Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, a member of The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is collaborating with fellow committee members to request a briefing on the escalating national security threats posed by the CCP. This request follows recent reports that suggest the CCP has made over a hundred attempts to access sensitive sites and information in the United States.
"We are alarmed by recent reports suggesting that citizens of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) may have attempted to commit more than one hundred acts of espionage at military bases and other sensitive locations throughout the United States," Hinson said. "There is a growing trend of persons working on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to obtain sensitive information about America's military, economic, and technological secrets."
In response to recent reports from the Wall Street Journal indicating that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made numerous attempts to breach U.S. military bases and sensitive locations, lawmakers have taken action. They have jointly written a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and FBI Director Christopher Wray, seeking a comprehensive plan to counter Chinese espionage. The lawmakers' letter urgently requests a classified briefing from both officials, scheduled no later than October 6, 2023, to address this pressing national security concern, according to a press release.
In the past year, there have been several notable instances of Chinese espionage attempts. In February, a large balloon was suspected of spying on U.S. military sites, although Beijing dismissed it as a wayward weather balloon. In June, reports indicated that China was allegedly planning the construction of a facility on Cuba for explicit espionage activities targeting the United States, which raised significant national security concerns. Additionally, there were reports of the CCP infiltrating Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's email account, along with other espionage activities, according to a press release.
Hinson was joined by Mike Gallagher, Chairman of the Select Committee on China, to compose the letter, and it was endorsed by several other lawmakers, including Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), and many more, according to a press release.
"In one case, potential agents infiltrated a U.S. Army test range, accessed numerous missile sites, and used drone technology to surveil the grounds," the lawmakers wrote. "In another case, individuals were found scuba diving in a location home to a launch site for U.S. spy satellites and other sensitive military equipment. Indeed, these incidents are not limited to military sites. There are also ongoing efforts to collect intelligence on the White House—including its layout, security, and communications equipment."
