PRC Consulate in Houston has directed economic espionage and other activities

7-24-20  The Houston consulate served as a central base of operations and "targeted more than 50 Houston-area researchers, professors and academics for participation in Chinese talent plans," which enlist Americans to steal sensitive research on behalf of the Communist Party.

"  The PRC Consulate in Houston has directed economic espionage and other activities contrary to U.S. law not only in the city of Houston but across the entire southeastern United States," according to the State Department.  "The criminal activities directed by the PRC Consulate in Houston include: economic espionage, visa fraud, theft of commercial intellectual property for diversion to the PRC military, theft of medical research for transfer to China, falsification of official documents, and more."

  "I can tell you that Houston—the behavior was once again, not unlike what we've seen throughout the country," a senior law enforcement source said, speaking only on background. "We have over 50 examples over the last 10 years of the Houston consulate supporting talent from members of recruitment in the area, targeting various research centers down there."

  In addition to cyber hacks, Chinese officials lured dissidents and other Communist regime critics back to China.

  It is unlikely the United States will be able to prosecute the individuals it caught running these spy operations due to complications with diplomatic immunity and other factors, according to a senior Justice Department official, who also spoke only on background.  https://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinese-officials-at-houston-consulate-engaged-in-espionage-and-cyber-theft-senior-officials-say/