Congress Holds Hearing on Chinese Surveillance on the US

On Thursday, the House heard from lawmakers about the Chinese regime’s efforts to spy on the United States. This included the recent passage of a surveillance balloon at high altitude over the country as well as reports that a Chinese secret police station was operating in New York City.

“This Chinese surveillance balloon was a brazen display of espionage in the U.S. homeland, but it is ultimately one of many ways the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is working to exploit our vulnerabilities,” Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas In his opening remarks to the House Homeland Security Subcommittee of Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence on Thursday. “Today, we must take the conversation beyond the balloon and discuss all the avenues the CCP is threatening U.S. homeland security.”

Pfluger stated that the United States doesn’t yet know what information the surveillance balloon was capable of collecting, but said, “[W]e can be certain that the CCP’s intention was to exploit sensitive U.S. military sites and critical infrastructure across the country.”

Pfluger claimed that China’s surveillance activities are concerning, and that the CCP has adopted a national strategy to counter them. “military-civil fusion” With the aim of making China’s military the world’s dominant military force by 2049. He stated that the Chinese regime steals information from U.S. military personnel and civilian targets in order to implement this strategy.

Recently, a Chinese company linked to the CCP tried to purchase land close to where they live. U.S. military baseThis raises questions about U.S. military operations monitoring efforts.

Reports have indicated that lawmakers also expressed concerns about the CCP’s relationship with TikTok, a popular social media app. You can access U.S. data by clicking here By the app’s Chinese parent company ByteDance.

Covert Chinese Police Stations

A report was another surveillance concern that was raised during the hearing.PDF(published September 9, 2009 by Safeguard Defenders. It claimed that China had created covert operations. “police stations” Around the world, even New York City. American Chang-Le Association was accused by Chinese agents of sharing office space in the United States. However, the association has denied Such accusations. According to reports, the FBI made such accusations in January. You searched The address of the alleged Chinese covert police outpost in New York.

Representative Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), a ranking Democratic member of subcommittee stated that the alleged police station was part of a pattern where Chinese officials monitor Chinese dissidents who criticize the Chinese communist system.

“The government of China … is increasingly autocratic and aggressive,” NTD told Magaziner “One of the ways that has manifested itself is the Chinese government operating a series of offices in the United States and around the world, targeting Chinese nationals who may have anti-CCP views.”

The United States accuses the Chinese regime, among other things, of monitoring Chinese dissidents and expatriates living abroad. A Chinese alleged effort is called “Operation Fox Hunt” It involves coercing Chinese dissidents into returning to China, by threatening to harass and detain their families who are still living in China. In connection with the so-called Fox Hunt operation, seven people were arrested by the Department of Justice. Safeguard Defenders believes that the alleged covert Chinese police stations at New York City and around the world are part a larger conspiracy. “Operation Fox Hunt.”

“The Chinese government, of course, denies that these offices exist, but we know that they do,” Magaziner. “And any harassment of individuals in America based on their political views is inappropriate. We are a First Amendment country, we believe that everyone has the right to advocate for what they believe in—particularly democratic ideals—and for the CCP or any nation to try to harass people on U.S. soil from exercising those rights is deeply concerning.”

Pfluger claimed that U.S. authorities are only beginning to understand how these covert operations may be conducted. He stated that the purpose of Thursday’s hearing is to start questioning other Chinese covert police stations.

“Where are they? How long have they been there? Who has been a victim of those facilities? Again, on this issue and many others, we’re just scratching the surface,” Pfluger told NTD.

US-China Relations at ‘All-Time’ Low

Since his election, President Joe Biden stated that he hopes to find areas in which the United States of America and China can collaborate, including on climate change. The Biden administration is also condemned The Chinese high-altitude balloon transited over the United States last month.

Biden has He is willing to push back against Chinese economic abuses. But he wants to avoid. “the reflexive opposition and rigid blocs of the Cold War.”

Despite Biden’s efforts to cooperate with China, Biden may end up on opposing side of a wider set of geo-political conflict. Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary-of-State, recently accused China You may be thinking of sending weapons Russia to be used in the war in Ukraine. The Biden administration supplied weapons to Ukraine in conflict. China should warn against arming Russia.

“Sadly, the relations between China and the U.S., in my opinion, are very much an all-time low,” NTD was told by Lou Correa (D.Calif.).

Correa suggested that the United States need to make investments in education, cybersecurity and workforce development, as well as relations with Western Hemisphere countries, in order to combat the growing competition between the United States of America and China. He stated that countries have proven they value American culture and values more than what the Chinese offer.

“We have to capitalize on that. We have to invest in those relationships,” Correa stated. “We’ve got to make sure we show up to these countries like Venezuela—can’t go there now—but Colombia, other parts of the world, and let them know that we want to be partners.”

Pfluger specifically blamed the Biden government for showing “weakness” China. Pfluger acknowledged that it’s possible for the United States and China to get into a more direct conflict. But, Pfluger also said that the United States will need bolstering its defenses in order to counter Chinese actions like the recent surveillance ballon incident.

“That starts with making sure that our homeland is defended, that we send a strong message to Beijing that if you want to be a trade partner or any other partner with us, that you’re going to have to operate under the rules and the laws that we have established and the world order that says you don’t attack other countries, you don’t penetrate their sovereign airspace,” Pfluger said.

From NTD News