This open source approach to intelligence gathering is conducted by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, the Beijing Document Service, the China Defense S&T Information center, along with a countless number of other agencies and institutions. These organizations pour through scientific journals, import foreign technology (sometimes through front companies), comb through foreign patents, read research papers, analyze conference transcripts, academic thesis papers, and conduct foreign document or personnel exchanges (Hannas, 20).
Read more: http://sofrep.com/33661/chinese-espionage-methodology/#ixzz2vPClUmCs
Unlike American intelligence operations, which emphasize high tech signals intelligence, interceptions, and electronic surveillance devices, the Chinese qingbao approach is benign and boring by comparison. It places a focus, not on novel methods of intelligence gathering, but rather on obtaining what is already in the public domain, then networking this information within the Chinese bureaucracy, using a sophisticated understanding of library science which connects the information with those in the government who need it. It should also be noted that Chinese who work as open-source intelligence gatherers were asked to become a sort of think-tank, “for the party and government by providing top leaders with information and playing a direct role in the policy-making process” (Hannas, 24).
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Second, the diversity of information processed through these agencies is impressive. They scan, track, and analyze everything from, “technical literature to analyzing patents, reverse engineering product samples, and capturing conversations at scientific meetings. Nothing is overlooked” (Hannas, 44).
Read more: http://sofrep.com/33661/chinese-espionage-methodology/#ixzz2vPJfNKc6
