China has a significantly larger intelligence workforce than the US, says FBI Director.
The Spy Threat from China: A Greater Challenge than the Cold War
The United States is currently facing a spy threat from communist China that surpasses the scope of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, according to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Moreover, in an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Wray revealed that the United States has a smaller group of intelligence agents compared to China. He emphasized the need to defend the American people from this threat, stating, “I view this as the challenge of our generation.”
This is not the first time Mr. Wray has raised concerns about this issue. In April, he informed House lawmakers that Chinese hackers outnumbered bureau agents by at least 50 to 1, and China’s hacking program is larger than that of every nation combined.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is currently waging a covert war on U.S. soil, with the FBI at the forefront of confronting the regime’s espionage operations. Recent incidents include the arrest of individuals accused of operating a secret police station in New York City and Navy sailors arrested for passing sensitive military information to Chinese intelligence officers.
Mr. Wray highlighted the comprehensive approach of China’s intelligence apparatus, which combines cyber, human intelligence, corporate transactions, and investments to achieve its strategic goals. Experts have warned that these goals ultimately aim to displace the United States as the world’s leading power.
CCP Threat
The FBI is actively investigating thousands of Chinese intelligence cases, with each of its 56 field offices handling active cases. These investigations involve Chinese spies’ recruitment efforts, information theft, hacking, and harassment of Chinese dissidents.
The CCP’s strategic goals also extend to transnational repression, targeting critics abroad to silence them. For example, the regime has attempted to intimidate a U.S. Olympic figure skater and her family for speaking out against Beijing’s human rights abuses.
The FBI has launched targeted ads to encourage victims of CCP repression to come forward and report their experiences.
Foreign companies are also recruiting U.S. and NATO-trained military talent to train the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), posing a risk to national security and potentially violating the law, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.
‘Unilateral Disarmament’
During a “Spy Chat” event, Mr. Wray emphasized the importance of renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). He warned that losing access to this section would be a form of unilateral disarmament in the face of the Chinese Communist Party.
FISA Section 702 allows for intelligence gathering on foreign agents operating outside the United States. It is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023, and requires reauthorization by Congress every five years.
Mr. Wray also highlighted China’s attempts to steal U.S. innovation in artificial intelligence, as the country leads in AI development. He warned that China poses a significant threat to American AI companies.
Lawmakers have introduced the Closing Loopholes for the Overseas Use and Development of Artificial Intelligence (CLOUD AI) Act to prevent China from exploiting American technology for their own AI development.
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Sess, including ofspies operating within the country. These investigations have led to multiple arrests and prosecutions, shedding light on the sobering realityof China’s extensive espionage network.
One notable case is that of Katherine Hall, a former employee of the U.S. intelligence community, who with China’s Ministry of State Security. This ^ located in̥
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