Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog

Gov. Greg Abbott announced a new executive order on Monday aimed at countering what he describes as harassment campaigns by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against Texans.

The order focuses on China’s “Operation Fox Hunt,” which Abbott says is part of a broader CCP effort to forcibly repatriate Chinese dissidents living abroad to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“The PRC forces targeted dissidents to return in several ways, including threatening dissidents’ families still residing in China, using PRC assets to target dissidents abroad in their host countries, and kidnapping and smuggling dissidents back into the PRC,” the order states.

According to Safeguard Defenders, a human rights nonprofit, as of 2022, the PRC has established at least 102 illicit overseas “police service stations” worldwide, including some in the United States. These stations reportedly engage in unlawful campaigns of threats, harassment, and harm against U.S. citizens and lawful residents of Chinese origin or descent.

At least six of these so-called “police service stations” are believed to still exist in the United States, including one in Houston.

The order tasks the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) with a series of actions to address the issue, including:

Identifying and prosecuting offenders: DPS will identify and charge individuals suspected of exploiting dissidents on behalf of foreign governments.

Collaborating with law enforcement: DPS will partner with local and federal law enforcement through the Texas Fusion Center to assess incidents in which foreign governments attempt to intimidate Texans.

Documenting and reporting threats: DPS will discover and document individuals planning or carrying out acts of repression, and by January 15, 2025, will provide policy recommendations and training programs to counter these threats.

Improving reporting systems: Texans will be able to report suspected acts of oppression or coercion through a new hotline and updates to the iWatch Texas Community Reporting System.

Abbott says that Texas will not tolerate such harassment, particularly against the state’s Chinese-American community.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order aimed at strengthening Texas’ defenses against hostile powers.

Abbott identified the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the primary threat. He also included North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Russia, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in his order.

The executive order directs state agencies, public institutions of higher education, and other key sectors to bolster security measures, safeguard critical infrastructure, protect intellectual property, and secure personal data against threats from these hostile powers.

“Our No. 1 priority is to protect Texans, including from espionage threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies,” Abbott said. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that the Chinese government has actively targeted local and state officials as part of their strategy to undermine the national security of the United States. 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.”

The executive order is designed to prevent Chinese influence and espionage operations within Texas’ state government.

Among the key provisions of the order:

Increased Scrutiny for Contractors: Any company bidding for state contracts must certify that it does not have ownership or control by a foreign adversary government or its subsidiaries.

Enhanced Background Checks: Stronger background check procedures will be introduced for state employees and contractors who have access to critical infrastructure.

Gift and Travel Restrictions: State employees will be prohibited from accepting gifts from representatives of foreign adversary countries, and any state-sponsored travel to those countries will be banned.

Restrictions on Foreign Government Contracting: Texas state agencies will no longer be allowed to contract with companies owned or controlled by foreign adversary governments, ensuring that Texas is not inadvertently empowering foreign entities with national security concerns.

Protection for Higher Education: Faculty and employees will be prohibited from participating in foreign recruitment programs sponsored by foreign adversary nations, which often serve as channels for espionage or intellectual property theft.

“With this Executive Order, Texas will safeguard our critical infrastructure and information from threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party,” Abbott added.

In the past Communist China has infiltrated or partnered with University of Texas system entities, including “The University of Texas Medical Board (UTMB)-run Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) [signing] a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in 2017.”

Gov. Greg Abbott announced his third executive order in as many days targeting the influence and potential security threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party in Texas.

Abbott’s latest executive order directs two key agencies—the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Public Utility Commission of Texas—to take immediate action to prepare for and counteract any potential cyberattacks or other disruptive actions aimed at Texas’ critical infrastructure. This includes sectors crucial to public safety and economic stability such as communications, energy, water, and transportation.

In his statement, Abbott emphasized the urgent need for these protective measures. “China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure,” he wrote, adding:

Just this past year, a hostile Chinese government actor targeted America’s communications, energy, transportation, water, and wastewater systems, threatening our national security. Today, I directed Texas state agencies to identify potential vulnerabilities to prevent cyberattacks on local, state, and other critical infrastructure. Texas will continue to protect our critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of Texans from potential threats by the Chinese Communist Party or any hostile foreign government.

The executive order outlines a multi-faceted approach to reinforce the security of Texas infrastructure. Among the key provisions, TDEM and PUC will:

Establish a taskforce to identify vulnerabilities in Texas’ infrastructure, focusing on state and local government systems. This taskforce will also offer actionable recommendations to address and mitigate these vulnerabilities.

Simulate responses to cyberattacks across key Texas industry sectors, including energy, water, transportation, and telecommunications, to ensure preparedness for potential disruptions. These simulations will guide the development of policies and best practices to prevent or minimize the impact of cyberattacks.

Convene a state agency committee to simulate the restoration of Texas’ electric grid in the event of a foreign attack, ensuring that state and utility authorities are prepared to respond swiftly to protect the state’s energy supply.

Additionally, the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has been directed to create a dedicated, secure communications system for electric and telecommunications companies to use during critical grid incidents. Abbott has set a deadline of June 30, 2025 for the creation of this system.

That secure communications system sounds like it would have come in handy during the last two ice storms.