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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued executive orders to bolster state security against foreign adversaries, particularly China.
What’s the deal: In an announcement, Governor Abbott outlined a series of executive orders that mandate that state agencies and public institutions ensure their contractors and collaborators have no ties to adversarial governments and require enhanced background checks for employees with access to critical infrastructure. In addition, higher education institutions are prohibited from participating in foreign recruitment programs tied to “hostile” nations, and state employees are banned from accepting gifts from such entities.
The executive orders will create a task force to assess vulnerabilities in state and local infrastructure, simulate responses to potential cyberattacks, and develop strategies to secure Texas’ power grid and other critical systems. The Governor’s orders also direct the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in harassment or coercion on behalf of foreign governments, particularly targeting operations like China’s ‘Operation Fox Hunt.’
What is “Operation Fox Hunt”: Operation Fox Hunt is a Chinese government initiative aimed at combating corruption by apprehending economic fugitives who have fled the country, but it has been widely criticized for targeting dissidents, pro-democracy activists, and critics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) living abroad. The program employs tactics such as harassment, intimidation, coercion, and threats against family members to force individuals to return to China, often violating the laws and rights of host countries. The US government has condemned these actions, prosecuting individuals involved in such operations.
What the Governor is saying: In a statement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, “Our Number 1 priority is to protect Texans, including from espionage threats from the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies. Hardening our state government is critical to protect Texans from hostile foreign actors who may attempt to undermine the safety and security of Texas and the nation.”
He added, “The Chinese Communist Party has engaged in a worldwide harassment campaign against Chinese dissidents in attempts to forcibly return them to China. Texas will not tolerate the harassment or coercion of the more than 250,000 individuals of Chinese descent who legally call Texas home by the Chinese Communist Party or its heinous proxies.”
