Posted on May 31, 2005

Chinese Spooks: A Growing Red Menace

Peter Brookes, Townhall.com, May 31

“One good spy is worth 10,000 soldiers.” — Sun Tzu, ancient Chinese military strategist

Islamic terrorism is still the greatest threat to our national security, but Chinese espionage against the United States is gaining ground. The FBI says China will be America’s greatest counterintelligence problem during the next 10-15 years.

China has seven permanent diplomatic missions in the States, staffed with intelligence personnel. But the FBI believes that as many as 3,500 Chinese “front companies” are involved in espionage for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as well.

And with the bureau focused on terrorism, the China challenge is overwhelming the FBI’s counterintelligence capabilities.

The PRC has the world’s third-largest intelligence apparatus (after the United States and Russia), and it’s targeting America’s governmental, military and high technology secrets.

China’s goal is to replace the U.S. as the preeminent power in the Pacific — even globally. It’s using every method possible, including espionage, to improve its political, economic and, especially, military might.

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One example: Last fall in Wisconsin, a Chinese-American couple was arrested for selling $500,000 worth of computer parts to China for enhancing its missile systems. Even worse: The PRC recently fielded a new cruise missile strikingly similar to the advanced American “Tomahawk.”

Chances that the similarities are a coincidence? Slim to none.

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