United Front Work Department

China
Ma Xingrui, a carefully staged fall to protect the First Lady

The ruling against former Politburo member Ma Xingrui, made public on 14 July, formally brings to a close one of the most sensitive cases in the ongoing wave of purges in Beijing. But the indictment, limited to personal and economic misconduct, is significant mainly for what is left unsaid.

Subscribers only Operations 22.07.2026

Ma Xingrui, former secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in Xinjiang (photo taken on 6 March 2024 in Beijing).

Australia, China
LaRouche's Australian followers move closer to Beijing while in campaign against ASIO

The Australian Citizens Party, originally the Australian branch of the political movement led by the late far-right political activist Lyndon LaRouche, intensified its campaigns against the Australian intelligence agency and the AUKUS agreement in 2026.

Deep Dive | China, European Union, France
China's learned European influence network

Beijing maintains a network of pseudo-independent entities and academic ties across Europe which it uses to spread its narrative among member states and within European institutions. The network is sometimes also used for espionage and influence operations.

Subscribers only Operations, Information Wars 17.06.2026

Brussels, a hub for Chinese spies (2/3).

Canada, China
Chinese interference in G7 countries 'systemic', report warns

A comparative study on China's informational campaigns led in all G7 countries and published in late May, recommends the setting up of a task force to fight common weaknesses, and particularly at local level.

Subscribers only Information Wars 21.05.2026

From left to right: Linda Sun, a Sino-American, and Peter Mandelson, a Briton, both of whom have been implicated in scandals that have rocked G7 countries.

China, Netherlands
Beijing's targeting of dissidents presents fresh challenge for European intelligence agencies

In response to transnational repression campaigns by Chinese authorities in Europe, security services across the continent are increasingly coordinating their efforts and stepping up exchanges.

Subscribers only Operations 23.04.2026

Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. A meeting organised in recent months under the auspices of this European agency brought together police and security services from across Europe to discuss China’s transnational law enforcement operations.

Spotlight | China
New purges prompt speculation over minister of public security's withdrawal

New probes into the People's Liberation Army, Rocket Force, United Front and security services have reignited persistent rumours surrounding Wang Xiaohong's near absence from public life.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 10.04.2026

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong in Beijing, on 30 January 2024.

Canada, China
Canada to remain testing ground for Chinese interference

The Chinese Communist Party intends to continue using Canada as a key location for local interference strategies, despite Beijing's assurances to the contrary. The Party intends to replicate its influence activities there in areas where China is struggling to gain a foothold, particularly in Europe.

Subscribers only Information Wars, Back-Door Diplomacy 02.02.2026

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand in Beijing on 15 January 2026.

China, France
French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

After an exhibition of his paintings in Shanghai, the French former prime minister was the guest of honour at a major parallel diplomacy gathering on the shores of Lake Taihu, where foreign dignitaries rubbed shoulders with members of the United Front and Chinese security services.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 21.11.2025

French ex-prime minister Laurent Fabius (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron (C) ahead of an official state dinner at the presidential Elysée palace in Paris, France, on 6 May 2024.

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

The European Union's call for more Hong Kong students to come and study is a tactical boon for the Chinese Communist Party's politburo. With Xi Jinping insisting on reasserting his United Front, the influx of students offers a low-cost way to test influence tactics.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 13.11.2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping, 12 November 2025, Beijing.

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 2/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Subscribers only Operations 02.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army, Episode 2.

China
Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive targets United Front and Chinese diaspora

The Chinese Communist Party is extending its crackdown beyond its borders. Having disciplined domestic elites, Xi Jinping is now targeting the United Front Work Department and diaspora networks, discreet cornerstones of Beijing's parallel diplomacy.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 02.07.2025

China
Chinese intelligence celebrates success of anti-IPAC strategy

The Chinese Communist Party considers that it has succeeded in reducing the scope and effectiveness of the IPAC, a major interparliamentary alliance committed to combatting Beijing's narrative and interferences.

Subscribers only Operations 22.05.2025

British MPs from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) take part in a press conference at the Centre for Social Justice in London on 25 March 2024.

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE screening, US naval intelligence, China's anti-corruption drive, Paris-Moscow skirmish

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceDGSE speeds up clearance procedures to boost recruitment

USThink-tank with US Navy ties mulls potential clash with Beijing

ChinaAcademy of Social Sciences targeted by anti-corruption drive

RussiaDiplomatic tussle between Paris and Moscow

Subscribers only 14.04.2025

China, France
Chinese ambassador in Paris manoeuvres to rally academics to his cause

In making overtures to Chinese student associations in France, Ambassador Lu Shaye has been seeking to re-establish a network of academics who are not firmly opposed to Beijing. He will be handing his new contact list on to his successor.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 07.01.2025

Spotlight | China
Xi Jinping brings foreign ministry and universities into his worldwide security plan

China's state security ministry has been pleading for the creation of an international network of Chinese private security companies but is starting to lose control of the project. The Communist Party has given the foreign ministry a frontline role in the organisation of the new network.

Subscribers only Defence 11.12.2024

China
Xi Jinping takes his anti-corruption campaign into Chinese universities

The Chinese Communist Party regularly receives policy briefs from academics, but the president wants to be sure that the researchers and civil servants who analyse their writings are loyal to the party. This means carrying out an anti-corruption campaign.

Subscribers only Agencies 25.11.2024

Li Xi, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CCP Committee, 22 September 2023.

China, United States
Beijing bets on cultural diplomacy to keep channels open with new US administration

As they ponder over the consequences of Donald Trump's election victory, the Chinese authorities are looking for ways to keep a dialogue open with the United States, notably through the good offices of the United Front Work Department, Beijing's overseas influence agency.

