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USDA Bird Flu Research in China Sparks Congressional Concern

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Research on highly pathogenic strains of bird flu conducted by the Department of Agriculture in affiliation with Chinese Communist Party scientific researchers is drawing renewed scrutiny from representatives in Congress following the growing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows this month.

A bipartisan group of representatives in the House began probing the USDA this month regarding two collaborative research projects with the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducting potentially dangerous research on several strains of avian influenza that are genetically similar to the H5N1 strain currently circulating in the United States.

This heightened scrutiny comes as outside observers of the bird flu outbreak note that the situation is eerily similar to the secrecy of January and February 2020 before the official beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) joined a group of 20 legislators in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilkas on April 12, saying they were “disturbed” that U.S. taxpayer funds were being allocated for research that “could potentially generate dangerous new lab-created virus strains that threaten our national security and public health.”

Griffith told the Washington Examiner this week that he is highly concerned about the USDA’s research, considering the history of biosecurity failures in U.S.-funded virus research in China. (Read more from “USDA Bird Flu Research in China Sparks Congressional Concern” HERE)

Wray Warns China Getting Positioned to Attack American Infrastructure’

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The chief of the FBI is warning that China already has “burrowed” into critical infrastructure in the United States and now is just waiting for “the right moment to deal a devastating blow.”

The FBI’s Christopher Wray said in a Reuters report that an ongoing hacking campaign, known already as Volt Typhoon, has gained access to American telecommunications, energy, water and other companies, including pipeline operators.

Wray charged China is assembling the “ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing. … Its plan is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic.”

The report explained, “Wray said it was difficult to determine the intent of this cyber pre-positioning which was aligned with China’s broader intent to deter the U.S. from defending Taiwan.”

That is a fast-developing conflict that has the potential to draw the United States into a fight on the other side of the globe. China claims it owns Taiwan, while Taiwan says its own people will decide their future. (Read more from “Wray Warns China Getting Positioned to Attack American Infrastructure’” HERE)

Chinese Embassy Reportedly Lobbied Directly Against TikTok Bill On Capitol Hill

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The Chinese Embassy has held closed-door meetings with congressional staff to lobby against a bill that would force a sale or ban of TikTok, according to Politico.

Chinese Embassy officials reportedly reached out to set up the meetings shortly after the House voted decisively in favor of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, but did not specifically mention TikTok when they initially made contact, according to Politico, which granted several congressional staffers anonymity to speak freely. In one phone call placed to Capitol Hill staffers, an embassy official reportedly stated that the Chinese ambassador wanted to discuss the legislation.

The legislation, which would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform or otherwise see the popular social media app banned in the U.S. ,is stalling in the Senate after passing the House by a decisive margin in March.

TikTok has repeatedly denied that it is linked with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but a former senior ByteDance employee has alleged that CCP members inside the company have “superuser” credentials and a “backdoor channel” to access American users’ data, while the app often promotes content for users that is aligned with the CCP’s agenda, according to a recent study by Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University.

“For once, Chinese diplomats have done America a favor,” Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow for the American Foreign Policy Council who specializes in Indo-Pacific studies, told Politico. “By lobbying congressional staff to protect TikTok’s relationship with ByteDance, [People’s Republic of China] officials are revealing how valuable TikTok is to the Chinese Communist Party. Losing control of the app would neuter Beijing’s most potent weapon against Americans.” (Read more from “Chinese Embassy Reportedly Lobbied Directly Against TikTok Bill On Capitol Hill” HERE)

China Imposes Sanctions on Two Major American Defense Companies over U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan

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China has announced sanctions against two major American defense companies in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, further escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan violated agreements between the two countries and interfered with China’s internal affairs. The ministry emphasized that such actions undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling the sales a violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of past China-U.S. joint communiqués.

Effective from April 11, 2024, China has imposed sanctions on General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems, targeting their senior management and freezing their assets within China. General Dynamics, which operates aviation services in China and manufactures the Abrams tank, faces repercussions for its involvement in the arms sales.

This move by China follows similar sanctions imposed last year on Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Missiles & Defense after their involvement in shooting down a suspected spy balloon flying over U.S. military installations.

Taiwan remains a contentious issue between the U.S. and China, with the former maintaining unofficial diplomatic ties with the island nation. Despite switching official recognition to Beijing in 1979, the U.S. continues to support Taiwan’s defense against potential Chinese aggression.

In recent years, China has intensified its military activities around Taiwan, heightening tensions in the region. The latest sanctions coincide with a visit by the Japanese prime minister to Washington, during which both the U.S. and Japan reiterated their positions on the Taiwan issue.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning reiterated China’s stance on the Taiwan question, emphasizing that it is a domestic affair and urging the U.S. and Japan to refrain from interference. She called for concrete actions from the U.S. to align with President Biden’s commitment not to support “Taiwan independence.”

