Warships attached to a destroyer flotilla with the PLA Navy sail in formation during a recent real-combat training exercise. (Photo:China Military)

China's Ministry of State Security on Saturday posted a short film calling on the public to enhance national security awareness, as the film describes a case of espionage in which a military enthusiast was deceived by a foreign spy disguised as a pretty girl on instant messaging app into giving up sensitive military information.

Adapted from a real case, the short film WeChat Trap narrates that the national security authorities have detected a spy from abroad. The spy added nearby people as friends through the virtual positioning of WeChat, an instant messaging mobile app used by a majority Chinese mobile phone users, pretending to be a pretty girl to lure individuals into sharing sensitive information in a refined and precise manner. In this way, the spy was given the opportunity to conduct targeted espionage activities centered around critical facilities and military-sensitive areas such as ports and terminals.

The victim, He Li, lives near a military port. Influenced by his father, who is an army officer, He Li is extremely interested in the military since he was a child, considering himself a military enthusiast.

At the time when He was frustrated with his work, he accidentally met a girl named Yang Qing on WeChat. She initiated the conversation, professing to be a student studying abroad on vacation.

The two soon became intimate online friends. Yang claims that she is working part time at a military forum and asked He to help her as a mentor. For military fanatic He, it struck a sensitive spot. Unbeknownst to He, the so-called girl was a foreign spy.

As a result, He poured out the names and uses of the various naval vessels. When Yang hinted that she was curious to take a look at the troops, he offered her photos of the military harbor without any hesitation.

According to the film, Yang continued to probe about various military details, including military plans, deployments and equipment, through chats with He. She also promised to pay him to obtain more military information.

To provide more benefits to Yang, He invited a good friend, Chen Zheng, who was just retired from the army, to help her. Thankfully, Chen had attended a briefing on attempted espionage by national security authorities and instantly realized that He might have become the target of foreign forces.

After listening to Chen's analysis, He realized that foreign spies could add people neighboring troops as friends by using fake locations, so that spies from far away could disguise themselves as being "nearby." They disguised themselves as editors of a military forum and hunted for opportunities to steal military secrets from military facilities and port terminals.

Accompanied by his parents, He came to the national security authorities to confess his misdeed. After investigation, He was exempted from punishment in accordance with the law, considering that his behavior was minor and corrected in a timely fashion after turning himself in to authorities.

The Ministry of State Security has revealed several espionage cases in recent years, urging citizens to strengthen their awareness of national security, safeguard state secrets and take decisive action against betrayal.

Global Times