All the ways China could keep its eyes and ears on the US-North Korea summit without being there

martin

6 years ago

china chinese spy Reuters

US officials are reportedly bracing for China to covertly make its presence known at the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

As the June 12 meeting in Singapore draws near, US intelligence officials are reportedly expecting China — which is believed to have conducted intelligence operations in the country — to keep close tabs on their affairs.

“Chinese intelligence collection could be amped up around the summit,” Jeremy Bash, a former chief of staff to CIA director Leon Panetta, told NBC News this week. “They have prioritized surveillance in recent years and their technical prowess has really advanced.”

“What they would want to get is to know what people in the meetings said and what happened,” another former senior US official said.

Relations between China and the US have remained largely cordial, but the two powers are seen by some as having competing interests as it relates to negotiations with North Korea, and other matters.

Here’s a look at some of the ways China may try to keep eyes and ears on the summit, and ways the US will be combatting them in Singapore:

Waiters and other workers at restaurants and bars

WikiMedia Commons

US officials were reportedly concerned that China may have employed informants working as waiters and other staff at restaurants and bars in Singapore. If true, these potential staff members would compensated to eavesdrop on US citizens and then pass on information to China.

Source: NBC News

Bugged devices in meeting rooms

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Capella Hotel, the venue in which Trump is expected to meet Kim Jong Un, will reportedly be swept for covert listening devices, particularly in rooms where side conversations may occur.

Source: NBC News