Countering Chinese Espionage: Senator Angus King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Armed Services Committee, is cosponsoring the Countering Chinese Espionage Reporting Act to combat threats to U.S. national security posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The legislation aims to direct the Attorney General to prepare a report on the Department of Justice's efforts to combat Chinese espionage in the United States. China's aggressive activities, including the theft of American intellectual property, pose significant threats to the U.S. economy and national security. The CCP has stolen IP estimated to cost the United States between $225 billion to $600 billion every year, making it the top thief of U.S. intellectual property.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Countering Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would direct the Attorney General to prepare an annual report on the DOJ's efforts to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and include details on the theft of American intellectual property (IP) and research threats.
  • The report would also account for DOJ resources dedicated to combating threats from the CCP and provide an update on the current state of China's surveillance efforts in the United States.
  • China has leveraged its legal system to steal American IP, posing a significant threat to the U.S. economy and national security, with estimated losses ranging from $225 billion to $600 billion annually.
  • Senator Angus King has been a vocal advocate for strengthening the U.S. deterrence strategy to defend against Chinese aggression, including securing a provision in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit yearly reports on deterring hostility from adversaries like China and Russia.
  • The CCP has secretly operated "service centers" across America, raising questions about China's surveillance efforts in the United States.
  • In February 2023, the U.S. Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had traveled through American airspace for several days.

Statistics:

  • The estimated annual loss to the United States from the theft of American intellectual property (IP) by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ranges from $225 billion to $600 billion.
  • The CCP has stolen IP that makes it the top thief of U.S. intellectual property (IP).
  • In February 2023, the U.S. Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had traveled through American airspace for several days.

Sources:

  • https://www.senatorangusking.com/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-cosponsors-legislation-to-counter-chinese-espionage
  • [Reference URL not provided in original text]