During a recent session with the House Appropriations subcommittee, FBI Director Christopher Wray characterized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as an “unparalleled” threat to cybersecurity. This statement came as he sought an $11.4 billion budget for the FBI, marking a 5.5 percent increase compared to last year’s budget. This funding is crucial for enhancing the Bureau’s capabilities in tackling the multifaceted risks posed by international cyber threats, particularly from state-sponsored actors.
In addition to bolstering cybersecurity measures, Wray emphasized the need for increased funding aimed at anti-violence initiatives. This includes a proposal for $14.9 million dedicated to combatting violent crime and $53.1 million earmarked for expanding DNA collection efforts, essential for addressing issues related to drug trafficking and organized crime. These enhancements reflect a comprehensive strategy to improve public safety amid increasing crime rates.
The proposed budget outlines a significant $63.4 million allocation aimed at enhancing the FBI’s cyber investigative capabilities. It also includes $4.5 million to mitigate threats posed by foreign intelligence services and $27.2 million specifically for improving the Bureau’s cybersecurity posture and safeguarding internal networks. This robust investment underscores the FBI’s commitment to staying ahead of evolving cyber threats and protecting national interests.
This proposed budget represents a 5.5 percent increase from the FBI’s 2023 budget, reflecting the growing urgency of addressing cybersecurity challenges. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, this additional funding is essential for the FBI to effectively deploy resources and personnel in the fight against cybercrime and foreign espionage.
Wray’s remarks came in the wake of April indictments from the Department of Justice targeting individuals linked to the operation of illegal foreign police activities in New York City. These charges highlight the FBI’s intensified efforts to combat foreign interference and criminal enterprises that pose threats to U.S. citizens and sovereignty.
“No nation presents a greater risk to our innovation, ideas, economic security, and national security than the Chinese government,” Wray stated before the committee. He further revealed that the FBI has significantly escalated its investigations into threats emanating from China, increasing the number of active cases by approximately 1300 percent. This dramatic rise in investigations underscores the critical need for enhanced funding to combat this escalating threat.
As Wray advocated for substantial financial resources to fortify cybersecurity initiatives against Chinese operations, he pointed out a concerning shortage of personnel to adequately address the cybersecurity risks posed by various entities, including the People’s Republic of China. This shortage creates vulnerabilities in U.S. defenses against cyber intrusions and espionage.
“Even if every FBI cyber agent and intelligence analyst focused entirely on the threat from China, they would still be outnumbered by Chinese hackers at least 50 to 1,” Wray asserted. This stark comparison highlights the significant challenge that U.S. agencies face in countering organized cybercrime and espionage activities originating from state-sponsored actors.
“In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in efforts by authoritarian regimes to disrupt freedom of expression and punish dissidents on a global scale,” Wray stated in a declaration to the House Appropriations subcommittee. This trend is alarming, as it suggests that repressive tactics are not confined within national borders but are encroaching upon the rights of individuals in the United States.
“Countries such as China, Russia, and Iran engage in stalking, intimidation, and harassment of specific individuals in the U.S. This practice is known as transnational repression, which is illegal, and the FBI is actively investigating such cases,” Wray added. This highlights the FBI’s commitment to protecting the rights of individuals and upholding the rule of law in the face of foreign aggression.
Only a week prior, the Department of Justice and the FBI announced charges against over 30 officers from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS), eight Chinese government officials, and two residents of New York City. These charges stemmed from their involvement in targeting individuals within the U.S. who are part of the Chinese diaspora and opposing the PRC, as well as operating an illicit Chinese police station in New York City, uncovered in late 2022.
“Unlike standard law enforcement officers, the charged MPS officials are not focused on preventing crime. Instead, the allegations suggest they were engaged in transnational repression schemes aimed at members of Chinese diaspora communities,” stated Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, during a press conference announcing the arrests. This distinction is crucial in understanding the nature of these operations and their implications for U.S. law enforcement.
“The MPS has repeatedly and brazenly violated our nation’s sovereignty by opening and operating a police station in the heart of New York City,” Peace remarked. This blatant disregard for U.S. laws raises serious concerns about foreign influence and control within American borders.
The clandestine police headquarters was reportedly involved in routine but illicit consular activities, such as renewing driver’s licenses, while also allegedly participating in more sinister illegal acts, including monitoring a U.S. citizen in California believed to be a pro-democracy advocate. This reveals the extent of the threat posed by such foreign operations.
“Imagine if the NYPD opened an undisclosed secret police station in Beijing; it would be unthinkable,” Peace commented. This analogy underscores the severity of the situation and highlights the expectations of sovereignty and law enforcement in both nations.
