The United States continues to confront the growing presence of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operatives within its borders.
Recent arrests highlight the intensifying efforts by U.S. law enforcement to counter-espionage and illegal activities linked to the PRC.
In California, a 64-year-old man was arrested on charges including acting as an unregistered PRC agent.
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According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the man served as a campaign manager for a southern California city council candidate who was elected in 2022.
The DOJ alleges the suspect conspired with Chinese government officials to influence U.S. local politicians, particularly on Taiwan-related issues, and participated in operations targeting “anti-China forces” in the United States.
Additionally, the suspect is accused of conspiring with another PRC operative who was sentenced to prison last month for acting as an unregistered agent and bribing an IRS official.
This investigation also uncovered efforts by PRC citizens living in Los Angeles to target members of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Center.
In a separate incident, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency officers apprehended multiple PRC nationals who illegally entered the U.S. territory near a military installation.
Guam authorities arrested 7 Chinese nationals for illegal entry during recent U.S. missile tests. Four of them were near military bases. This would NOT have happened under Trump. When are we going to quit pretending China isn’t a threat? pic.twitter.com/v2VOntiCuZ
— 𝕍𝕚𝕠𝕝𝕒 𝕃𝕖𝕚𝕘𝕙 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕖𝕤 (@ViolaLeighBlues) December 22, 2024
The arrests occurred on December 10 and 11 and involved individuals transported by a vessel originating from Saipan, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Authorities reported that two PRC women were detained on December 10, while four PRC men were apprehended the following day, including one near Tanguisson Beach and three in the vicinity of a U.S. military base.
These arrests coincided with a historic missile defense operation conducted by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) near Guam.
The MDA successfully carried out a live ballistic missile interception test, marking the first such operation executed from Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base.
MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins described the missile defense test as a significant step in enhancing joint tracking and integrated air and missile defense capabilities for Guam.
Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, Commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia, emphasized the operation’s importance in defending Guam and the broader Indo-Pacific region against evolving threats.
Guam holds strategic importance as a hub for maintaining U.S. military presence in the region, deterring adversaries, and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Since 2022, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency has apprehended 152 PRC nationals in violation of Guam’s entry laws.
The agency works alongside a multi-agency task force, including local and federal law enforcement, to combat illegal entry and smuggling activities.
Concerns over illegal border crossings and immigration violations in the CNMI, including birth tourism, have been repeatedly raised by members of Congress.
The Center Square recently reported that more than 176,000 Chinese nationals have entered the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, the highest number in U.S. history.
The Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency urges the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to illegal entry or smuggling.
The arrests in California and Guam are part of an expanding effort to counter foreign influence and espionage activities in critical U.S. regions.
As geopolitical tensions with China continue to rise, these incidents highlight the need for heightened security and vigilance.
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