China Sets Sights on ‘Unlawful’ Weather Stations in Spy Hunting Campaign

China is intensifying efforts to counter foreign espionage activities through a crackdown on weather stations believed to be spying for other countries. The Ministry of State Security, China’s civilian spy agency, announced the discovery of hundreds of illegal meteorological stations with foreign connections that were transmitting real-time weather data abroad, violating data regulations and posing national security risks. These stations were uncovered in over 20 provinces, with some receiving direct funding from foreign governments, according to the ministry’s statement.

The spy agency revealed that some of these stations were strategically placed near sensitive locations like military bases and defense companies to gather altitude and GPS data. Additionally, others were situated in key grain-producing regions to analyze crop growth and grain yield. The agency emphasized that some of the devices were small, easily deployable, and difficult to detect, enabling them to autonomously collect and transmit data in real-time.

Certain stations were found to be sending real-time information at high frequencies and multiple intervals for extended periods to official meteorological agencies overseas. These activities were said to serve the “homeland security” and meteorological monitoring of foreign nations, though the ministry did not specify which countries were involved.

The discovery was made after an investigation into more than 10

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