‘Bodyguard of lies' is not a phrase many of us know, except for military historians, says David Lesperance, founder and principal of international tax and immigration advisers, Lesperance & Associates.
It was a creation of Winston Churchill, Britain's great wartime Prime Minister, to summarize the extensive series of deceptions that were being made by the USA and the UK to surprise Nazi Germany in 1944. The Germans knew that the Allies planned to land a giant army on the northern shores of France, so as to win the war... but where?
The 'bodyguard' was designed to fool the Nazi leaders - it consisted of everything from false newspaper reports, dummy paratroops, phantom army radio traffic etc. It was a huge success that ensured a stunning victory in Normandy.
It's a grand tale, but what is its relevance here? Simply that this deep strategic deception technique has been adapted and adopted elsewhere - and particularly in China, right now. The object is not military conquest: it is to confuse, alarm and induce fear and compliance in the minds and hearts of the Chinese travelling public. In local terms it is an effective technique to "Kill the Chicken to scare the Monkey" (杀鸡儆猴).
Let me offer my Chinese readers the latest example - and repeat vital questions that I have asked before. When you next try to fly abroad, or enter Arrivals on your return home, what precisely is going to happen to your Passport? The Bodyguard of Lies will soon become apparent...
Will the Passport be seized as you enter the terminal? Will a corner be neatly clipped off the top edge of the final page (thus invalidating it)? Will other residence documents, issued by foreign governments, be taken from you permanently?
The short answer is: Nobody knows for sure, even two months after the rumours first arose….
Learning the truth about these actions is absolutely vital for every Wealthy Chinese who believes they have a Back-Up plan to protect the health and well-being of their family.
Let us then look at these rumours in more detail.
The Epoch Times of the USA opened its initial report in its issue of 15 May with the denial by China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) that any such invalidations were taking place in China. The NIA debunked the report that it was "suspending passports" and the customs offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou issued official statements denying that their officers had cut any documents of Chinese citizens.
Elsewhere in China, the official publication Global Times was equally quick with its own denials. It disparaged "foreign rumours" and claimed that "disinformation" was being spread to undermine national COVID-19 prevention measures.
So far so clear. But other people -- who also say they know -- have a rather different story.
Radio Free Asia, known in Beijing (for clarity) as "the US-dominated anti-China propaganda mouthpiece" - together with other "secessionist-controlled media"— had created an assembly line for anti-China rumours, Global Times claimed. Apparently, the originators of the clipped-passport claims were a Weibo post user, a Reddit social group, and a "Canadian college student". The claims were in any event widespread on social media.
The frantic reaction to the story, of course, has deep roots in the atmosphere of paranoia which has grown throughout Chinese society over the last two decades.
Previously I have written a widely-circulated blog about the eccentric pattern of arrests and disappearances among some of China's business and sporting VIPs.
This unfortunate roll call includes eminences such as Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, Tennis star Peng Shuai and film actress Chen Qiushi. Each of these (and many others) had literally disappeared from sight for long periods, often months. They subsequently reappeared in quixotic circumstances somewhere in the world, then once again disappeared.
No one is clear about the "bodyguard of lies" in any of these cases. There had been no trials or court hearings. No charges were laid of criminal or political misbehaviour.
These VIPs had/have just vanished - for as long as that has suited "someone".
The origin of "Nacht und Nebel" (‘Night and Fog') was a deliberate policy of brutal disappearance and execution by the Nazi German regime in the 1930s. There has been no such murderous behaviour with the Chinese VIPs. But I did suggest that the very silence of the "disappeared" was designed for a maximum psychological impact.
It spreads fear, uncertainty, rage, impotence among their families and friends... a similar approach plan to the Nazis to destabilize the lives of all involved.
Uptick in interest about emigration
One particular side effect of the recently tightened immigration procedures (if that is what is happening) has been an "uptick in interest in emigration" as reported by Quartz, the US/Japan based business magazine.
Will overseas travel now become even more difficult? Quartz quotes Chinese internet users who are already complaining about having been denied a passport even with a valid reason to travel!
In February, the Spectator's Asia correspondent Cindy Lu wrote at length about internal disagreements among the Chinese leadership. In "An Objective Evaluation of XI Jinping" she quotes an anonymous writer circulated a 40,000-character essay on important overseas Chinese forums.
Unlike many western critics the writer, under the pen-name "Ark", seems to support the CCP and China's political system, Yu reports, despite other criticisms. The relevant point for readers is Ark's comments that Xi's economic crackdowns have terrified party officials, who "hope they can move their assets before the country is bankrupt!"
Put your backup plan to the stress test
Over the three decades I have advised Chinese and Hong Kong families on how to protect themselves and their wealth I have developed some guiding principles about what separates an effective Backup Plan from one that collapses as soon as it is triggered:
-The Chinese Government plays tough and plays for keeps: The Chinese Government has proven over and again that it will not hesitate to act decisively in its perceived self-interest. It will place exit bans, cancel passports and even seize individuals in order to reach its goals. A Backup Plan for Chinese families must be strong enough to stand up to the tsunami that the Government could unleash.
-Both wealth and physical well-being must be available for you abroad: As some wealthy Chinese have bitterly discovered, having an overseas bank account does not help if you are under house arrest in Shanghai. Likewise, while it makes a great story for for grandchildren that you left with only a handful of renminbini in your pocket, there's no fun for those who have to live this reality.
The Quality of Life in the future needs to match or exceed that of the Chinese life left behind... for all family members. Remember - in order for a Backup Plan to be successful, it not only needs to allow a clean departure... it also needs to result in a soft landing in your chosen jurisdiction(s). This arrival should meet the needs of all family members for: quality of life; educational opportunities; professional fulfilment.
The bitterness of poor-quality lasts long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten! This is universally true. Whether one is examining the quality of future citizenships and residences, tax and wealth planning, or the quality of the advisor on any and all aspects of the family Backup Plan - it pays to invest in quality. Think for one moment about life-changing ramifications of success (and failure). Spending money on the best possible Backup Plan - and the architects who design and build it - is simple prudence.
Measure twice... cut once: Given the high stakes involved, it makes sense to "stress test" your family Backup Plan. Do this by having an experienced independent expert review it before use. Even a once effective plan may become ineffective over time as a result of changing circumstances and geo-political events.
In summary
It's not difficult to agree that the effectiveness of your family's Backup Plan will mean the difference between misery and bliss. This is true not only for the remainder of your life but also for the lives of future generations. Given its importance and the stakes involved, this particular stress test should be an easy decision.
By David Lesperance, founder and principal of international tax and immigration advisers, Lesperance & Associates