On April 17, a complaint was unsealed alleging that two New Yorkers, Lu Jianwang from the Bronx and Chen Jinping from Manhattan, conspired to act on behalf of the PRC. This followed an October 2022 search of their properties in New York and the seizure of their electronic devices.
The FBI reports that both individuals confessed to deleting communications between themselves and an MPS official, which investigators believe contained instructions related to establishing the police station. This admission reveals the extent of cooperation between these individuals and the foreign government.
The duo has been charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. “As alleged, the defendants were directed to do the bidding of the PRC, including assisting in locating a Chinese dissident living in the United States, and hindered our investigation by erasing their communications with a Chinese Ministry of Public Security official. Such a police station has no place in New York City—or any American community,” Peace stated, referring to the FBI’s findings that Lu aided the Chinese Ministry in tracking down a pro-democracy protester in California.
The PRC’s special police are also facing their own charges. Thirty-four officers have been charged with similar offenses to Lu and Chun, accused of harassing Chinese nationals in New York and across the nation. This indicates a broader pattern of intimidation and repression that extends beyond individual cases.
The accused individuals are alleged members of an elite Chinese police task force known as the 912 Special Project Working Group. This group is said to operate a troll farm engaged in activities similar to those of Russian troll farms during the 2016 presidential elections. This connection highlights the global implications of state-sponsored disinformation campaigns.
These Chinese troll farms are reportedly disseminating disinformation and seeking to sow division on social media by promoting narratives that favor China’s political system over democratic ideals. They target sensitive issues such as human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang Province, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and civil unrest following George Floyd’s death, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the DOJ. This underscores the extensive reach of Chinese influence operations.
Furthermore, the troll farm is said to have specifically targeted Chinese nationals in the U.S., including pro-democracy activists who exercise their right to free speech in ways that contradict the current Chinese government’s narratives. This targeting raises serious concerns about the safety and freedom of individuals advocating for democratic values.
“China’s Ministry of Public Security deployed operatives to target individuals of Chinese descent who bravely oppose the Chinese Communist Party,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow during a press conference announcing the charges. This statement reflects the gravity of the situation and the FBI’s commitment to protecting dissenters.
“In one instance, operatives covertly spread propaganda to undermine confidence in our democratic processes, and in another, they suppressed the free speech of U.S. video conferencing users,” Ronnow added. These actions illustrate the lengths to which the Chinese government will go to silence dissent and influence public opinion.
Xinjiang “Julien” Jin, a former executive at a U.S. telecommunications firm, has also been indicted for allegedly acting as a conduit for the Chinese government, regularly responding to requests to disrupt meetings and block individuals on video calls. Charges against Jin were initially filed in 2020 after he and accomplices allegedly prevented individuals from participating in events commemorating the Tiananmen Square Massacre. This highlights the ongoing efforts of foreign entities to interfere with U.S. domestic affairs.
Now, six officers from the MPS, two officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China, and another civilian have been charged alongside Jin for allegedly surveilling and attempting to identify and track individuals within the U.S. who challenge the Chinese government. This coordinated effort underscores the serious implications of transnational repression.
“As alleged, Julien Jin and his co-conspirators in the Ministry of Public Security and Cyberspace Administration of China weaponized the U.S. telecommunications company he worked for to intimidate and silence dissenters, enforcing PRC law to the detriment of Chinese activists seeking refuge in this country to peacefully express their pro-democracy views,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny. This statement emphasizes the importance of corporate cooperation in investigations of this nature.
“China firmly opposes the U.S.’s slanders and smears, its political manipulation, the false narrative of ‘transnational repression,’ and the blatant prosecution of Chinese law enforcement and cyber administration officials,” asserted Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, during a press conference shortly after the April 17 arrests. This reflects the ongoing tensions between the two nations and the complexities of international relations.
“We urge the U.S. to engage in self-reflection, abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, and immediately cease its erroneous actions, ending political manipulation and halting smears and attacks against China,” he added. This statement highlights China’s stance on the accusations and their desire for diplomatic resolution.
In response to the FBI director’s testimony before Congress accusing China of stealing “more of our personal and corporate data than all other nations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning countered by highlighting what she described as the United States’ history of “massive surveillance and secret theft and cyber theft against its allies and the rest of the world.” This exchange illustrates the ongoing blame game between the two nations.
“Perhaps the U.S. should take a hard look in the mirror before it points fingers at another country,” Mao concluded. This remark encapsulates the growing tensions and mutual accusations of wrongdoing between China and the United States in the realm of cybersecurity and international relations.
