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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/07 : CIA-RDP87M00539R000901 190016-2 SECRET Although this near total reliance on the assistance of Chinese-Americans is a fact of life of PRC intelligence operations, until recently, the reasons for this unique Chinese approach have been open to speculation. Not long ago, however, a source was able to shed some light on how at least one senior PRC official views the situation. The source's reconstruction of the official's views are presented below. In late 1984, information surfaced on a meeting which was held at a PRC consulate. Present at the meeting were, among others, two known intelligence officers of the PRCIS, and a suspected intelligence officer of the PRCIS. During this meeting, one of the known IOs presented the following overview of Chinese- Americans and their role in PRC intelligence collection efforts. The IO said that it is possible to categorize Chinese- Americans into three groups in terms of their Professions or affiliations: small businessmen, big industrialists, and also engineers and scientists in key U.S. high technology industries. Throughout his presentation, the IO used the names of a number of Chinese-Americans as specific examples. Regarding "small businessmen," the IO noted only that most Chinese-Americans on the West Coast are middle class. Regarding "big industrialists, the IO mentioned a number of Prominent Chinese-American businessmen and gave a brief description of the activities and influence of each. SECRET - 42 - _ Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/07 : CIA-RDP87M00539R000901190016-2 sy