China houses fugitive scientist linked to military forces at its San Francisco consulate, FBI says

China condemns closure of its consulate in Houston 1:39

Hong Kong (CNN) - Tensions between the United States and China have continued to escalate after Washington forcibly closed the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas, amid revelations that federal prosecutors are seeking a Chinese scientist accused of fraud to obtain visa and from whom, they say, is hiding at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.

Prosecutors allege that Tang Juan, a biology-focused investigator, lied about her connection to the Chinese Armed Forces to gain entry to the United States and has since avoided arrest by taking refuge in the West Coast diplomatic mission.

According to court documents, Tang was charged on June 26 with one count of visa fraud. Prosecutors said she was hiding her connection to the Chinese military in her visa application, but investigators "discovered photographs of her in the Civilian Uniform of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)" and that she had been employed as an investigator in the Fourth University of Military Medicine (FMMU).

During an interview with FBI agents on June 20, "Tang denied having served in the Chinese Armed Forces, asserting that he did not know the meaning of the insignia on his uniform, and that it was necessary to wear a military uniform to attend Fourth University. of Military Medicine because it was a military school ”, the lawyers wrote in a judicial presentation, on July 20.

However, during a search of his residence and electronic media, FBI agents allegedly "found more evidence of Tang's affiliation with the EPL."

After his interview with the office, Tang allegedly fled to the San Francisco consulate, "where the FBI evaluates that he has stayed."

CNN has contacted the US Department of State, the Department of Justice and the FBI for further comment. Separately, CNN has also contacted the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the criminal complaint, which names several other Chinese scientists in the United States, prosecutors say they are part of a “program carried out by the EPL, and specifically, [the] FMMU or partner institutions, to send military scientists to the United States. United in false pretenses with false profiles or false declarations on his true employment ”.

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"There is evidence in at least one of these cases of a military scientist copying or stealing information from US institutions under the leadership of military superiors in China," prosecutors said. Furthermore, there is evidence that the Government of the People's Republic of China instructed these individuals to destroy the evidence and coordinate efforts regarding the departure of these individuals from the United States, particularly after the charges brought against Wang Xin in this district, June 7, 2020 ”.

Last month, Wang was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport, trying to leave the United States for Tianjin, China, on charges of fraud to obtain a visa.

Commenting on Wang's arrest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying called it "blatant political persecution."

"As far as I know, Wang Xin investigates in the field of cardiovascular diseases. I don't see how that could threaten the interest or national security of the United States, "he said, adding that" recently, many Chinese citizens have long been interrogated by US officials upon leaving the US, and the digital devices that they were also examined ”.

Closing in Houston

On Wednesday, Beijing promised to retaliate against the closure of its consulate in Houston, and state media outlined the possible closure of one of the numerous United States diplomatic missions within China.

While Washington remains vague about what prompted Houston's decision, it appears to have some connection to the espionage, a day after US prosecutors charged two suspected Chinese hackers with a "global campaign of computer intrusion" that they say , was supported by the Government of the country and directed to coronavirus treatment and vaccine research.

On Twitter, Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio, acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the Houston consulate was a "central node of the Communist Party's vast network of spies." The US State Department previously accused China of "participating for years in massive operations of illegal espionage and influence" and that those "activities have increased markedly in scale and scope in recent years."

A State Department spokeswoman said the consulate was ordered to close "to protect American intellectual property and private information from Americans," but did not immediately provide additional details about what prompted the move.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the order an "unprecedented escalation" and suggested it would retaliate. On Tuesday night, officials in Houston could be seen appearing to burn documents in a courtyard outside the consulate.

Speaking to CNN affiliate KTRK, China's Consul General in Houston, Cai Wei, said he was surprised by the shutdown order.

"I never expected [to be] treated like this, and we came out of friendship and mutual understanding between China and the United States," he said.

READ : China claims that the United States "abruptly demanded" the closure of its consulate in Houston

Possible retaliation

Relations between China and the United States have plummeted in the past year, amid an ongoing trade war, the coronavirus pandemic, and US criticism of China's human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Europe meeting with leaders to take a tougher line in front of Beijing and with exiled Chinese dissidents, said the move was consistent with the Trump administration's policy towards China.

"President Trump has said 'enough.' We are not going to let this continue to happen, ”said Pompeo. "We are setting clear expectations about how the Chinese Communist Party will behave, and when they do not, we will take steps that protect the American people, our security, our national security, and also our economy and employment."

Pompeo is scheduled to present comments on China on Thursday at the Richard Nixon Museum and Library in California. His speech could herald yet another escalation against China, particularly if Beijing takes action against a U.S. consulate or other interests in the country before his speech.

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Analysts expect China to target the American consulate in Wuhan, which has been effectively closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. James Green, a principal investigator at Georgetown University and a former American diplomat in China, said "there would be some symmetry in the closure of the American consulate in Wuhan."

However, Green was skeptical about the alleged intelligence or espionage capabilities of the Houston consulate.

"The likely real driver is [Pompeo's] speech Thursday at the Nixon Library in China," he said. “It culminates a month of speeches in China by National Security Advisor O'Brien, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Attorney General Barr. Having something big to announce or explain will give more 'momentum' to the speech ”.

Jeff Moon, who served as the U.S. diplomat in China and as the U.S. deputy trade representative for China affairs under the presidency of U.S. President Donald Trump, agreed that the Houston consulate was an unlikely target to combat theft. of intellectual property, adding "if that was the real reason, the United States would shut down the San Francisco consulate, which covers Silicon Valley."

Moon said it could be a response to China's refusal to allow US diplomats to return to China without intrusive evidence and quarantines that violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. China currently has strict entry requirements for the coronavirus pandemic, but the required tests could expose diplomats' DNA.

"Chinese consulates in the United States operate without restrictions in the United States, so this is a way to gain influence in the ongoing negotiations and force reciprocity in China," he added.

"Dangerous Climbing"

Observers were concerned about the continuing worsening of relations between the two largest economies, warning that a possible diplomatic dispute could escalate rapidly.

Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian ambassador to China, said the move was a "dangerous escalation."

"Now is the time to hold official dialogues to clear up misunderstandings and pressure them to change their ways," he added. "The idea of ​​decoupling the two economies is problematic, as it could have long-term geopolitical consequences: When they do a lot of business together, they must work together to prevent problems / irritations from becoming major crises."

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Natasha Kassam, a researcher at the Lowy Institute in Sydney and a former Australian diplomat in China, warned that "Beijing can retaliate by reducing the number of American diplomats in general."

"Such a measure would limit Washington's communication channels with Beijing, as well as the ability of foreigners to monitor and report on what is happening within China," he added. "This decision reflects the missteps by the United States against journalists in the PRC that ultimately cost some of its best journalists in China to several American newspapers."

FBI