But instead of hardened KGB agents lurking on street corners in dark glasses, the spy stories appearing in the Western press recently have been about fresh-faced Chinese students.
Some are said to be engaged in research at respected foreign establishments, while others are enrolled as bright young business trainees in major Western companies.

Their mission - or so the reports allege - is to use fair means or foul to gather technological and commercial intelligence that will help speed China on its way to becoming the next global superpower.

The Aggressive-China-Meme continues to grow... My instinct tells me there is a game being played here to influence public perceptions. Signs so far point to pressure being put on China for reasons of . . . North Korea?

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | China's spies come out from the cold