment of 22 monitoring points close to the Navy had posed a real threat to military security. According to China's Counterespionage Law, and Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Counterespionage Law, the organization's behavior belonged to acts that endanger national security other than espionage.
Accepting funding from non-governmental organizations overseas to carry out activities within Chinese borders violated the Law on the Administration of Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations within the Territory of China, which stipulates that organizations and individuals in the Chinese mainland that knowingly cooperate with an unregistered representative office of an overseas NGO or an overseas NGO that has not submitted the necessary documents for the record to carry out temporary activities, who are willfully entrusted or financed by them, or who act in the capacity of an agent or agent in any other form to carry out activities or receive or make payments of project funds shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The official from the state security authorities who handled the case told the Global Times that according to China's Counterespionage Law, the organization is ordered to rectify its activities, shut down 22 monitoring points related to the military sites, and eliminate negative impact.
According to the Counterespionage Law, the organization was punished with a "warning" and "confiscation of illegal income."
The state security agencies will adhere to the overall national security framework, resolutely crack down on and deal with the infiltration and spying from foreign forces and their domestic agencies in China's environmental protection and other fields in accordance with the law, and actively prevent and defuse risks to effectively maintain national security, the official from the state security authorities said, who also warned that it is necessary to strengthen the legal and national security awareness, carry out activities in strict accordance with the law and regulations, and not to cross the legal red line.
Personnel from relevant organizations must prevent being lured, infiltrated and used by personnel at overseas organizations with ulterior motives.
Editor's note:
2021 is the seventh anniversary of the implementation of China's anti-espionage laws. Over the past seven years, under the national security law, a number of pieces of legislation have been unveiled including the cybersecurity law, nuclear security law, biosecurity law and data security law, providing a firm legal basis for safeguarding China's national security across a number of domains. However, the behaviors of foreign spies and intelligence agencies as well as other forces endangering China's national security are no longer limited to traditional fields, and there are more activities in non-traditional security sectors, which pose a growing risk to the country's economic and social stability and development. In recent years, China's state security authorities have identified a number of major cases in both traditional and non-traditional sectors, eliminating real and potential risks.
The Global Times learned from state security authorities that a non-profit organization focused on the oceans, which has received funding from overseas non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in recent years, has set up marine debris surveillance locations in coastal cities in China to collect sensitive data such as marine monitoring data which is reported back overseas. Before it was held accountable by Chinese security authorities in 2021, the organization has set up a monitoring network covering the country's northern to southern coastal lines and the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. Among them, 22 monitoring points were close to the military targets, which directly threatened China's military security.
The non-profit organization conducts marine debris collection activities
A non-profit organization sets up marine debris surveillance spots basically covering China's coastal linesAfter an individual attended a non-profit conference on the oceans and learned that the organization set up marine debris surveillance spots in China's coastal cities to gather the information of the oceans, the person reported this situation to state security authorities in June 2019. The person in charge in the organization claimed that all the monitoring data was for government collection and use, and asked every surveillance location to report data through internet every two months at the excuse of certain state-affiliated departments requiring such data.
State security authorities then launched the investigation. It is worth noting that the organization has complicated oversea background. Since 2014, it has received funding from over 20 overseas institutions. From 2018 to 2019, it received more than 2 million yuan ($312,646.54) from overseas, among which the organization only reported one batch of the funding to relevant authorities.
After gaining financial support from overseas, what has the organization actually done?
The Global Times learned from the state security authorities that in accordance with the guidelines set up by a certain research institute overseas, the organization set up marine debris surveillances sites in the coastal areas of China to collect information about the type, weight, distribution density of debris, drafting and releasing China's marine debris map and research reports
The organization required other cooperative organizations to carry out beach debris surveillance activities every two months at selected monitoring points, and provided funds equal to 1,000 yuan for monitoring activities each time.
The Global Times learned that before it was uncovered by the state security authorities in 2021, it has set up marine debris surveillance sites along the coastal lines from the north to the south and covering the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea.
The group asked their cooperative organizations to submit detailed data such as longitude and latitude, geographic location and so on
Sensitive data provided to overseas: a navy port can be seen on the opposite site to a surveillance spot in ShanghaiHow were these illegal marine debris surveillance sites selected? According to the state security authorities, the group asked their cooperative organizations to submit detailed data such as longitude and latitude, geographic location, geomorphology and hydrology, and site photos of alternative monitoring sites according to their work requirements (monitoring sites should be on beaches that no one will clean up).
