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“Consulate closures are legal because they are involved in espionage,” Pompeo emphasized on a flight from Wisconsin to Washington, DC.
States “need vigilance”
Pompeo, a former director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said the State Department is considering the activities of the US-China Friendship Association and the China Peace Promotion Council on the suspicions. These two organizations are trying to make an impact on America’s schools, business groups, and state politicians.
The two organizations are related to the Beijing government’s United Front Labor Department, according to Pompeo. “Keep in mind that Chinese diplomats approach local officials not out of a spirit of cooperation or friendship,” Pompeo said, warning of their “spy campaigns and influence.” China is even at the lowest level of government.
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At the UN General Assembly, President Trump blamed China for the Covid-19 pandemic |
Pompeo cited a specific case in February when a Chinese consul in Chicago contacted Wisconsin Senator Roger Roth and asked him to pass a resolution praising the way China is doing. National response to a Covid-19 pandemic.
The US Secretary of State also emphasized: “The federal government cannot monitor China’s predatory and coercive behavior little by little. To protect American interests, state governments must increase their vigilance against China. Pompeo also called on states to increase cooperation with Taiwan and “ignore” threats from mainland China.
In July, the State Department accused Chinese consulates in more than 20 US cities of helping soldiers disguised as students to carry out espionage activities. The Chinese consulate in San Francisco has also been identified as a hotspot for espionage.
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