State Security Police

The People's Police of State Security Organs, informally known as the State Security Police (SSP) 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.

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.

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.

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:

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.