US FBI: China Conducts "Fox Hunt" Targeting Dissidents

Threats to Family Over Forced Repatriation and Suicide
Possible Interference in November US Presidential Election

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Cho Young-shin] Christopher Wray, Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), stated on the 7th (local time) that Chinese authorities are conducting a 'Fox Hunt' targeting dissidents.

Fox Hunt is an operation to repatriate corrupt officials that Chinese President Xi Jinping initiated in 2014 as part of an anti-corruption campaign. Director Wray also warned of the possibility of Chinese interference in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others on the 8th, Director Wray claimed in a speech at the Hudson Institute, a U.S. think tank, that the Chinese government is conducting repatriation operations targeting hundreds of Chinese dissidents residing in the United States.

Director Wray pointed out that the ongoing Fox Hunt targets dissidents rather than being an anti-corruption effort. He said, "The main targets are dissidents exposing human rights abuses in China," adding, "Many of them are U.S. citizens or permanent residents." He criticized cases where individuals were even forced to choose between returning to China or suicide, or where their families were threatened. However, he did not mention whether Chinese operatives involved in Fox Hunt have been arrested in the U.S.

Director Wray also strongly pointed out the possibility of Chinese interference in the U.S. presidential election. He said, "China's malicious activities to influence foreign countries target our policies and positions year-round." He continued, "This is not a threat limited to elections but a constant threat throughout the year, and it clearly affects elections, and they definitely have preferences."

Director Wray emphasized that more than half of the 5,000 counterintelligence cases currently handled by the FBI are related to China. He stated that FBI investigations into China cover 56 different fields, emphasizing, "There is a threat from China across the entire country."

Separately, the U.S. Department of State announced on the same day that it will restrict visa issuance to Chinese officials involved in limiting visits to Tibet.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in a press release, "We are restricting visas for Chinese government and Communist Party officials who are substantially involved in establishing or implementing policies related to foreign access to the Tibet region."

Secretary Pompeo explained that this measure is based on a new law that pressures China to allow U.S. diplomats, journalists, and tourists to visit Tibet.

The United States passed the "Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act" in 2018, guaranteeing Tibet visit rights after China restricted visits by U.S. journalists, diplomats, and ordinary tourists. However, the statement did not include the names of those subject to visa restrictions.

AP evaluated this measure as "the Trump administration firing a new bullet in the diplomatic war with China."