Congress has been warned to be on high alert for Chinese spies after a suspected Beijing spy plot was uncovered in the British Parliament.
Earlier this week, a parliamentary investigator with links to MPs with classified information was arrested for ‘spying for China’.
The suspect is believed to have links to numerous Conservative MPs, including Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns.
According to reports, several members with ties to the suspected spy are “aware of classified or highly sensitive information,” but none have been accused of wrongdoing.
The suspect, who was arrested under the Official Secrets Act, has not been charged and has said he is ‘completely innocent’. He has not been named by police.
The suspected breach sparked a Metropolitan Police investigation and led to MI5 warning that more officers could be working at the highest levels of British democracy. Now the United States has been warned that this could be a target.
A Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang targeted rising local politicians in the Bay Area and around the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage, including Representative Eric Swalwell
Rep. Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Communist Party, told DailyMail.com that educating members of Congress about the threat of infiltration is critical – especially in light of the recent incident in Britain.
“One thing we are trying to do here in the Select Committee is 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 the work of the United Front is a poorly understood phenomenon. I don’t think the average member understands what it is. The more we can inform members about this phenomenon, the better they can defend themselves.’
The United Front is the political strategy used by the CCP to increase China’s influence and power worldwide through a variety of methods, including using spies to attempt to change the policies of foreign nations to become more pro-China or obtain sensitive information.
Congress has been infiltrated in recent years by Chinese spies trying to gain access to classified information.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s ties to suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang, known as “Fang Fang,” led to an Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct.
The committee ultimately took no disciplinary action against Swalwell, but issued a letter warning lawmakers of the threat of foreign infiltration.
“Members should be aware of the possibility that foreign governments may attempt to gain undue influence through gifts and other interactions,” the letter said.
Fang Fang left China in 2011 to study in the US and then worked to develop 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 their concerns to the congressman in 2015. At that time, Swalwell said he had cut off all contact with the suspected spy.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expelled Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee earlier this year over his Fang Fang connection.
But Swalwell isn’t the only lawmaker who has fallen for this trick.
A former aide to Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., who worked as a driver in California for 20 years, was found to have ties to the CCP.
Feinstein was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time.
She insisted that the spy “never had access to classified or sensitive information or legislative matters” and was released after the FBI informed her that her office had been infiltrated.
Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., blasted the two Democrats for falling for China’s “sophisticated” spy network.
“Communist China has a sophisticated and vast global spy network that has already breached the highest levels of government, as in the case of Senator Feinstein’s aide or Congressman Swalwell’s target,” Waltz said.
Waltz said he met with Canadian MP Michael Chong, who was also targeted by the Chinese.
“We will continue to pressure the intelligence community on their operations to combat these espionage efforts and protect members of Congress.”
Waltz serves on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees.
Experts say it is easier for Chinese spies to gain access to American secrets through American lawmakers than most think.
Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society think tank in Britain, told Dailymail.com that Chinese spy infiltration of Congress “could easily happen in the US” because “no one really understood that it was happening here in such a spectacular way.” way could happen.
“Who’s to say there aren’t people in the US and other Western democracies who have turned around and may be involved in Chinese influence operations or espionage for China?”
“It’s similar to what the Russians used to do: send real spies who were not clearly connected to the regime,” Mendoza continued.
“It seems unlikely that China won’t do that.”
He urged Congress to be “more alert” to the “dangers” of China’s efforts and treat them at the same level as Russia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the Global Trade in Services Summit of the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2023. Experts say it is easier for Chinese spies to gain access to American secrets through American lawmakers than most think
Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., blasted the two Democrats for falling for China’s ‘sophisticated’ spy network
“It’s hard to stop someone who is completely disconnected and can cover his tracks.”
Mendoza said politicians should look carefully at the backgrounds of the people they hire.
“If you’ve spent a significant amount of time in China, that should be a red flag, that should mean digging into someone’s background.
“An incident like this reminds us to be vigilant and redouble our processes.
“We don’t want to be alarmist and have a red McCarthy position under the beds (but) sometimes we are not alert to clear signals.”