China conducting intel operations 'far larger than the CIA,' top House Republican warns

Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House Chinese Communist Party Select Committee, warned that China is conducting extensive intelligence operations "far larger than the CIA" across the United States and around the globe.

Gallagher called the two U.S. Navy service members who were arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive military information to Beijing "traitors" during an appearance on Fox News last week.

As the risk of a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan increases, "there's no doubt they're trying to do everything that they can to steal sensitive information and weaponize that against us," Gallagher also said.

Tensions are rising in Asia surrounding Taiwan, a Democratic self-governing island that China views as a breakaway region it will eventually reunite with through force if necessary.

"Everyone knows the KGB from the old Cold War, but very few Americans are aware of the MSS, the Ministry of State Security from China, its main intelligence gathering and espionage gathering organization," he said, referring to the Soviet Union's feared Committee for State Security, which operated until the Communist country's collapse in 1991.

"It's far larger than the CIA. It's operating widely within the United States. We need to raise awareness and make sure we are guarding against this," Gallagher also said.

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