Edward Schwarck
On September 25, 2024, newly promoted chiefs of provincial state security bureaus in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gathered in Beijing for a “training course (培训班)” organized by the Ministry of State Security (MSS). Coverage of the event was characteristically sparse, yet a careful reading of Minister Chen Yixin’s (陈一新) speech at the opening session yields fresh evidence for reform of the PRC’s secret intelligence and counterespionage system (China Peace, September 25).
Chen used his address to analyze the “strengths and ‘shortcomings’ (优势和 ‘短缺’)” of provincial bureau appointees, describing them as “a team that the Party Committee of the MSS has comprehensively considered, carefully selected, and placed high hopes on (国家安全部党委通盘考虑、精心选拔、着力培养、寄予厚望的一支队伍).” Chen then exhorted his audience to “take the lead in implementing vertical management by the ministry’s Party Committee over the work of the entire [state security] system (带头落实部党委对全系统工作的垂直管理).” These comments are striking.
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