Ben Forney
@benforney.bsky.social
Author of The Spy Hunter newsletter: http://thespyhunter.substack.com. Tracking industrial espionage and economic security trends.
PhD on Chinese espionage from SNU
PhD on Chinese espionage from SNU
The wildest statistic from this piece is that half of Korea's fishermen are over 65. I can't imagine doing that kind of work into one's 60s or 70s.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
South Korea's fishermen keep dying. Is climate change to blame?
An increase in deadly incidents has been partly caused by climate change, an inquiry found.
www.bbc.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The wildest statistic from this piece is that half of Korea's fishermen are over 65. I can't imagine doing that kind of work into one's 60s or 70s.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
According to a survey of Korean companies, 32.4% believed that their technology was superior to their Chinese competitors. In 2010, that number was 89.6%.
cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2...
cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2...
Korean Companies Begin to Feel Overtaken by China... 57% Say "Caught Up in Technology Over 15 Years"
China, which has traditionally secured competitiveness by lowering prices rather than focusing on technology, is now rapidly overtaking South Korea in ...
cm.asiae.co.kr
October 21, 2025 at 10:36 PM
According to a survey of Korean companies, 32.4% believed that their technology was superior to their Chinese competitors. In 2010, that number was 89.6%.
cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2...
cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2...
Samsung’s #semiconductor and #display divisions both had employees indicted for stealing #technology on behalf of Chinese competitors this week.
Without a massive corporate cultural shift, #Korea is not going to survive competition with #China.
open.substack.com/pub/thespyhu...
Without a massive corporate cultural shift, #Korea is not going to survive competition with #China.
open.substack.com/pub/thespyhu...
The Spy Hunter #123
Two cases of Chinese industrial espionage in Samsung's semiconductor and display divisions.
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Samsung’s #semiconductor and #display divisions both had employees indicted for stealing #technology on behalf of Chinese competitors this week.
Without a massive corporate cultural shift, #Korea is not going to survive competition with #China.
open.substack.com/pub/thespyhu...
Without a massive corporate cultural shift, #Korea is not going to survive competition with #China.
open.substack.com/pub/thespyhu...
Reposted by Ben Forney
Excellent Reuters exclusive shows that a team of experts from Chinese drone maker Sichuan AEE have visited Russian arms maker Kupol’s facilities in Izhevsk and Chebarkul to assemble drones and train staff to use them. Chinese firm Hunan Haotianyi also supplied drones. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Chinese drone experts worked with sanctioned Russian arms maker, sources say
Reuters is the first to report specific details of the extensive involvement of Chinese experts in tests and technological work on military-use drones inside Russia.
www.reuters.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Excellent Reuters exclusive shows that a team of experts from Chinese drone maker Sichuan AEE have visited Russian arms maker Kupol’s facilities in Izhevsk and Chebarkul to assemble drones and train staff to use them. Chinese firm Hunan Haotianyi also supplied drones. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Reposted by Ben Forney
South Korea would accept a Trump-Kim deal to freeze nuclear programme as 'emergency measure' www.bbc.com/news/article...
South Korea would accept a Trump-Kim deal to freeze nuclear programme as 'emergency measure'
Lee Jae Myung tells the BBC he wants to restore trust with North Korea.
www.bbc.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:38 AM
South Korea would accept a Trump-Kim deal to freeze nuclear programme as 'emergency measure' www.bbc.com/news/article...
This week, The Spy Hunter newsletter tracks the projects, partners, and publications of the Seven Sons of National Defense from the past month.
#china #academia #defense #research #aerospace #AI
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
#china #academia #defense #research #aerospace #AI
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
What Are China's Military Universities Up To This Month? (September, 2025)
The latest projects, partners, and publications of the Seven Sons of National Defense.
thespyhunter.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This week, The Spy Hunter newsletter tracks the projects, partners, and publications of the Seven Sons of National Defense from the past month.
#china #academia #defense #research #aerospace #AI
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
#china #academia #defense #research #aerospace #AI
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
"We tried to sleep anywhere, really. It was really cold. There were people who found packaged bread, heated it up in the microwave, hugging it throughout the night."
