[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1454-E1455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON CHINESE INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 1997

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill I am 
introducing today. It is quite simple in that it would require the 
Director of Central Intelligence and the Director of the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation to jointly prepare an annual report on the 
intelligence activities of the People's Republic of China--and most 
specifically, those which are directed against or affect the interests 
of the United States.
  Some of the news reports on the fundraising scandal suggest that the 
People's Republic of China has apparently decided to take a more 
aggressive approach toward influencing American politics. This is 
occurring at all levels of our political system through the use of 
legitimate means such as lobbying as well as covert influence 
operations. At the same time, the Chinese are also relying heavily on 
the success of their economic espionage efforts to make their economy 
more competitive with ours. We also have concerns, that I think most 
Americans share, with the increasing buildup of the Chinese military 
operations and capabilities, and the potential that that poses a threat 
to our national security interests in the Pacific rim region.
  A China specialist at the Department of Defense, summarized the 
growing threat posed by China's intelligence agencies by saying:


       The Ministry of State Security is an aggressive 
     intelligence service which is coming

[[Page E1455]]

     of age in the international arena. The combination of a 
     relatively stagnant economy and an increasingly competitive 
     global economic environment will force China to rely more 
     heavily on the illegal acquisition of high technology 
     modernization--Arms production and sales are increasingly 
     being used to gain hard currency and expand global political 
     influence. The MSS will be required to produce intelligence 
     to support this assertive role in the global, commercial and 
     political environments--Western democracies such as the U.S. 
     must adjust the focus of their clandestine intelligence and 
     counter-intelligence operations if they are to meet the MSS's 
     forward posture effectively.

  The annual report would document significant developments involving 
China's Ministry of State Security, the Military Intelligence 
Department of the People's Liberation Army, and other Chinese 
intelligence entities operating against the United States. The report 
is specifically intended to cover trends in the following areas: first, 
political, military, and economic espionage by Chinese intelligence 
services; second, intelligence activities designed to gain political 
influence, including activities undertaken or coordinated by the United 
Front Works Department of the Chinese Communist Party; third, efforts 
to gain direct or indirect influence through commercial or 
noncommercial intermediaries subject to control by the People's 
Republic of China, including enterprises controlled by the People's 
Liberation Army; and fourth, disinformation and press manipulation by 
the Government of the People's Republic of China against the United 
States.
  Various agencies from the intelligence and law enforcement 
communities will be tasked to provide input on Chinese intelligence 
activities within the United States and elsewhere. Some of the agencies 
being asked to contribute to the annual report will include the 
following: Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, 
Department of Justice, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence 
Agency, Department of State, and the Department of the Treasury.
  The classified version of the annual report will be provided to both 
the House and Senate. An unclassified version will be prepared so that 
the American public can be provided with a general summary of the 
nature of the Chinese intelligence threat to the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is very crucial yet very simple. It is not one 
that requires anything more than a gathering of information for us, but 
I think it is critical information for us. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.

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