Chinese Ministry of State Security

China's state security authorities recently uncovered a case in which an employee of a large enterprise leaked internal sensitive information to foreign individuals multiple times out of personal resentment toward his superiors. His actions caused significant economic losses to the company and harmed national interests, according to a post published by the Ministry of State Security (MSS) on its WeChat account.

The employee, surnamed Dong, had been withdrawn and irritable since childhood, with poor social skills. After obtaining his graduate degree, he joined the international business department of a large enterprise. Over time, dissatisfaction with his job assignments and performance evaluations led him to develop a paranoid mindset, believing that his supervisors were deliberately suppressing him, the MSS said.

To get back at his superiors, Dong began eavesdropping on his colleagues' work communications, looking for opportunities to cause trouble for his boss. Aware that certain countries were imposing economic blockades against China, he suddenly came up with an idea - one that would "hurt the company" and "make things difficult for his boss."

Late one night, he registered an overseas email account and sent core business data - including product names, quantities, transport routes, and transaction amounts for goods the company planned to export - to a foreign institution. He ended his message by writing: "Please take a close look at them. Thank you."

Months passed, but the company's foreign trade operations continued as usual, contrary to the scenario Dong had imagined. Enraged and humiliated, he escalated his actions, leaking even more internal sensitive information.

Before long, foreign recipients noticed Dong's disclosures and used the information to smear the company. They fabricated accusations of smuggling, illegally intercepted the company's cargo ships on the high seas, conducted forced inspections, and imposed unlawful sanctions — all of which inflicted heavy losses on the enterprise and on China's national interests.

Dong's suspicious behavior soon drew the attention of state security authorities. Investigations confirmed that he had used overseas email accounts to leak commercial secrets.

"I didn't think it would be this serious…" Dong reportedly said when state security officers confronted him.

The MSS warned that those who have access to sensitive or core information should remain vigilant at all times, strengthen their sense of confidentiality, and firmly uphold the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession.

Global Times