This is what $350 billion buys you in America nowadays.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is what $350 billion buys you in America nowadays.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US officers tied us up and pointed guns at us, South Korean engineers tell BBC
Korean workers who were detained in the US say they were treated like criminals and are still in shock.
www.bbc.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:21 AM
"We tried to sleep anywhere, really. It was really cold. There were people who found packaged bread, heated it up in the microwave, hugging it throughout the night."
This is what $350 billion buys you in America nowadays.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is what $350 billion buys you in America nowadays.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"The last time China, North Korea, and Russia aligned this closely was during the Korean War, which ended badly for all."
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/dont-o...
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/dont-o...
Don’t Overestimate the Autocratic Alliance
Washington still has significant leverage over China, North Korea, and Russia.
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM
"The last time China, North Korea, and Russia aligned this closely was during the Korean War, which ended badly for all."
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/dont-o...
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/dont-o...
“Last week, Kim Jong Un joined the Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Beijing, signalling these countries' tacit acceptance of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and treatment of its citizens.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
North Korea executing more people for watching foreign films and TV, UN finds
The report is based on more than 300 interviews with escapees from Kim Jong Un's secretive regime.
www.bbc.com
September 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
“Last week, Kim Jong Un joined the Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Beijing, signalling these countries' tacit acceptance of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and treatment of its citizens.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Everyone saw the parade last week, but the real story was off stage: 22 Russia-China deals in energy, space, media & more, many tied to sanctioned entities.
This week, The Spy Hunter tracks how new #China and #Russia projects are sidestepping sanctions.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
This week, The Spy Hunter tracks how new #China and #Russia projects are sidestepping sanctions.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
The China-Russia Collaboration Tracker (September 2025)
From aerospace to academia - the joint projects from the past month.
thespyhunter.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Everyone saw the parade last week, but the real story was off stage: 22 Russia-China deals in energy, space, media & more, many tied to sanctioned entities.
This week, The Spy Hunter tracks how new #China and #Russia projects are sidestepping sanctions.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
This week, The Spy Hunter tracks how new #China and #Russia projects are sidestepping sanctions.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
"China is really the only game in town."
As the US' last remaining influence in #Africa fades away, #China is cashing in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/b...
As the US' last remaining influence in #Africa fades away, #China is cashing in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/b...
China’s Exports to Africa Are Soaring as Trade to U.S. Plunges
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
"China is really the only game in town."
As the US' last remaining influence in #Africa fades away, #China is cashing in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/b...
As the US' last remaining influence in #Africa fades away, #China is cashing in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/b...
1/
🚨 New deep dive from The Spy Hunter newsletter:
China’s Torch Center is more than an innovation hub. It’s a state-run pipeline linking R&D, industry, and Party objectives with global reach and high risks for foreign partners.
Let’s unpack. 🧵
🚨 New deep dive from The Spy Hunter newsletter:
China’s Torch Center is more than an innovation hub. It’s a state-run pipeline linking R&D, industry, and Party objectives with global reach and high risks for foreign partners.
Let’s unpack. 🧵
August 28, 2025 at 11:25 PM
1/
🚨 New deep dive from The Spy Hunter newsletter:
China’s Torch Center is more than an innovation hub. It’s a state-run pipeline linking R&D, industry, and Party objectives with global reach and high risks for foreign partners.
Let’s unpack. 🧵
🚨 New deep dive from The Spy Hunter newsletter:
China’s Torch Center is more than an innovation hub. It’s a state-run pipeline linking R&D, industry, and Party objectives with global reach and high risks for foreign partners.
Let’s unpack. 🧵
"Students from #China are particularly drawn to mechatronics and robotics, machine system design and management technology, ballistics and aerodynamics as well as artificial intelligence in engineering physics."
Chinese flock to Russian universities in afterglow of Xi-Putin ties
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/education/chinese-flock-to-russian-universities-in-afterglow-of-xi-putin-ties
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/education/chinese-flock-to-russian-universities-in-afterglow-of-xi-putin-ties
Chinese flock to Russian universities in afterglow of Xi-Putin ties
Close strategic, economic links send students to Russia for language, STEM studies
asia.nikkei.com
August 26, 2025 at 4:42 AM
"Students from #China are particularly drawn to mechatronics and robotics, machine system design and management technology, ballistics and aerodynamics as well as artificial intelligence in engineering physics."
