FBI, 비자 사기 혐의로 중국인 3명 체포... 폼페이오, 휴스턴 영사관에 "지재권 절도 중심지"
The FBI has arrested three Chinese visa-holders in the U.S. for their secret connection to the Chinese military.
U.S. top diplomat says it ordered Chinese Consulate General in Houston to close down because of its intellectual property theft and espionage.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
The U.S. has arrested three Chinese nationals for visa fraud, while a fourth is believed to be under protection at a Chinese consulate.
On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said... the FBI interviewed members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in over 25 cities across the U.S. and found they've been "hid[ing] their true affiliation to take advantage of the United States and the American people."
The U.S. believes the four are secret members of the Chinese military, posing as researchers in the U.S.
The department says the fourth remains a fugitive, staying at China's consulate in San Francisco.
The latest arrests come at a time when tensions have escalated between the U.S. and China, especially as Washington increases scrutiny on economic espionage by Chinese citizens working in the U.S.
The U.S. recently ordered a shutdown of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston.
During a speech Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said... it was because the Consulate was the center of China's espionage and theft of intellectual property against the U.S.
"We must induce China to change in more creative and assertive ways because Beijing's actions threaten our people and our prosperity. / Securing our freedoms from the Chinese Communist Party is the mission of our time, and America is perfectly positioned to lead it."
The U.S. sees China is sending military scientists to the U.S. "with false covers about their true employment" to copy and steal information from American institutions.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
