FBI Uncovers Chinese Spy Plot

In breaking news, we’ve now learned that the FBI has uncovered a Chinese plot right here in the United States.

There’s quite a bit to say about issues with China, as right now Congress is reviewing legislation right now dealing with our current dependence on China for our technological needs from semiconductors to the chips in your cell phone.

Just last week we told you how Chinese companies – backed by the Chinese government – have been purchasing parcels of U.S. land near strategic locations such as military installments. In a bizarre update, it’s now being reported by CNN – a traditionally Left-leaning network – that since 2017 federal officials have been investigating Chinese land purchases in the U.S. near critical security locations where they’ve been erecting cell towers with Chinese-manufactured Huawei equipment technology capable of not only intercepting sensitive data for the Chinese government, but potentially far worse.

According to the CNN report citing the FBI:

Since at least 2017, federal officials have investigated Chinese land purchases near critical infrastructure, shut down a high-profile regional consulate believed by the US government to be a hotbed of Chinese spies and stonewalled what they saw as clear efforts to plant listening devices near sensitive military and government facilities.    

Among the most alarming things the FBI uncovered pertains to Chinese-made Huawei equipment atop cell towers near US military bases in the rural Midwest.

In one case we saw a satellite image from Wyoming where one of these Chinese towers was just a stone’s throw from one of our nuclear missile silos – literally close enough to watch it launch – with technology that is reportedly “capable of capturing and disrupting highly restricted Defense Department communications, including those used by U.S. Strategic Command which oversees the country’s nuclear weapons.”

This means China could theoretically interfere with our nuclear weapons program, and even prevent the U.S. from defending itself from a potential attack. That should seriously concern you.

The CNN article also reported on a planned Chinese garden at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. which was initially welcomed by D.C. officials who hoped it would attract tourist dollars.   Until an FBI counterintelligence task force discovered numerous red flags, including a 70 ft pagoda, which they realized “would have been strategically placed on one of the highest points in Washington DC, just two miles from the US Capitol, a perfect spot for signals intelligence collection.”

Chinese officials stipulated that this garden and the temples be built with Chinese materials shipped here in secure diplomatic pouches, meaning U.S. Customs agents could not open or inspect them. Thankfully, our federal officials wisely shut down  the project before it could become a modern-day Trojan horse.     

Unfortunately many of these towers still stand around the country with this Huawei technology. The FCC has mandated that the spy tech be removed but it still has not been completed due to budgetary issues. The cost of which, by the way – $3 billion – is but a fraction of what we’ve sent to Ukraine this year.

So does this mean the U.S. doesn’t have enough money to rip down Chinese spying equipment because our leaders have been hyper-focused on Russia, rather than China?

As ACLJ Senior Advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy Ric Grenell explained how the Biden FBI is finally waking up to what the Trump Administration was well aware of:

The whole Russia, Russia, Russia narrative, the collusion hoax is really what the Chinese [government] wants American politicians and American governments to do. They have been able to get away with climbing into our systems because the press and the Democrats have literally been saying “Don’t look at China. Look at Russia.” The Trump Administration tried to do this, when I was Ambassador, when I was DNI, we were screaming about what the Chinese were doing. The CNN “exclusive” – it’s not an exclusive – we knew that during the Trump Administration. They just didn’t pay attention until now.

It is great that the Biden Administration may finally be taking the threat of China seriously, but as Ric pointed out, it feels a little late. Action should have taken place sooner. Now we have to make sure all of this potentially dangerous spy technology is pulled down quickly. It’s already unclear if China has obtained sensitive security information. We cannot risk it any longer.

Today’s full Sekulow broadcast includes more discussion on this China spying revelation, as well as ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs (and former U.S. Secretary of State) Mike Pompeo who joined us to offer his expert analysis on the threat China represents to our security and safety. And Sec. Pompeo put it bluntly: “We’re dumb to have allowed this to happen.”

Watch the full broadcast below: