Congress has been warned to be on high alert for Chinese spies after a suspected Beijing spying plot was uncovered in the British Parliament.
Earlier this week, a parliamentary researcher with links to MPs with classified information was arrested on charges of “spying for China”.
The suspect is believed to be linked to numerous Conservative MPs – including Security Minister Tom Stimmehat and Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns.
Several of the members with ties to the alleged spy are reportedly “privy to classified or highly sensitive information,” but none of them have been accused of wrongdoing.
The suspect, who was arrested under the Official Secrets Act, has not been charged and said he was “completely innocent”. He was not named by police.
The alleged breach sparked an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and led to MI5 warning that more agents could be working at the highest levels of Britain’s democracy. Now the United States has been warned that it could be a target.
A Chinese national named Fang Fang, or Christine Fang, targeted up-and-coming local politicians in the Bay Area and across the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage, including Rep. Eric Swalwell
Rep. Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Communist Party, told that educating members of Congress about the threat of infiltration is crucial – especially in light of the recent incident in the United Kingdom.
“One thing we are trying to do here at the special committee is to educate people – members and staff – about the nature of not only traditional CCP espionage but also the work of the United Front,” he said.
“I think that the work of the united front is a poorly understood phenomenon. I don’t think your average member understands what this is about. “The more we can educate members about this phenomenon, the better they will be able to defend themselves.”
The united front is the CCP’s political strategy to increase China’s influence and power worldwide through various methods, including using spies to attempt to change the policies of foreign nations to be pro-China or to pass on sensitive information to get.
Congress has been infiltrated in recent years by Chinese spies trying to gain access to classified information.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s ties to alleged Chinese spy Christine Fang, known as “Fang Fang,” sparked an ethics committee investigation into his conduct.
The committee ultimately took no disciplinary action against Swalwell, but issued a letter warning lawmakers about the danger of foreign infiltration.
“Members should be aware of the possibility that foreign governments may seek to gain undue influence through gifts and other interactions,” the letter said.
Fang Fang left China in 2011 to study in the United States and then worked to build relationships with key lawmakers, including Swalwell, to gain access to sensitive information.
She reportedly raised money for his 2014 campaign and attended a number of events attended by the congressman.
The FBI, which was investigating Fang Fang, first brought its concerns to the congressman in 2015. At that point, Swalwell said he had cut off all contact with the suspected spy.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy kicked Swalwell off the House Intelligence Committee earlier this year because of his connection to Fang Fang.
But Swalwell isn’t the only lawmaker who fell for the trick.
A former aide to Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., who worked as her driver in California for 20 years, was found to have ties to the CCP.
At the time, Feinstein was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
She insisted the spy “never had access to classified or sensitive information or legislative matters” and was fired after the FBI told her her office had been infiltrated.
Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida criticized the two Democrats for falling for China’s “sophisticated” spy network.
“Communist China has a sophisticated and vast global espionage network that has already penetrated the highest levels of government, as in the cases of Senator Feinstein’s adviser or the targeted attacks on Congressman Swalwell,” Waltz said.
Waltz said he met with Canadian MP Michael Chong, who was also targeted by the Chinese.
“We will continue to urge the intelligence community in its operations to combat these espionage efforts and protect members of Congress.”
Waltz sits on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees.
Experts say it’s easier for Chinese spies to gain access to American secrets through U.S. lawmakers than most think.
Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society think tank in the United Kingdom, told that the infiltration of Congress by Chinese espionage “could easily happen in the US” because “nobody really understood that it was happening on such a spectacular scale here.” way can happen”.
“Who says there aren’t people in the United States and other Western democracies who have been converted and may be involved in Chinese influence operations or spying for China?”
“It’s similar to what the Russians used to do, sending real spies who obviously had no connection to the regime,” Mendoza continued.
“It seems unlikely that China won’t do that.”
He called on Congress to be “more vigilant” about the “dangers” of Chinese efforts and to treat China on the same level as Russia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the Global Trade in Services Summit at the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services. Experts say it’s easier for Chinese spies to gain access to American secrets through U.S. lawmakers than most think
Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida criticized the two Democrats for falling for China’s “sophisticated” spy network
“It’s difficult to stop someone from being completely disconnected and covering their tracks.”
Mendoza said politicians should look closely at the backgrounds of the people they hire.
“If you have spent a significant amount of time in China, that should be a red flag that you should look into someone’s background.”
“An incident like this reminds us to be vigilant and double down on our processes.”
“We don’t want to be alarmist and take the Reds’ position under McCarthy’s beds, (but) sometimes we don’t pay attention to obvious signs.”