According to experts, Beijing has been increasing its influence in America for years by obtaining intelligence from the U.S. government and silencing critics through agents embedded in U.S. society. However, recent years have seen the United States fighting back against these efforts.
In early September, Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, was arrested for allegedly acting on behalf of Beijing in exchange for gifts and payouts to her family. This is just one example of the increased rate of CCP-directed espionage and foreign agent cases in the past four years, with at least 13 convictions or pleas, more than half of which occurred this year.
Beyond traditional spying activities, the CCP has been involved in a variety of criminal actions, including hacking campaigns against the United States. Experts warn that Beijing poses the number one threat to the U.S., prompting lawmakers like Rep. Don Bacon to call for increased vigilance against these threats.
The CCP targets people of Chinese descent, as well as non-Chinese U.S. citizens, to recruit as assets in its intelligence operations. This includes officials of the CCP’s Ministry of State Security, Chinese citizens traveling under false pretenses, hackers, and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent.
The CCP engages in what experts describe as “unrestricted warfare,” using tactics like money, ego, and blackmail to recruit assets. Recent cases have highlighted the lengths to which the CCP will go to further its objectives, including coercing American families, bribing military members for sensitive information, and infiltrating government agencies.
The U.S. has seen an increase in cases involving former military members, such as Navy sailors, army soldiers, and intelligence analysts, who have been charged with selling military secrets to the CCP. These cases underscore the ongoing threat posed by Chinese espionage and the need for continued vigilance to protect national security. The military forces in the Indo-Pacific region are a critical aspect of regional security and stability. Attorney Craig Heeren emphasized the importance of accountability during his closing arguments, urging the jury to find the defendants guilty for their actions of terrorizing individuals at the behest of the Chinese government. The jury unanimously returned a guilty verdict, and the three defendants now face sentencing this month.
Recent cases have revealed the presence of insider threats within anti-CCP groups, as seen with individuals like Wang Shujun and Tang Yuanjun who were involved in spying activities for the CCP. Wang, a Chinese American scholar and CCP critic, was found guilty of spying for the CCP, while Tang, a Chinese dissident, was charged with similar offenses.
The indictment against Tang raised questions about coercion by the CCP, as it is known to threaten the lives of family members to compel individuals to spy. The case highlights the insidious ways in which the CCP targets individuals, including Chinese Americans, to further its agenda.
Justice Department officials have acknowledged that Chinese Americans are often victims in these cases, such as Xiong Yan, an anti-CCP activist who was targeted by the CCP. Yan faced threats and attempts to undermine his political candidacy, illustrating the lengths to which the CCP goes to sow division and discord within democratic societies.
It is crucial to recognize and address the influence operations and threats posed by the CCP, as highlighted by investigative journalist Sam Cooper’s work exposing the deep infiltration of the CCP in Western cities. Cooper’s testimony before the Canadian Parliament and his ongoing reporting demonstrate the pervasive nature of the CCP’s influence and the need for vigilance in protecting against such threats.
The cases of individuals like Wang, Tang, and Yan underscore the importance of safeguarding democratic values and institutions from foreign interference. The U.S. and other democratic nations must remain vigilant in countering the CCP’s attempts to undermine their societies and democratic principles. At least twelve Chinese community leaders with strong ties to Beijing were involved in the attacks, as reported. The incident served as a stark reminder to Kwok that the United States may not be as safe as she had believed.
Hong Kong authorities have also targeted activists like Kwok, issuing an arrest warrant with a bounty of 1 million Hong Kong dollars. They have even attempted to gather intelligence on members of her group residing in the United States.
According to Kwok, the Chinese Communist Party’s objective is to instill fear in dissidents, making them feel constantly monitored. Following the publicity of the bounty, some individuals in the Hong Kong community began to distance themselves from Kwok out of fear of being associated with her.
Kwok believes that the Chinese government’s strategy is to create a climate of fear within the dissident community, ultimately leading to submission. She emphasizes the importance of remaining vigilant in light of the Justice Department’s prosecutions.
Fleming advocates for increased resources dedicated to educating Americans on identifying and reporting Chinese espionage and infiltration activities. He stresses the evolving tactics of the Chinese regime and the need for the American people to be vigilant against such threats. Please rewrite this sentence. Please rewrite this sentence. Please rewrite this sentence.
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