China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

Can an institute be a disguise? Here at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), that question hangs heavy in the air. It appears as a respected think tank. It publishes journals like *Contemporary International Relations* and *China Security Studies*. It even awards master’s and doctoral degrees. But behind this academic facade, the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations hides a secret. It serves as the 11th Bureau of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), China’s primary civilian intelligence agency. The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations was founded in 1965. Premier Zhou Enlai ordered its creation as part of a larger initiative to bolster China’s expertise in international affairs. The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations survived the tumultuous Cultural Revolution, a period when many academic institutions were shuttered. In the 1980s, under Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations opened its doors to the outside world. This allowed it to engage with foreign diplomats and academics, providing a cover for intelligence gathering. Approximately 400 people work at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, including around 150 senior research fellows. The organization is structured into 15 departments focusing on different regions and functions. There are even specialized research divisions dedicated to the Korean Peninsula and Central Asia. While the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations researches a wide range of international issues, its main focus is the United States and the complex dynamics of US-China relations. The leadership of this institution has strong ties to the intelligence services. Geng Huichang, for example, served as both president of CICIR and later as Minister of State Security. The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of academia and espionage. It reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. The seemingly open pursuit of knowledge can sometimes conceal a hidden agenda.