SCMP: Targeting the US, China’s top spy agency has pledged to “proactively” take part in protecting the country’s financial stability and closely monitor risks in the sector. 南華早報: 針對美國，中國最高間諜機構承諾「積極」參與保護國家金融穩定，並密切監控該行業的風險.

The Ministry of State Security also took aim at countries that “attempt to cause disruptions” in China’s financial system, in a post on its official social media account on Thursday.

The WeChat post came days after President Xi Jinping told a financial work conference that preventing and resolving financial risks was an “eternal theme” for the government and vowed to strengthen supervision on all fronts.

Xi’s remarks highlighted concerns in Beijing over the fragility of the financial system, particularly at a time of geopolitical turbulence and as the country grapples with a property crisis and ballooning local government debt.

Echoing his speech, the spy agency’s post said China must be “soberly aware” of the many risks and challenges to its financial security. It also accused “some countries” of using the global financial market to undermine China, in a veiled swipe at the United States.

“Some countries regard the financial market as a tool for geopolitical games, playing with their monetary hegemony repeatedly, and wielding the big stick of financial sanctions at others,” the ministry said.

“There are also some people with ulterior motives who try to stir up trouble and profit from the chaos. There are not only short sellers, but also people who spread bearish sentiment and help to steal China’s financial assets, trying to shake the international community’s investor confidence in China and triggering domestic financial turmoil in our country,” it said.

The post said China’s state security agencies should “proactively participate in the construction of national security systems in the economic, financial and other fields”. It said they would closely monitor and effectively prevent national security risks in the financial sector, as well as crack down on wrongdoing in the sector.