Chinese Intelligence Operations

Rating:
Summary: Ahead of his time
Review: Eftimiades examines the Communist Chinese Intelligence structure and its many subordinate organs in great detail. This book is a must for serious intelligence students, especially those of Humint(human intelligence). Case studies are given, officials are named and the overall direction the Chinese Government seems to be headed in their intelligence operations. It would have been useful if the Chinese Characters were given for the different bureaus, departments and ministries, since this can be ambiguous in English and official translated terms are usually nice to have togethere with the original anmes.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent primer on the subject
Review: Mr. Eftimiades' book is over ten years old and yet probably remains the single most helpful introduction to the subject. His book covers the organization of the various Chinese intelligence agencies, their function, and several illustrations of how they collude to gather information for the People's Republic. Eftimiades is well-connected to the U.S. intelligence community and so can be considered somewhat of an expert, along with Bill Gertz and Paul D. Moore.

What is tragic about the book is that it was written before the public came to hear about China's intelligence operations through the Los Alamos incidents with Wen Ho Lee. Eftimiades' insight into that amazing story would be interesting, I'm sure.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in China, in espionage or intelligence in general. It is worth the large sum of money you most likely will have to pay to read it.

Rating:
Summary: The best current reference on Chinese intelligence
Review: Nick is an experienced sinologist who has worked at the Department of State, CIA, and DIA, and is also a naval reserve officer. His book is well-organized, well-researched, and essential reading for those who would understand how comprehensively the Chinese seek out scientific, technical, and military information in the United States, with a special emphasis on open sources of intelligence.

Rating:
Summary: The best current reference on Chinese intelligence
Review: Nick is an experienced sinologist who has worked at the Department of State, CIA, and DIA, and is also a naval reserve officer. His book is well-organized, well-researched, and essential reading for those who would understand how comprehensively the Chinese seek out scientific, technical, and military information in the United States, with a special emphasis on open sources of intelligence.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing Better Out There
Review: There's almost nothing in the literature that focuses on Chinese intelligence operations, and this book fills a large void.

It is short, but contrary to the other reader's criticism, the book focuses on the important aspects of Chinese intelligence: what the targets are, which ministries are responsible for which types of operations, bureaucratic rivalries, successes and failures, and much more. It's short, but concise enough to prove that size doesn't always matter.

It's also fascinating that the book came out long before revelations of Chinese espionage in the US, the nature and extent of which are all confirmed by the book's findings.