It doesn't matter that it will be ineffective. It doesn't matter that a lot of innocent people will be caught up in it. From the CCP's point of view, the climate of fear it will create is useful for them to retain control.
It's a dumb game to play, but apparently it's all the CCP can think to do at this point.
If there's one thing the Chinese Communist Party can't tolerate it's competition in the government space.
They don't even tolerate a competition of ideas. Paranoid China wants the Chinese to spy on each other and most especially foreigners:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-17/xi-s-secu...
It doesn't matter that it will be ineffective. It doesn't matter that a lot of innocent people will be caught up in it. From the CCP's point of view, the climate of fear it will create is useful for them to retain control.
It's a dumb game to play, but apparently it's all the CCP can think to do at this point.