RIGA - China is currently able to achieve its goals in Latvia without aggressive involvement of the special services, the State Security Service (VDD) concluded in its annual activity report.
As in previous years, Latvia was not a priority or a separate intelligence target for the Chinese special services last year. China continued to view Latvia as part of NATO and the European Union, which it sees as its rivals in the struggle for global influence.
Chinese intelligence services focused on obtaining intelligence on the agendas of these international organizations and their strategic policy towards China, including focusing on Latvia's role in China-related decision-making, the report notes.
According to information available to the VDD, China is currently able to achieve its objectives in Latvia without aggressive involvement of the special services. China is able to secure a significant part of its intelligence interests in Latvia through the activities of the various foundations established in Latvia.
Last year, the VDD continued to identify targeted efforts by Chinese representatives to build and consolidate positions of influence among Latvian politicians, academics and researchers.
Building positions of influence is a long-term goal of China in order to achieve favorable policy decisions, promote a positive international image, influence public opinion in China's interests, and promote its international policy initiatives and values, according to the VDD.
Building positions of influence in the research sciences, which focus on the creation of new knowledge and innovation, was one of the priorities of the Chinese special services last year, the report concluded. Given China's innovation-driven economic development model, one of the country's strategic objectives is to achieve supremacy in advanced technology sectors such as artificial intelligence tools, quantum technologies, robotics and biotechnologies, the report said.
Also last year, Chinese special services communicated mostly online with experts in various fields and organized meetings in China and in third countries that are favorable towards China.
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