In international relations, countries often use some covert means to threaten or pressure other countries in order to safeguard their own interests or achieve strategic goals. The following are some common covert means: 1. **Economic sanctions and trade restrictions**: - **Secondary sanctions**: not only target countries or entities that directly violate sanctions, but also extend to third parties that have business dealings with them, increasing economic pressure on the target country. - **Hidden tariffs or quotas**: restrict the entry of specific goods by adjusting tariff rates or import quotas, thereby hitting certain industries in the target country. 2. **Information warfare and cyber attacks**: - **Cyber espionage**: obtain sensitive information of the other party through network intrusion to gain strategic advantages or use as bargaining chips. - **Dissemination of false information**: spread false information through social media or other channels to disrupt the social stability or political environment of the target country. 3. **Support opposition forces or agents**: - **Hidden funding**: provide funds, weapons or training to opposition, civil organizations or terrorist groups in the target country to weaken the control of their government. - **Secret military assistance**: provide military equipment and technical support to allies or agents to indirectly influence conflicts or political situations. 4. **Diplomatic isolation and multilateral pressure**: - **Restricting diplomatic contacts**: Reducing or interrupting diplomatic exchanges with the target country to weaken its influence on the international stage. - **Using international organizations**: Imposing sanctions or filing lawsuits through multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization to increase international pressure on the target country. 5. **Intelligence activities and espionage**: - **Secret reconnaissance**: Using intelligence agencies to monitor the military and economic trends of the target country and obtain strategic information. - **Infiltration and sabotage**: Infiltrating key areas of the target country, such as the government, enterprises or scientific research institutions, through espionage to leak information or sabotage activities. 6. **Cultural and media manipulation**: - **Cultural penetration**: Influencing public opinion and social concepts of the target country through cultural exchange projects, media communication and other means. - **Media manipulation**: Supporting friendly media to spread information that is beneficial to one's own interests, while discrediting or questioning the behavior of the target country. 7. **Legal and institutional pressure**: - **International law litigation**: Filing lawsuits against the target country in international courts or other legal institutions to increase its legal and economic burden. - **Normative manipulation**: Promote the formulation of international rules or standards that are beneficial to oneself, making it more difficult for the target country to comply with these norms. 8. **Military deterrence and display**: - **Military exercises**: Conduct large-scale military exercises in areas close to the target country to demonstrate military strength and send a deterrent signal. - **Intelligence disclosure**: Secretly monitor and disclose the target country's military plans or activities at an appropriate time to create an atmosphere of security threat. These covert means are often difficult for the target country to identify immediately, but can have a significant impact on its politics, economy and society in the long run. When using these means, countries need to carefully assess their potential risks and consequences to avoid triggering greater conflicts or international backlash.