Chinese Migrants Infiltrating Guam Military Base Raise Alarms Over National Security: CCP Wants to ‘Exploit’ Every Part of the U.S. Map

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In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged in the U.S. territory of Guam, where concerns are mounting over the infiltration of Chinese migrants, raising serious questions about national security. With over 20,000 troops stationed on the island and hosting crucial military installations, Guam has become a focal point in the growing tension between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Since 2022, there has been a notable increase in the number of Chinese nationals illegally entering Guam from the nearby Northern Mariana Islands. This influx poses a significant risk, as it opens avenues for potential CCP influence within the territory. According to reports from Guam’s homeland security agency, there have been 118 documented cases of “unlawful or attempted unlawful entries by Chinese citizens” since 2022, a trend that has raised red flags among top Republican officials.

House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., has warned that the CCP is adept at exploiting vulnerabilities, and Guam’s strategic importance makes it a prime target for infiltration. He emphasized the critical role Guam plays in defending U.S. interests in the western Pacific and expressed concern over the surge in Chinese nationals entering the island, citing the uncertainty surrounding their intentions.

Green placed blame on the Biden administration for what he perceives as a failure to address the issue effectively, accusing it of displaying weakness that the CCP is quick to exploit. The situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, where Chinese migrants are reportedly the fastest-growing group being smuggled into the country.

Adding to the complexity is a visa loophole that allows Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa for up to 14 days.

The infiltration extends beyond Guam, prompting action from top leaders in the Senate. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has been vocal about the need to address the visa loophole, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by spies gathering intelligence on U.S. military activities.

Ernst, along with Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the administration to address the policy loophole. While the administration has touted the economic benefits of the visa program for the Northern Mariana Islands, critics argue that national security concerns must take precedence.

Photo credit: Flickr

China Claims U.S. Executives Salute XI’s ‘Outstanding Leadership’ in Beijing

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U.S. business executives met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday. China‘s state media outlet Xinhua reported that they included, “[Evan] Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, [Stephen] Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone Group, [Cristiano] Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, [and Graham] Allison, Founding Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.” U.S.-China Business Council chief Craig Allen and FedEx’s Raj Subramaniam also attended the meeting.

This meeting was designed to bolster China’s economic credibility and encourage foreign investors to believe that they’ll be treated fairly. These are no small concerns amid Xi’s increasingly aggressive effort to monitor and control foreign businesses. While China complains that Western criticism of these laws is unfair and even slanderous, escalating Chinese raids on foreign businesses speaks to the truth. Alongside their growing recognition of China’s structural economic challenges, Western businesses are reducing their investments. This is a big problem for Xi and his debt-riven economy.

Yet if one is to believe Chinese state media, U.S. executives have absolute confidence in Xi’s vision for the future.

According to Xinhua, after all, the U.S.-China Business Council’s “[Craig] Allen and other” members of the U.S. delegation observed that “China has achieved extraordinary economic growth and transformation, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality.” The Americans apparently added that “Under the outstanding leadership of President Xi Jinping, China is committed to developing new productive forces and achieving more sustainable and high-quality development. … The economic relations between the United States and China are closely interdependent. … They are optimistic about China’s economic development prospects and will unswervingly continue to work in China and develop a long-term and close cooperative relationship with China….” (Read more from “China Claims U.S. Executives Salute XI’s ‘Outstanding Leadership’ in Beijing” HERE)

Chinese Auto Executive: ‘Bloodbath’ Coming for American Auto Industry

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He Xiaopeng, the CEO of XPeng Motors, predicts a “bloodbath” against America’s auto industry with the help of cheap China-made electric vehicles (EVs).

Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump was campaigning in Andalia, Ohio, when he warned that without fierce new United States tariffs on China-made EVs, the American auto industry will face “a bloodbath for the country” with jobs lost and industry offshored. . .

CNBC reported:

“This year also marks the beginning of a fierce competition that may end in a ‘bloodbath’ (or as I prefer to call it, the brutal ‘knockout round’) among Chinese auto makers,” Xiaopeng wrote in the employee memo. [Emphasis added]

“XPeng has engaged in this cutthroat competition right from the outset, thus accumulating considerable experience. Our guts, grit and perseverance, I firmly believe, will lead us to victory.” [Emphasis added]

(Read more from “Chinese Auto Executive: ‘Bloodbath’ Coming for American Auto Industry” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

U.S. Senators Issue Warning: Dependence on China for Crucial Medical Supplies Imperils National Security

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In a recent alarming revelation, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have sounded the alarm on the United States’ growing reliance on China for critical medical supplies, particularly needles, syringes, and rubber medical gloves. The senators caution that this burgeoning dependence not only jeopardizes Americans’ health but also poses significant national security risks.

