The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has taken an unusually open step in its intelligence contest with China by releasing a series of Mandarin-language videos, marking a shift in how Washington communicates with Chinese audiences.
The effort began in May 2025, when the Central Intelligence Agency published two Mandarin videos aimed at Chinese officials and professionals. Produced in a cinematic style, the clips portrayed fictional characters under pressure, grappling with loyalty, fear and moral choices within China's system. There was no direct call to spy, but the messaging made clear that the agency was addressing Chinese insiders directly, in their own language.
Those initial videos circulated widely inside China, drawing criticism and condemnation as foreign interference while also being discussed across social media platforms. The attention, including hostile reactions, ensured broad visibility.
In January 2026, the CIA released another Mandarin-language video with a more direct approach. The latest clip provides step-by-step instructions in Mandarin on how individuals inside China who wish to assist the agency can make contact, outlining basic digital precautions and communication methods.
Despite its explicit content, the January video saw limited reach on Weibo, China's main social media platform. Although it briefly appeared in trending discussions, overall engagement remained low.
One verified Weibo user described the 'notorious' CIA as again attempting to recruit spies, claimed that China had dismantled a US spy network in the past, and warned that vigilance against 'traitors and internal enemies' was essential. The comments reflected a security-focused narrative rather than open debate.
This is not the first time the CIA has used public, language-specific outreach. In 2023, the agency released Russian-language videos following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, targeting Russian officials and elites with emotional storytelling designed to encourage disillusioned insiders to share information. That campaign marked a shift toward open intelligence messaging and now serves as a template for the Mandarin effort.
More detailed reporting on the China-focused videos has appeared outside mainland China, including coverage by Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao and Voice of America's Chinese service. Mainland Chinese state media have largely avoided prominent coverage.
There were no Mandarin-language CIA videos before 2025, making the outreach a recent and deliberate development rather than a long-standing practice.