Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Monday directing state authorities to target any individuals harassing Texans in operations linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
The executive order from Abbott specifically addresses the growing concern over the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) global campaign to intimidate and forcibly return Chinese dissidents living in America, a practice known as ‘Operation Fox Hunt.’
According to the FBI, Operation Fox Hunt could be described as “a sweeping bid by General Secretary Xi and the Chinese Communist Party to target Chinese nationals here in the United States and across the world who are viewed as threats to the regime.”
Abbott emphasized in a recent press release that “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.”
“Ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of Texans is a top priority. I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to identify and bring criminal charges against individuals who harass Texans on behalf of this hostile foreign adversary. We will continue to do everything we can to protect Texans from the unlawful and repressive actions of the Chinese Communist Party,” Abbott said.
Abbott has tasked the DPS with identifying and charging individuals suspected of participating in coercion, harassment, or intimidation on behalf of the Chinese government, which includes any criminal actions related to Operation Fox Hunt.
In June of 2023, a federal jury convicted three individuals in connection to Operation Fox Hunt for interstate stalking of Chinese nationals living in the U.S. Two of the defendants were also found guilty of acting or conspiring to act on behalf of the People’s Republic of China.
“We hope this verdict serves as a message to other operatives in the United States working right now at the behest of the People’s Republic of China in its effort to silence those who speak out against it. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are watching, and we are taking action to stop the stalking, threatening, and repressing of dissidents,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge James Dennehy said.
As part of the new initiative in Texas, the state will also introduce a dedicated hotline for tips and update its iWatch Texas Community Reporting System, which allows citizens to report suspicious activity anonymously. Additionally, Abbott has directed DPS to provide new policy recommendations by January 15, 2025, on how best to counter threats from the CCP and Operation Fox Hunt.