Free access Back-Door Diplomacy 20.11.2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in 2019.

France, Vietnam
Hanoi spins its web in Paris, part 2: hopefuls line up to milk Vietnam-France business links

At the request of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Vietnam is sending its diaspora into battle for economic purposes, and is updating its strategy. A number of businessmen and women are hoping to capitalise on this.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 03.09.2024

Stéphanie Do, former member of parliament for Seine-et-Marne, was invited to the Vietnamese cultural centre in France in January.

Spotlight | China
He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Now deputy executive director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, Shaanxi-born General He Hongjun is keeping a watchful eye on the anti-corruption campaign within the Chinese military. He relies on networks in Russia and the US built up with the help of the United Front.

Subscribers only Operations 22.07.2024

Xi Jinping presents a certificate of order to promote He Hongjun, deputy executive director of the CMC's political work department, to the rank of general.

Spotlight | China
United Front to play pivotal role in Xi's new foreign policy

The Chinese president wants to create an army of people loyal to the Party to further China's interests both at home and abroad. That means roping in independent operators who, though not members of the Party themselves, will share its values and strategies.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 14.03.2024

China
Ma Xingrui, a carefully staged fall to protect the First Lady

Australia, China
LaRouche's Australian followers move closer to Beijing while in campaign against ASIO

Deep Dive | China, European Union, France
China's learned European influence network

Canada, China
Chinese interference in G7 countries 'systemic', report warns

China, Netherlands
Beijing's targeting of dissidents presents fresh challenge for European intelligence agencies

Spotlight | China
New purges prompt speculation over minister of public security's withdrawal

Canada, China
Canada to remain testing ground for Chinese interference

China, France
French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

China
Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive targets United Front and Chinese diaspora

China
Chinese intelligence celebrates success of anti-IPAC strategy

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE screening, US naval intelligence, China's anti-corruption drive, Paris-Moscow skirmish

FranceDGSE speeds up clearance procedures to boost recruitment

USThink-tank with US Navy ties mulls potential clash with Beijing

ChinaAcademy of Social Sciences targeted by anti-corruption drive

RussiaDiplomatic tussle between Paris and Moscow

China, France
Chinese ambassador in Paris manoeuvres to rally academics to his cause

Spotlight | China
Xi Jinping brings foreign ministry and universities into his worldwide security plan

China
Xi Jinping takes his anti-corruption campaign into Chinese universities

China, United States
Beijing bets on cultural diplomacy to keep channels open with new US administration

France, Vietnam
Hanoi spins its web in Paris, part 2: hopefuls line up to milk Vietnam-France business links

Spotlight | China
He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Spotlight | China
United Front to play pivotal role in Xi's new foreign policy

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About Intelligence Online

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Indigo Publications' websites

Donald Trump

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United Front Work Department

China Ma Xingrui, a carefully staged fall to protect the First Lady

Australia, China LaRouche's Australian followers move closer to Beijing while in campaign against ASIO

Deep Dive | China, European Union, France China's learned European influence network

Canada, China Chinese interference in G7 countries 'systemic', report warns

China, Netherlands Beijing's targeting of dissidents presents fresh challenge for European intelligence agencies

Spotlight | China New purges prompt speculation over minister of public security's withdrawal

Canada, China Canada to remain testing ground for Chinese interference

China, France French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

China, Europe China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

Deep Dive | China Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

China Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive targets United Front and Chinese diaspora

China Chinese intelligence celebrates success of anti-IPAC strategy

The Agencies' Gazette DGSE screening, US naval intelligence, China's anti-corruption drive, Paris-Moscow skirmish

FranceDGSE speeds up clearance procedures to boost recruitment

USThink-tank with US Navy ties mulls potential clash with Beijing

ChinaAcademy of Social Sciences targeted by anti-corruption drive

RussiaDiplomatic tussle between Paris and Moscow

China, France Chinese ambassador in Paris manoeuvres to rally academics to his cause

Spotlight | China Xi Jinping brings foreign ministry and universities into his worldwide security plan

China Xi Jinping takes his anti-corruption campaign into Chinese universities

China, United States Beijing bets on cultural diplomacy to keep channels open with new US administration

France, Vietnam Hanoi spins its web in Paris, part 2: hopefuls line up to milk Vietnam-France business links

Spotlight | China He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Spotlight | China United Front to play pivotal role in Xi's new foreign policy

Recommended keywords

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

China
Ma Xingrui, a carefully staged fall to protect the First Lady

Australia, China
LaRouche's Australian followers move closer to Beijing while in campaign against ASIO

Deep Dive | China, European Union, France
China's learned European influence network

Canada, China
Chinese interference in G7 countries 'systemic', report warns

China, Netherlands
Beijing's targeting of dissidents presents fresh challenge for European intelligence agencies

Spotlight | China
New purges prompt speculation over minister of public security's withdrawal

Canada, China
Canada to remain testing ground for Chinese interference

China, France
French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

China
Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive targets United Front and Chinese diaspora

China
Chinese intelligence celebrates success of anti-IPAC strategy

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE screening, US naval intelligence, China's anti-corruption drive, Paris-Moscow skirmish

China, France
Chinese ambassador in Paris manoeuvres to rally academics to his cause

Spotlight | China
Xi Jinping brings foreign ministry and universities into his worldwide security plan

China
Xi Jinping takes his anti-corruption campaign into Chinese universities

China, United States
Beijing bets on cultural diplomacy to keep channels open with new US administration

France, Vietnam
Hanoi spins its web in Paris, part 2: hopefuls line up to milk Vietnam-France business links

Spotlight | China
He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Spotlight | China
United Front to play pivotal role in Xi's new foreign policy