The organization then determined the monitoring site and sent a special team for field survey. The Global Times learned from sources that some monitoring sites in close proximity to military targets were determined by the organization. For example, a monitoring site in Shanghai is across from a naval port. Though the site is surrounded by fence, the organization would still choose to bypass the beaches to access the monitoring site.
What data are available from these marine debris monitoring sites along China's coastline? The Global Times has learned from the sources that the organization distributed meters, gloves, monitoring forms, record sheets, electronic scales, camera equipment, GPS positioning equipment and other tools to partner organizations. In April 2018, the organization conducted garbage and marine trawl data surveys at multiple locations in Shanghai, collecting information on latitude and longitude, environment, geology and ocean flow. Starting from December 2020, the organization asked for ocean tides and beach slope data collected and reported.
The Global Times learned from the sources that these sensitive data was directly provided to relevant overseas institutions. In April 2019, researchers from a certain country sent an email to the organization asking for relevant data. Subsequently, the research institute of the organization sent the scanned copy of the questionnaire and on-site pictures to the other party through email.
In February of this year, a research institution in a certain country published a "research article," falsely claiming that the garbage density of Shanghai's coastline is 10 times that of Australia and the US.
Marine data leakage threatens military security; so-called surveillance reports smear China's environmental protection
Military security is the first that suffered leaks of sensitive information. Personnel who dealt with the case from the state security authorities told the Global Times that through the assessment of the Navy, it is decided that the organization's 22 surveillance sites posed imminent threat to our Navy's security. The information it collected, including latitude and longitude, environment, geology, ocean flow and so on, can easily be used by foreign intelligence and military agencies, posing a potential threat to China.
Aside from the threat to the military, the organization's methodology of surveillance, validity of data and effectiveness in execution were not recognized by authorities. Most of the selected points for monitoring are located in places where the amount of garbage is much higher than the average amount of garbage on the coastline, but the coast areas with few human activities and good environmental conditions were deliberately ignored, and it then simply multiplied the length of the coastline on this base number and work out the so-called overall marine garbage data in China. It was fundamentally a biased study and investigation.
In the "monitoring report" released by the organization, it claimed that "the amount, weight and density of garbage it detected were 20 times and eight times that of China's official data." The data was used by people with ulterior motives abroad to discredit and hype China's environmental protection efforts, which had a negative impact on China's international image.
The monitoring sites should be selected randomly rather than subjectively. This investigation has broken the principle of average, a marine expert told the Global Times.
As the agency only selects places where there is a lot of garbage to sample, the data may be overestimated by many times, creating a misleading narrative.
When a monitoring point near a military installation has been blocked by a fence and the gate is locked, the organization will still allow people to bypass the tidal flat and arrive at the location to carry out monitoring activities.
"It is 10 times or 20 times higher than the actual situation. It's like only one thing comes into view, but it has become 10 or 20 things when it is displayed in data. This completely subverted concept," the expert said.The Global Times has learned from China's state security authorities that the organization's establishment of 22 monitoring points close to the Navy had posed a real threat to military security. According to China's Counterespionage Law, and Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Counterespionage Law, the organization's behavior belonged to acts that endanger national security other than espionage.
Accepting funding from non-governmental organizations overseas to carry out activities within Chinese borders violated the Law on the Administration of Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations within the Territory of China, which stipulates that organizations and individuals in the Chinese mainland that knowingly cooperate with an unregistered representative office of an overseas NGO or an overseas NGO that has not submitted the necessary documents for the record to carry out temporary activities, who are willfully entrusted or financed by them, or who act in the capacity of an agent or agent in any other form to carry out activities or receive or make payments of project funds shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The official from the state security authorities who handled the case told the Global Times that according to China's Counterespionage Law, the organization is ordered to rectify its activities, shut down 22 monitoring points related to the military sites, and eliminate negative impact.
According to the Counterespionage Law, the organization was punished with a "warning" and "confiscation of illegal income."
The state security agencies will adhere to the overall national security framework, resolutely crack down on and deal with the infiltration and spying from foreign forces and their domestic agencies in China's environmental protection and other fields in accordance with the law, and actively prevent and defuse risks to effectively maintain national security, the official from the state security authorities said, who also warned that it is necessary to strengthen the legal and national security awareness, carry out activities in strict accordance with the law and regulations, and not to cross the legal red line.
Personnel from relevant organizations must prevent being lured, infiltrated and used by personnel at overseas organizations with ulterior motives.
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