If you're thinking of traveling to #China for business, be prepared for an extended stay. The use of exit bans is increasing and often arbitrary.
“You have no idea that you are the one who might be banned…You know nothing.”
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
“You have no idea that you are the one who might be banned…You know nothing.”
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
August 26, 2025 at 1:11 AM
If you're thinking of traveling to #China for business, be prepared for an extended stay. The use of exit bans is increasing and often arbitrary.
“You have no idea that you are the one who might be banned…You know nothing.”
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
“You have no idea that you are the one who might be banned…You know nothing.”
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
This week's newsletter has some really interesting findings on where Chinese military and surveillance-linked companies are expanding their footprint internationally.
#China #technology #economicsecurity #business
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/chinas-str...
#China #technology #economicsecurity #business
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/chinas-str...
China's Strategic Partnerships and Joint Ventures (August 2025)
Companies with military and surveillance ties expand their reach.
thespyhunter.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:57 AM
This week's newsletter has some really interesting findings on where Chinese military and surveillance-linked companies are expanding their footprint internationally.
#China #technology #economicsecurity #business
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/chinas-str...
#China #technology #economicsecurity #business
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/chinas-str...
August 20, 2025 at 11:08 PM
In this week’s edition of The Spy Hunter:
- Taiwanese prosecutors arrest six people over an alleged theft of trade secrets related to TSMC’s 2-nanometer chip technology.
-And also in Taiwan, a case of illegal tech talent poaching from China.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-spy-hu...
- Taiwanese prosecutors arrest six people over an alleged theft of trade secrets related to TSMC’s 2-nanometer chip technology.
-And also in Taiwan, a case of illegal tech talent poaching from China.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-spy-hu...
The Spy Hunter #115
Two cases of semiconductor trade secret theft and illegal talent poaching in Taiwan.
thespyhunter.substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:54 AM
In this week’s edition of The Spy Hunter:
- Taiwanese prosecutors arrest six people over an alleged theft of trade secrets related to TSMC’s 2-nanometer chip technology.
-And also in Taiwan, a case of illegal tech talent poaching from China.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-spy-hu...
- Taiwanese prosecutors arrest six people over an alleged theft of trade secrets related to TSMC’s 2-nanometer chip technology.
-And also in Taiwan, a case of illegal tech talent poaching from China.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-spy-hu...
A pretty egregious AI failure here by Chosun Ilbo, which is using AI to automatically translate their articles into English and obviously not fact checking them...
"The center of this controversy, CEO Pat Gelsinger, is a Malaysian-born U.S. citizen."
biz.chosun.com/en/en-intern...
"The center of this controversy, CEO Pat Gelsinger, is a Malaysian-born U.S. citizen."
biz.chosun.com/en/en-intern...
Trump demands Intel CEO Gelsinger's resignation over alleged China ties
Trump demands Intel CEO Gelsingers resignation over alleged China ties
biz.chosun.com
August 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
A pretty egregious AI failure here by Chosun Ilbo, which is using AI to automatically translate their articles into English and obviously not fact checking them...
"The center of this controversy, CEO Pat Gelsinger, is a Malaysian-born U.S. citizen."
biz.chosun.com/en/en-intern...
"The center of this controversy, CEO Pat Gelsinger, is a Malaysian-born U.S. citizen."
biz.chosun.com/en/en-intern...
"After the Roman empire stopped functioning, many people went on deferring to the distant emperor, acting as if he still mattered; in Sudan, I found similar nostalgia for the interest and engagement that once came from Washington."
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth
Sudan’s devastating civil war shows what will replace the liberal order: anarchy and greed.
www.theatlantic.com
August 9, 2025 at 1:48 AM
"After the Roman empire stopped functioning, many people went on deferring to the distant emperor, acting as if he still mattered; in Sudan, I found similar nostalgia for the interest and engagement that once came from Washington."