The senators underscored that the U.S. has more than doubled its reliance on imported needles and syringes from China and other nations over the past six years. In 2018, a mere 15 percent of the 10 million needles and syringes used daily in America were imported. Today, that figure has soared to a concerning 40 percent, leaving the nation vulnerable to potential risks associated with faulty medical equipment.

Reports of defective syringes originating from China have prompted investigations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Leaks or breakages in such syringes can lead to catastrophic medical errors, including incorrect dosages of medication, with potentially fatal consequences.

Moreover, the senators lamented the closure of four out of six manufacturing sites for these critical medical supplies within the U.S. borders. They emphasized the vital role of a resilient domestic supply chain in safeguarding the nation’s crisis response capabilities and the health of its citizens.

Echoing calls for bolstering domestic production, Ricketts and Blumenthal urged continued efforts to ramp up manufacturing of essential medical supplies within the United States. They emphasized the need to learn from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which American businesses and manufacturers demonstrated their ability to rapidly scale up production to meet urgent demands.

However, it’s not just needles and syringes facing increased imports from China. Rubber medical gloves, essential for various medical procedures and everyday tasks, have also seen a surge in imports from the Asian giant. Scott Maier, CEO of Blue Star NBR, an American manufacturer, revealed that China’s share of the U.S. rubber glove supply has skyrocketed from 14 percent to a worrying 44 percent, with projections indicating a potential rise to two-thirds by year-end.

Maier’s experience underscores the challenges faced by American manufacturers in maintaining domestic production amid rising costs and regulatory hurdles. Despite initial efforts under the Trump administration to support domestic manufacturing, obstacles such as inflation and supply chain disruptions have hindered progress. Maier’s state-of-the-art rubber factory, intended to supply a significant portion of the nation’s rubber glove needs, remains unfinished due to funding issues exacerbated by changing administrations’ priorities.

Beijing’s Military Hacked U.S. Nuclear Firm Before Hunter Biden Aided Chinese Bid to Acquire It

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U.S. officials were acutely aware that Beijing was trying to obtain America’s premiere nuclear reactor technology, including through illicit hacking, months before Hunter Biden and his business partners sought to arrange a quiet sale of an iconic U.S. reactor company to a Chinese firm, according to court records and national security experts.

Hunter Biden’s unsuccessful efforts to help CEFC China Energy acquire Westinghouse, one of America’s most famous electricity and appliance brands, and its state-the-art AP1000 nuclear reactor began in early 2016 while Joe Biden was still a sitting vice president, memos published Wednesday by Just the News show.

Just 20 months earlier, his father’s Justice Department charged five members of a Chinese military hacking unit for breaching the company’s computer systems in search of intellectual property and internal strategy communications, according to a copy of the indictment.

In May 2014, the five operatives of the People’s Liberation Army’s Unit 61398 were charged with hacking into the systems of six U.S.-based companies across different industrial sectors, including Westinghouse Electric Co., SolarWorld, United States Steel Corp., and a union. The attorney general at the time, Eric Holder, called the breach a classic case of “economic espionage.”

One operative gained access to Westinghouse’s computers in 2010 and “stole proprietary and confidential technical and design specifications related to pipes, pipe supports, and pipe routing” pertaining to the company’s advanced AP1000 nuclear reactor design, according to an indictment filed by the Department of Justice. (Read more from “Beijing’s Military Hacked U.S. Nuclear Firm Before Hunter Biden Aided Chinese Bid to Acquire It” HERE)

Hunter Biden Witness May Be Self-Serving but His China Cover-up Info Is Accurate

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Fugitive Gal Luft, the “missing witness” from the Biden corruption investigation, has made fresh allegations about the president’s family’s China connections in an exclusive 50-page expose obtained by The Post.

The former Israel Defense Force lieutenant colonel, who worked with the same Chinese energy company, CEFC, that paid Hunter and Jim Biden more than $8 million, skipped bail in Cyprus last year after being charged with attempted gun-running, acting as a foreign agent for China and lying to the FBI.

While his attacks on federal prosecutors clearly are self-serving, his disclosures so far have proven accurate, and his ongoing conversations with former employees of CEFC while on the run have produced new information about how influential Americans on both sides of the aisle in Washington were recruited to serve China’s imperialist Belt and Road Initiative.

Hunter Biden, “the true sheikh of Washington,” as one of his partners dubbed him, wasn’t the only VIP cultivated by CEFC’s enigmatic billionaire chairman Ye Jianming, who sprinkled expensive diamonds around Washington like candy.

An energy expert with deep intelligence ties in Washington and Beijing, Luft claims, “three former national security advisors, a former CIA Director, a former NSA Director, a former Chairman of the Fed, former cabinet secretaries, former senators, retired generals, CEOs [acted as] CEFC’s enablers in Washington [and] were willing to go to great lengths to enrich themselves by parking under Ye’s gown.” (Read more from “Hunter Biden Witness May Be Self-Serving but His China Cover-up Info Is Accurate” HERE)