National Security Risks Emerging from Grievances Involving Foreign-Linked Think Tanks in India: The China MSS Espionage Dimension and Intelligence Gaps
(Reference: PMOPG/E/2023/0271781)
Introduction
Helpful Foundation, as part of its commitment to public interest, transparency, and national security awareness, places on record serious concerns arising from Grievance Registration No. PMOPG/E/2023/0271781, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office and subsequently processed by the Ministry of Home Affairs China threat.
The grievance highlights potential national security vulnerabilities linked to interactions between Indian academic and strategic institutions and certain foreign think-tank entities with alleged intelligence affiliations. The matter remains under process, underscoring the need for informed public discourse and institutional vigilance.
Background of the Grievance
According to official grievance records, the complaint was submitted by Dr. Ishtdev Sharma, Chairman, Helpful Foundation, drawing attention to:
- Activities of the China Council for BRICS Think Tank Cooperation (CCBTTC)
- Alleged institutional linkages between CCBTTC and the Ministry of State Security (MSS) of the People’s Republic of China
- The absence or non-traceability of a prior national security report forwarded from the President’s Secretariat to the Ministry of Home Affairs China threat
The grievance explicitly seeks scrutiny, not conclusions, emphasizing that due verification by competent authorities is essential.
Documented Delegation Visits and Interactions (January 2020)
Records and publicly available institutional event listings show that members associated with CCBTTC participated in academic and policy-level interactions in India in January 2020, including at:
- Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi (16 January 2020)
- Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi (16 January 2020)
Individuals named in these interactions include:
- Suo Bugu (Staff, CCBTTC)
- Gao Yuanyuan (Interpreter, CCBTTC)
- Dong Weihua (Vice Secretary-General, CCBTTC; International Department of CPC)
The interaction at Vivekananda International Foundation reportedly covered strategic themes such as India–China relations, China–Pakistan relations, the Indo-Pacific, Quad, and BRICS, as per institutional reports China threat.
It is relevant to note that VIF was founded by Shri Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor. These interactions were conducted openly; however, the grievance stresses that institutional openness must be balanced with counter-intelligence awareness.
International Linkages and Regional Context
The submitted material also documents interactions between CCBTTC-linked delegations and strategic institutions in Pakistan and Southeast Asia, including meetings involving retired Pakistani military officials, among them Zaheer-ul-Islam, former Director General of ISI China threat.
While international academic exchanges are not inherently improper, the grievance highlights the strategic pattern of engagement across multiple countries as a matter warranting professional security assessment.
Strategic Context: China’s Long-Term National Objectives
China’s officially articulated national strategy aims at achieving the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” by 2049, involving:
- Expansion of national power
- Refinement of governance and influence mechanisms
- Active engagement with foreign political, academic, and policy institutions
This context is relevant when evaluating foreign think-tank activities, especially where civilian research bodies are structurally aligned with state or party organs.
Core Concerns Raised
The grievance does not allege guilt, but raises the following questions of national importance:
- Are adequate security vetting and monitoring mechanisms in place for foreign think-tank engagements?
- Are Indian institutions sufficiently informed about foreign intelligence–think tank overlaps?
- Why was a national-security-related communication reportedly untraceable at the Ministry of Home Affairs?
- Should India consider a mandatory transparency and disclosure framework for foreign-linked study centres?
These questions fall squarely within the domain of constitutional governance and national security oversight.
Call for Institutional Review and Transparency
Helpful Foundation respectfully urges that:
- All concerns be examined by competent security and intelligence authorities
- A transparent, rule-based framework be evolved for foreign think-tank interactions
- Parliamentary and executive oversight mechanisms be strengthened to prevent institutional blind spots
Safeguarding India’s national security requires calm evaluation, evidence-based assessment, and institutional accountability, not sensationalism.
Conclusion
India’s democratic strength lies in its openness—but openness must coexist with vigilance.
Grievance No. PMOPG/E/2023/0271781 represents a citizen-led call for procedural scrutiny, not presumption, and deserves careful attention in the larger interest of national security.
Helpful Foundation reiterates its faith in constitutional institutions and urges that all national security matters be addressed with the seriousness they warrant.