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Check out this week's The Spy Hunter for the latest news on China's defense universities, including:
- partnerships with sanctioned companies
- new research on radio jamming, ultra-flat satellites, explosives, evasive drones, and more.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
- partnerships with sanctioned companies
- new research on radio jamming, ultra-flat satellites, explosives, evasive drones, and more.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
What Are China's Military Universities Up To This Week? (August 8, 2025)
The latest projects, partners, and publications of the Seven Sons of National Defense.
thespyhunter.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Check out this week's The Spy Hunter for the latest news on China's defense universities, including:
- partnerships with sanctioned companies
- new research on radio jamming, ultra-flat satellites, explosives, evasive drones, and more.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
- partnerships with sanctioned companies
- new research on radio jamming, ultra-flat satellites, explosives, evasive drones, and more.
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/what-are-c...
"The review also showed that in December 2024, ALX Solutions made over 20 shipments from the U.S. to shipping and freight-forwarding companies in Singapore and Malaysia, which the DOJ said are commonly used as transshipment points to conceal illicit shipments to China."
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/t...
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/t...
U.S. charges two Chinese nationals for illegally shipping Nvidia AI chips to China
Two Chinese nationals in California have been charged with the illegal shipment of tens of millions of dollars' worth of AI chips, including those from Nvidia.
www.cnbc.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:24 AM
"The review also showed that in December 2024, ALX Solutions made over 20 shipments from the U.S. to shipping and freight-forwarding companies in Singapore and Malaysia, which the DOJ said are commonly used as transshipment points to conceal illicit shipments to China."
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/t...
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/t...
'Economists at the central bank said that between 2015 and 2022, 240,000 jobs had either “ceased to exist” or been shifted to less-exposed sectors as a result of competition from Chinese manufacturers.'
www.wsj.com/articles/chi...
www.wsj.com/articles/chi...
Chinese Competition Has Led to Job Losses in Eurozone Manufacturing, ECB Says
The central bank said the threat of job losses was set to intensify as U.S. tariffs force Chinese businesses to look for customers elsewhere.
www.wsj.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
'Economists at the central bank said that between 2015 and 2022, 240,000 jobs had either “ceased to exist” or been shifted to less-exposed sectors as a result of competition from Chinese manufacturers.'
www.wsj.com/articles/chi...
www.wsj.com/articles/chi...
Reposted by Ben Forney
No passports, no study abroad: Chinese authorities limits public employees’ overseas travel – The New York Times: ‘In many cities, travel overseas by public employees, even for personal reasons, requires approval. […] those who have studied abroad are now disqualified from certain public positions.’
No Passports, No Study Abroad: China Limits Public Employees’ Travel
www.nytimes.com
August 3, 2025 at 10:02 AM
No passports, no study abroad: Chinese authorities limits public employees’ overseas travel – The New York Times: ‘In many cities, travel overseas by public employees, even for personal reasons, requires approval. […] those who have studied abroad are now disqualified from certain public positions.’
"Unlike the United States, China is not looking back and mourning its lost manufacturing prowess. It is focusing instead on the key technologies of the 21st century."
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
Opinion | We Warned About the First China Shock. The Next One Will Be Worse.
www.nytimes.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
"Unlike the United States, China is not looking back and mourning its lost manufacturing prowess. It is focusing instead on the key technologies of the 21st century."
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
This week in The Spy Hunter newsletter, I compile a list of English, Chinese, and Russian sources from the past seven days that describe new collaborative projects between Chinese and Russian actors.
#China #Russia #Ukraine #defense #geopolitics
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
#China #Russia #Ukraine #defense #geopolitics
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
The China-Russia Collaboration Tracker
From nuclear power to Arctic infrastructure - the joint projects from the past week.
thespyhunter.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This week in The Spy Hunter newsletter, I compile a list of English, Chinese, and Russian sources from the past seven days that describe new collaborative projects between Chinese and Russian actors.
#China #Russia #Ukraine #defense #geopolitics
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...
#China #Russia #Ukraine #defense #geopolitics
thespyhunter.substack.com/p/the-china-...