Summary
Overview
Investigative journalist Bethany Allen joins Charlie Higson to explore the expansive world of Chinese intelligence operations, from Larry Chin's Cold War espionage that helped shape U.S.-China relations in the 1970s to contemporary influence operations targeting American politicians and communities. Allen, who was banned from China in 2018 for her reporting on Chinese government interference, provides insider perspective on how Chinese espionage has evolved from traditional Cold War tactics to sophisticated industrial espionage, political influence campaigns, and transnational repression affecting millions of Chinese people living abroad.
Bethany Allen's Personal Journey and Ban from China
Bethany Allen spent nearly 20 years working on China-related issues, including four years living in the country. In 2018, when hired as AFP's China correspondent, she was denied a journalist visa—effectively banned from returning to China. The ban likely stemmed from her groundbreaking 2016-2018 investigative series exposing Chinese government covert interference in the United States, including transnational repression, co-opting student groups, and political manipulation. Despite the personal heartbreak of losing access to a country she loved, Allen continues her investigative work from Taiwan, where daily life feels normal despite ongoing Chinese military threats.
- Allen was denied a Chinese journalist visa in 2018 after waiting six months, with authorities telling AFP to 'put forward a different name'
- She had lived in China for four years from 2008-2012, studying at Peking University and Johns Hopkins Nanjing Center
- Her investigative series between 2016-2018 was the first in the U.S. to examine Chinese government interference on American soil
- Allen now lives in Taiwan, where life feels normal despite Chinese military threats that have intensified since 2022
" I had dedicated my entire adult life to China, not because I hated it, but because I loved it. I loved the people. I loved the culture and the history. And I was so interested in the political system. "
Larry Chin: The Ideal Cold War Mole
Larry Chin represents the gold standard of Cold War espionage—a highly-placed agent who passed crucial information to China for 37 years. His most significant contribution came in the 1970s when he provided Mao Zedong with Nixon's internal deliberations ahead of the historic 1972 visit to China. This intelligence allowed China to secure stronger concessions in the Shanghai Communiqué, particularly regarding Taiwan's status. The communiqué's carefully crafted language about the U.S. 'acknowledging' China's position on Taiwan—which translates more strongly in Chinese as closer to 'agreeing'—reflects how Chin's espionage helped China thread diplomatic needles that still shape geopolitics today.
- Chin was 'espionage gold'—a highly-placed, reliable source who passed information for decades
- During the Cold War, China targeted both the U.S. and Russia for technology and political intelligence after the Sino-Soviet split
- Chin gave Mao access to Nixon's internal deliberations, allowing China to push harder for concessions
- The Shanghai Communiqué's language on Taiwan differs between English ('acknowledge') and Chinese (stronger 'cheng ren'), reflecting diplomatic ambiguity that persists today
" He's espionage gold. You have someone who's so highly placed, who's able to pass information to you for years and years and years. That's really what you want. "
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