US visa system ‘rolls out red carpet’ for Chinese spies, congressional hearing told
US senators pointed to legal channels, including work visas and university research, as potential pathways for China-linked espionage
Through its permissive legal channels, the US is “inviting, welcoming, come on in with the red carpet rolled out” people who steal military and commercial secrets, Republican Senator Ashley Moody of Florida told the Senate Judiciary Committee, adding that it keeps “her up at night.”
“We’re doing this with nations that actually have laws on the books that require their citizens to spy on us, gather intelligence, and report back,” she said. “And this is very concerning to me.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington said Beijing is committed to protecting intellectual property rights and building a “fairer and more just” global IP system.