Fischer, Tillis ask DOJ: ‘Are Chinese intelligence centers operating inside U.S.?’

U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and several of their Republican colleagues are concerned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may be operating intelligence outposts inside the United States.

The lawmakers earlier this week requested that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) answer several questions about Overseas Chinese Service Centers (OCSCs) operating inside the U.S. by an intelligence service of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in conjunction with the PRC’s national police force.

“The DOJ must ensure that our adversaries such as the CCP are not operating intelligence operations or engaging in repression on U.S. soil,” the senators wrote in a July 10 letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Sen. Fischer, Sen. Tillis, and their eight colleagues expressed “grave concerns” about reports that the OCSCs are reportedly housed at the Carolinas Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Charlotte, N.C., while the other centers are collocated with nonprofits in San Francisco; Houston; Omaha, Neb.; St. Paul, Minn.; Salt Lake City; and St. Louis, Mo.

“These seven OCSCs have reportedly been openly operating for several years and were established throughout the U.S. during this past decade,” according to the senators’ letter. 

They cited a recent news story that reports OCSCs are run by the CCP’s United Front Work Department, which the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has identified as a “Chinese intelligence service” in its annual report to Congress.

“The ongoing discovery of additional OCSCs raises the question of whether DOJ’s response sufficiently addresses the threat, particularly because OCSCs have openly operated for several years and their activities have been reportedly documented in Chinese state media and social media posts,” the lawmakers wrote.

They requested that Garland provide them with a briefing by July 31 that addresses several questions, including whether the DOJ has assessed that any of the seven OCSCs is engaging in any illegal activity, and if so, what actions the DOJ has taken regarding such activity.