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?
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.
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?
“US govt makes employees affairs hotter and more alluring. More at 11.”
The forbidden love. Shit, now everyone will want to get one of those Chinese spy-wives.
Bond movies told me one of the reasons why people get into this job is to have affairs with people from different countries.
Good reason, they were just born in the wrong country to have the James Bond experience, they should have watched Homeland.
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.
Do they really expect single Americans abroad to be celibate? 🤣 Good luck with that.
They expect single Americans everywhere to be celibate. Except themselves, because that’s different.
I mean you could fuck other Americans, or tourists, etc.
I mean you could fuck other Americans
This is officially American policy at this point.
Well, as they say: when in Rome, do the Romans
lol are they gonna bust out the ruler at the dance like in school? How would they ever be able to stop it?
When problems arise, and it becomes clear that the person had sexual or romantic relationship with a Chinese citizen, then that is ground for getting fired or whatever.
View it as an insurance policy. If nothing bad happens, then it doesn’t matter. But you use it for when shit hits the fan.
People still drive under influence of alcohol, but less people do so when they know the rules beforehand.
Likely more effective on newer generations that do not have to unlearn habits.
Inb4 Chinese spies cleverly pretending to be from other Asian countries.
Anyone seen any launch coooooodes
That’s unrealistic
Get fucked, that’s gonna be the respondes.
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.
Scapegoat
No fuck was given.
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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 and what moves them. Can they be manipulated with greed, shame, ambition, even their sense of justice or compassion? If you know, you can plan your steps towards obtaining their assistance - either in a single case or permanently.
People living in a foreign land are uniquely vulnerable to loneliness, so attracting their romantic interest is an age-old method.
It works domestically too - for example in the UK, a dozen cases are known where undercover cops have befriended activists and even had children with them. If it’s not beyond the law enforcement of a democratically elected government, it is absolutely within the methods (and perhaps a preferred method) of an authoritarian government which cares less about people’s rights.
Perhaps for this reason, diplomats 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 China stepped up efforts to recruit embassy workers? Maybe… but that’s probably confidential. Alternatively, someone just got extra worried. This kind of policy changes would benefit from a bit of transparency, e.g. some three letter agency writing in their journal that “we detected a 200% rise in recruitment efforts”.
Everyone will be implanted with a small explosive device before their deployment.
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