China coerces hundreds of Chinese-born critics in US to return home, FBI chief says

By Jonathan Landay

 

FILE PHOTO: FBI Director Christopher Wray departs following a national security briefing for members of the U.S. Senate about how Russia has been using social media to stoke racial and social differences ahead of this year's general election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the FBI said on Tuesday Chinese President Xi Jinping was spearheading a program aimed at strong-arming Chinese-born people in the United States deemed as threats to Beijing to return home - even threatening their families.

 

FBI director Christopher Wray, speaking at the Hudson Institute think tank, said hundreds of Chinese in the United States - some of them US citizens- had been targets of the "Fox Hunt" programme.

 

Wray reiterated U.S. charges that China was using espionage, cyber theft, blackmail and other means as part of a strategy to replace the United States as the world's dominant economic and technological power. China rejected Wray's comments.

 

Wray said the Fox Hunt programme was aimed at silencing criticism of Beijing's political and human rights policies by Chinese-born people living overseas.

 

The families of those who refuse to return are threatened and some have been arrested in China "for leverage," he said.

 

"Hundreds of these Fox Hunt victims that they target live here in the United States, and many are American citizens or green card holders," he continued.

 

"The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China and China's tactics to accomplish this are shocking."

 

He urged people to contact the FBI if Chinese officials tried to force them to return to China.

 

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected Wray's comments.

 

"The relevant statements by Wray ignore basic facts, are full of political lies, and fully reveal his deep-rooted Cold War thinking and ideological prejudices," he said.

 

Beijing has denied U.S. charges that it employs cyber espionage against the United States.

 

Wray also said almost half of nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases now underway are related to China.

 

"We've now reached a point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours," Wray said in his address.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-08

 

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Go for it Donald.

 

You're still miles behind though, miles behind.

A cunning stunt from Mr Xi by the sound of it????

44 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

China rejected Wray's comments

shocking; china rejects E V E R Y T H I N G american

1 hour ago, Traubert said:

Go for it Donald.

 

You're still miles behind though, miles behind.

 

Go for what?

Miles behind how?

 

For once, Trump isn't even mentioned in the OP.

Well this is one that I have a little insight.

 

A very close friend of mine came to the US on the China Student Protection Act after the Tiananmen protests.

 

He's now the CEO of his own company in California. 

 

Two weeks ago he had a visit from an official from the consulate in San Francisco, to see 'how he was doing'

 

Eugene told me the most chilling part of the conversation was when they asked him, "How are your parents doing?"

4 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

A cunning stunt from Mr Xi by the sound of it????

They started harassing Australian Chinese months ago by threatening their families back in China, so welcome to the party America. I can't see how they can stop it?

3 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Go for what?

Miles behind how?

 

For once, Trump isn't even mentioned in the OP.

erm Chinese apologist ?????

8 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

erm Chinese apologist ?????

 

Yeah, but still don't make much sense.

13 hours ago, Traubert said:

Go for it Donald.

 

You're still miles behind though, miles behind.

The medication seems ineffective. Suggest a consult.

13 hours ago, YetAnother said:

shocking; china rejects E V E R Y T H I N G american

China rejects EVERYTHING non chinese

Heavy on China and light on Russia; Trump appointee Christopher Wray's stance nearing the re-election. It is a appealing strategy for those ever Trumper supporters.  

China has even planted cheerleaders on this thread....

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Heavy on China and light on Russia; Trump appointee Christopher Wray's stance nearing the re-election. It is a appealing strategy for those ever Trumper supporters.  

One thing at a time.  It may already be too late for the USA in its confrontation with China.  If I could run the show I would have the full apparatus of the government focused on wearing every move China makes.  Sure the Russians can be bad actors but they don’t have the reach, resources and power that China does.  This is the time for the USA to focus its resources on the bigger of the two evils.

1 hour ago, chilli42 said:

One thing at a time.  It may already be too late for the USA in its confrontation with China.  If I could run the show I would have the full apparatus of the government focused on wearing every move China makes.  Sure the Russians can be bad actors but they don’t have the reach, resources and power that China does.  This is the time for the USA to focus its resources on the bigger of the two evils.

IMO US should be in full focused on Russia threats in the short term. Senate intelligence already signaled Russia interference in the upcoming election and Russia is moving towards dominating the Middle East war arenas. The Russian bounty allegation is still an on-going investigation and they are moving in with Assad and Turkey in mass killings in Syria’s China should be a longer term threat. Hong Kong and Taiwan are not direct threats to US and are domestic China problems. The senate has a bill on Taiwan defense that is still seating in congress and likely to be procrastinate longer. Deal with the evil on your doorstep which is Russia even though blaming China is such a rabble rousing subject which is hard for Trump to resist. 

Nuke em

On 7/8/2020 at 5:24 AM, YetAnother said:

shocking; china rejects E V E R Y T H I N G american

In our current situation now days the same can be said for the blacks. sadly similar.

14 hours ago, Benmart said:

The medication seems ineffective. Suggest a consult.

Must be Chinese made medication.

23 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Heavy on China and light on Russia; Trump appointee Christopher Wray's stance nearing the re-election. It is a appealing strategy for those ever Trumper supporters.  

Even more appealing to those who understand the current international strategic situation. Perhaps essential for those  with clear understanding viral genome alleged 'evolution'. 

On 7/9/2020 at 12:52 PM, Eric Loh said:

IMO US should be in full focused on Russia threats in the short term. Senate intelligence already signaled Russia interference in the upcoming election and Russia is moving towards dominating the Middle East war arenas. The Russian bounty allegation is still an on-going investigation and they are moving in with Assad and Turkey in mass killings in Syria’s China should be a longer term threat. Hong Kong and Taiwan are not direct threats to US and are domestic China problems. The senate has a bill on Taiwan defense that is still seating in congress and likely to be procrastinate longer. Deal with the evil on your doorstep which is Russia even though blaming China is such a rabble rousing subject which is hard for Trump to resist. 

https://www.justsecurity.org/71279/trump-pushed-cia-to-give-intelligence-to-kremlin-while-taking-no-action-against-russia-arming-taliban/