Beijing authorities received nearly 5 thousand tips about possible espionage in 2017

Beijing. April 13. Silkroadnews - The national security authority in Beijing received nearly 5,000 tips about possible espionage over the past year from members of the public, China Daily reported.
The reports were made by Chinese citizens and persons living abroad using the hotline of the state agency after the money reward was offered for such tips.
Anyone who offers clues that play an important role in the prevention of espionage or the cracking of a spy case will be rewarded up to 500,000 yuan ($79,000). The hotline was set up in 2015, the report said.
As an example, the publication cites the story of a Chinese scientist named Li. At one of the scientific seminars he was approached by a man known as Peter, allegedly a researcher at an international institute. For some time after the seminar, he discussed with Li various scientific problems via e-mail and sent him scientific articles and small gifts. The conversation ended when Peter asked Li to give him information about the secret program in exchange for a residence permit in the United States.
The National Security Bureau in Beijing identified Peter as a member of an overseas intelligence agency and paid Li a fee for reporting on the attempted recruitment.