Espionage, illegal immigration, and other illicit activities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have surged in recent years, according to a new report from the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence. The “China Threat Snapshot,” exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, details 59 CCP-related criminal cases across 20 states from February 2021 to August 2024, involving charges such as bribery, hacking, and theft of trade secrets.
“The Chinese Communist Party is not satisfied with destroying freedom and repressing its citizens within its own borders,” stated Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. “Beijing has continually encroached upon American sovereignty to spy, intimidate, and harass not only defectors, but even American citizens.”
The report provides an overview of the rapid expansion of CCP-related activities in the United States, highlighting a significant impact on economic espionage and intellectual property theft. According to the findings, 80% of economic espionage cases involve conduct benefiting the Chinese state, and 60% of trade secret thefts are connected to China. The committee’s investigation revealed 14 instances of trade secret theft among the 59 cases analyzed.
One example cited in the report involves the February 2024 indictment of Chinese national Chenguang Gong in California. Gong was accused of stealing sensitive trade secrets, including information on sensors used for nuclear missile detection. Such cases are part of a larger trend of espionage directed at the U.S., with 224 reported incidents of Chinese espionage documented between 2000 and 2023, predominantly affecting states like California, Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Florida.
The report also draws attention to the U.S. government’s recent efforts to counter the CCP’s activities, including legislation like the SHIELD Against CCP Act. This bill aims to bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s capabilities to address threats related to terrorism, cybersecurity, border security, and transportation posed by the CCP.
In addition to espionage, the committee highlighted a dramatic rise in illegal immigration by Chinese nationals. A press release from the House Committee on Homeland Security stated that FY24 saw more than 36,000 apprehensions of Chinese nationals illegally crossing the Southwest border, surpassing the total recorded from FY07 to FY20 combined. The Biden administration’s policies have been cited as a contributing factor, with a leaked U.S. Customs and Border Protection email revealing that the vetting process for Chinese migrants was simplified in April 2023, reducing the number of interview questions from around 40 to just five.
The surge in illegal immigration was addressed in a May 2024 hearing by Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, who examined the roughly 8,000% increase in Chinese illegal immigration since March 2021. Testimonies during the hearing suggested that federal policies may have facilitated this unprecedented rise.
The Daily Caller News Foundation recently exposed a private social network allegedly run by a self-identified Chinese “cyber police” officer. The network reportedly provides resources to Chinese migrants entering the U.S. illegally and includes guidance on evading border authorities. Investigations also indicated that the network supports prostitution and sex trafficking operations.
Rep. Green emphasized the distinction between the Chinese people and the CCP regime, which he described as a “tyrannical” force that oppresses its citizens, commits human rights abuses, and threatens American security. “It is important we remain clear-eyed about the threat the CCP poses to the security of the American people so we are prepared to counter its malign influence at every turn,” he said.