The Weaponisation of Everything by Mark Galeotti
“The Russians are especially willing and able to use gangsters as agents, but they are not alone, especially if we broaden the aperture from murder to include the associated application of violence and intimidation. When China was regaining control of Hong Kong in 1997, it specifically encouraged the Triad organised crime groups to stay, saying that ‘patriotic Triads’ had nothing to fear. But there clearly was a quid pro quo, and since 2014, protesters against Beijing have been assaulted by thuggish gangs of young men showing even less restraint than the police. Nor is this confined to Hong Kong: Taiwan’s China Unification Promotion Party was founded by a former leader of the United Bamboo triad, who spent much time on the main-land. It regularly stages violent protests, not least to destabilise the country and undermine its institutions and democratic viability.”
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