China's Intelligence Networks in United States Include 25,000 Spies

Washington Free Beacon ^ | July 11, 2017 | Bill Gertz

[RohanKapoor]

Beijing's spy networks in the United States include up to 25,000 Chinese intelligence officers and more than 15,000 recruited agents who have stepped up offensive spying activities since 2012, according to a Chinese dissident with close ties to Beijing's military and intelligence establishment.

Guo Wengui, a billionaire businessman who broke with the regime several months ago, said in an interview that he has close ties to the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the civilian intelligence service, and the military spy service of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

[fieldmarshaldj]

Wonder how many are in the media or holding office ?

[no-to-illegals]

The 15,000 is lowballed in portions of millions aka useful idiots that were not counted

[DIRTYSECRET]

Totally unsurprising.

[RC one]

But, but, but RUSSIA!!!

[Gargantua]

The actual number (of just those who daily engage in field work and tradecraft {infiltration, surveillance/espionage}, never mind their support teams), was more like 75,000-to-125,000 Chinese operatives as far back as 2005-6. I can only imagine how that blossomed under O'Bunghole.

I am unaware of any holding Federal office.

[AdmSmith]

The Chinese are relying on quantity rather than quality and pushes ethnic Chinese that are staying abroad to tell what they know. They are not spies in the traditional sense but is a threat to country and industry.

Businessmen are not really aware of this threat. I would not hire Chinese engineers if I have a high tech company. They will sooner or later be approached by “the Motherland” to steal intellectual property. The talented ones should stay at the universities or have their own companies in order to reduce the risk.

The risk is higher for companies that are competing with Chinese (or Russian) state owned companies, such as in defense and nuclear.

This MO will probably stop in 20 years or so, when Beijing understands that IP is a value for them as well.

read this as well http://observer.com/2016/04/the-unpleasant-truth-about-chinese-espionage/

[AdmSmith]

Read about the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3296973/posts

[TigerLikesRooster]

You are right. Motherland can lean on them. If they have families back home or value their connection to homeland, would they refuse? Probably not. An agent can employ numerous stringers. As you said, it is a dragnet operation. I am pretty sure that these agents are on U.S. campus, monitoring Chinese students and websites they frequent. Chinese can be in some foreign country where they create websites for their use. However, even away from home, they are afraid of saying anything bad about China at such sites, because they know motherland's security is monitoring them. They also run Wumao brigade in those countries.

Now that leads to an interesting question: Chinese wives of high-ranking officials, CEO's, and politicians. If their motherland approach them, what are they going to do?

[AdmSmith]

They listen to this 五星紅旗迎風飄揚， 勝利歌聲多麼響亮； 歌唱我們親愛的祖國， 從今走向繁榮富強。 歌唱我們親愛的祖國， 從今走向繁榮富強。

[Sam Gamgee]

So is this something Trump should address? “15% import duties until you Chinese stop spying operations”

[BeauBo]

“So is this something Trump should address? “15% import duties until you Chinese stop spying operations””

How about 30%, with half off for pulling back spying?

But seriously, it requires a massive shift to rollback the tide of Chinese cheating, and to defend the free world against the threat of a rapidly growing Communist power. This should be the main thrust of a Trump Presidency (and may end up being).

Making America Great Again requires defending it from Chinese dominance.

[Sam Gamgee]

I agree though I come from a country whose ruling party is basically and arm of the ChiComs. Canada's Liberals have a long relationship with the Chinese, and well aware of Chinese spying but could care less.