Chinese espionage in Washington state exposed in alarming Homeland Security report

A U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security report has revealed over 60 cases of Chinese espionage and repression across 20 states, including Washington.

This is in addition to the 224 incidents from 2000 to 2023 which include military data transmission and trade secret theft according to a new report published by the House Committee on Homeland Security.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has prosecuted cases in states like California, Florida, and New York. Washington has also been affected.

On October 6, 2023, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, a former U.S. Army Sergeant who was last stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Western Washington, was indicted for attempting to transmit national defense information and unlawfully acquiring such information. Schmidt is accused of attempting to share classified military details with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), according to the report.

Shocking Homeland Security report exposes Chinese espionage in Washington

Outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Center Square that China is a major long-term threat to U.S. national security.

“The greatest long-term threat facing our country, in my view, is represented by the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese government, which I consider to be the defining threat of our generation,” he said.

The DOJ has been actively investigating, opening new cases every 12 hours, with 80% of espionage cases tied to Chinese interests.

Rep. Mark Green raised concerns about China’s influence on U.S. businesses, universities, and infrastructure. Recent cases highlight Chinese espionage, including an indictment for stealing AI secrets from Google, the operation of an illegal Chinese police station in New York, arrests for drone flights over U.S. military bases and weapons shipping to North Korea.

These cases represent China’s ongoing efforts to undermine U.S. security and interests both at home and abroad.

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