• Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
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    17 days ago

    People being incentivised to keep these relationships secret just gives even more leverage to the CCP if they successfully use this as an espionage tactic. I assume that’s what this is meant to guard against but surely it would have the opposite effect wouldn’t it?

    • Dubiousx99@lemmy.world
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      17 days ago

      The headlines leave out the part where this is a requirement of their security clearance. It is not uncommon for those holding a security clearance to be discouraged or prohibited from relationships with foreign nationals. It also isn’t a direct prohibition, it would just result in a loss of their clearance, and you are absolutely correct that this will result in more leverage against US personnel.

    • Onno (VK6FLAB)@lemmy.radio
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      17 days ago

      Overtones of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell - Mk II, next it will be for all Government employees … nah that would never happen … right … right?

  • TheFriar@lemm.ee
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    17 days ago

    “US govt makes employees affairs hotter and more alluring. More at 11.”

    • Wilco@lemm.ee
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      17 days ago

      The forbidden love. Shit, now everyone will want to get one of those Chinese spy-wives.

    • Renohren@lemmy.today
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      16 days ago

      Good reason, they were just born in the wrong country to have the James Bond experience, they should have watched Homeland.

    • Nasan@sopuli.xyz
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      17 days ago

      What they don’t mention in the movies is how many of those women he got pregnant and had to pay child support to(except Craig Bond). I suppose he was enough of a blunt instrument that they didn’t have to worry about him getting blackmailed or otherwise selling state secrets because they never really gave him intel of much value.

  • Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world
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    15 days ago

    I mean if top US officials can drop top secret battle plans on a chat with a journalist and get away with it.

    Why can’t a low level government employee wet their wick in a Chinese honeypot every once in a while. I just don’t see the point.

  • perestroika@lemm.ee
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    16 days ago

    A bit harsh, but I understand the reasoning.

    Diplomats know it by heart, night and day - to recruit a person, you need to know what they’re vulnerable to. Can they be manipulated with greed, shame, even a sense of justice or compassion? If you know, you can plan your steps towards obtaining their assistance.

    People living in a foreign land are uniquely vulnerable to loneliness, so attracting their romantic interest is an age-old method - for example in the UK, a dozen cases are known where undercover cops have befriended activists and had children with them.

    Perhaps for this reason, diplomats also often bring families along, as to not have issues of loneliness or temptation, since they live abroad for most of their careers. Ordinary embassy workers probably get a short lecture. First about honey traps, secondly about serious pressure from the local government that may target any of their genuine romantic relations. Basing on this, they would be expected to manage their risk. Apparently, someone decided they cannot handle it.

    Has anything changed much, has China stepped up efforts to recruit embassy workers? Maybe… but that’s probably confidential. Alternatively, someone just got extra worried.

      • belastend@slrpnk.net
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        17 days ago

        No, every person American employs outside of the US is a bad, counterrevolutionary, child eating spy. Now face the wall comrade, we found out you spoke english that one.

        • Nasan@sopuli.xyz
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          17 days ago

          That janitor at the US consulate? 50 confirmed kills. 45 of them house pets.