State Security Police

The People's Police of State Security Organs^[a], informally known as the State Security Police (SSP)^[b] is the secret police component of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). Though branded with the People's Police name, the State Security Police are operated entirely separately by intelligence officers of the MSS. The organization is concerned with internal security matters related to the hidden front, particularly counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and counter-sabotage efforts.^[1]

People's Police of State Security Organs 国家安全机关人民警察 Guójiā Ānquán Jīguān Rénmín Jǐngchá
Patch of the State Security Police
Flag of the People's Police
Common name	State Security Police
Abbreviation	SSP
Agency overview
Formed	1983
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	China
Operations jurisdiction	China
General nature	Secret police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Beijing, China
Elected officer responsible	Chen Yixin, Minister of State Security
Parent agency	Ministry of State Security

The SSP should not be confused with the Political Security Bureau (1st Bureau) of the Ministry of Public Security, despite sometimes similar duties and overlapping missions.

History

Established in 1983, the SSP has a presence in every province, autonomous region, and direct-administered municipality in China, as well as an increased presence in coastal areas and some municipalities with heavy contact with foreign countries.^[2]

Authorities

Chapter 1 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China lists twelve types of crime under the purview of the State Security Police:

1. Treason
2. Separatism
3. Inciting separatism
4. Armed rebellion and riot
5. Subversion of state power
6. Inciting subversion of state power
7. Financing criminal activities endangering national security
8. Defection
9. Defection to the enemy
10. Espionage
11. Providing intelligence to foreign organizations
12. Crimes of financing enemies

The SSP is also tasked with the security of overseas projects of the One Belt One Road Initiative.

Those arrested by the State Security Police can be subject to secret trials and may find themselves jailed in the Beijing State Security Bureau Detention Center, a special purpose prison operated by the Beijing branch of the MSS, as well as other undocumented detention facilities.^[3]