Title: The controversy surrounding the publication of photos of Chinese military equipment by amateurs
Introduction :
In the era of open intelligence, Western experts have found a way to monitor China’s military activities by analyzing photos of new People’s Liberation Army (PLA) equipment posted online by amateurs. However, the Chinese government is now warning against publishing such photos, citing national security concerns. This article examines this new directive and the possible repercussions on the transparency of Chinese military operations.
The role of amateurs in the disclosure of military information:
In recent years, the publication of photographs of Chinese military ships or aircraft captured outside PLA facilities or from commercial flights near sensitive areas has become commonplace. “Military fans” then relayed these photos on social media sites such as Weibo, which has hundreds of millions of active users. This practice allowed Western experts to follow the progress of Chinese military modernization, identifying equipment and analyzing their strategic significance.
National security concerns:
Following this democratized disclosure of military information, China’s Ministry of State Security recently issued a warning on WeChat, emphasizing that these activities could “seriously endanger national military security.” The ministry specifically mentioned military airports, ports, national defense units and military industries as potential targets for amateurs who secretly take photos with telephoto lenses or drones. Those who violate these regulations could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
Consequences for the transparency of Chinese military activities:
This new directive from the Chinese government raises questions about the transparency of the country’s military operations. Photos posted by amateurs have often been a valuable source of analysis and information for Western experts, allowing them to better understand the modernization progress of the Chinese navy and other branches of the PLA. By restricting this practice, China risks limiting access to information about its military activities and making it more difficult for international actors to assess its military power.
Comparison with other countries:
It should be noted that China is not the only country taking steps to protect the confidentiality of its military installations. In the United States, for example, the law prohibits the taking of photographs of certain military installations and equipment without prior authorization, under penalty of imprisonment of up to one year. However, the issue of balancing national security and transparency remains a challenge for many countries, and different approaches are taken in this regard.
Conclusion :
The Chinese government’s recent directive on publishing photos of military equipment illustrates growing national security concerns in the country. Although protecting military secrets is imperative for many countries, it also raises questions about transparency and access to information about military activities. It remains to be seen how this measure will affect the disclosure and analysis of Chinese military information in the future.