Countering Threats Posed by the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Security

Defense Posture and Global ThreatsHouse Homeland Security · March 5, 2025 · 119th Congress
The House Homeland Security Committee convened this hearing to examine the range of threats the Chinese Communist Party poses to U.S. Begins at ▶ 0:08:16
Transcript
Highlights

Title

Countering Chinese Communist Party threats to U.S. homeland security

Purpose

The House Homeland Security Committee convened this hearing to examine the range of threats the Chinese Communist Party poses to U.S. national security, including espionage, intellectual property theft, cyber intrusions on critical infrastructure, transnational repression, and fentanyl trafficking. Four witnesses — Michael Pillsbury, William Evanina, Craig Singleton, and Rush Doshi — testified on the CCP's long-term strategy and offered policy recommendations, while members split over whether Trump administration cuts to cybersecurity and intelligence staffing, and cuts to Ukraine aid, undermine the broader effort to counter China. Begins at▶ 0:08:16

Who spoke

• Acting Chairman (Mr. Guest)▶ 0:08:16: Opened by describing China's "hundred-year marathon" strategy to displace the U.S. as leading global power▶ 0:09:17, cited over 60 espionage cases across 20 states in four years▶ 0:10:49 and a Chinese citizen's drone flight over Vandenberg Space Force Base▶ 0:11:19; later pressed Singleton on U.S. technology leadership gaps▶ 0:48:07 and asked all witnesses about TikTok's ownership threat▶ 0:50:38.

• Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS)▶ 0:14:22: Announced the death of former committee member Sylvester Turner▶ 0:14:52; argued Trump administration cyber workforce cuts at DHS/CISA (up to 50% of remaining staff) undermine China deterrence▶ 0:16:23, cited an unclassified email exposing CIA analyst names as a "counterintelligence nightmare"▶ 0:17:24, and raised concerns about Elon Musk's China business ties and DOGE's access to federal data▶ 0:17:54.

• Dr. Michael Pillsbury, Private Citizen▶ 0:26:23: Recommended the committee visit Beijing with a pre-agreed agenda▶ 0:27:55, proposed an annual government-wide survey of programs assisting China▶ 0:28:25, and said there is no annual U.S. government report tracking progress in the long-term competition with China▶ 0:31:28; later described a young scholar's book on stolen U.S. IP and Chinese hacking▶ 1:43:14.

• The Honorable William Evanina, The Evanina Group▶ 0:31:58: Estimated CCP IP theft costs $300–600 billion annually, or $4,000–$6,000 per American family▶ 0:33:29; said 80% of Americans have had all personal data stolen by China in the past decade▶ 0:34:00; argued Volt Typhoon/Salt Typhoon infrastructure attacks should be redefined as terrorism▶ 0:35:00.

• Mr. Craig Singleton, Foundation for Defense of Democracies▶ 0:37:31: Described China's military-civil fusion strategy and three-phase network penetration campaign (harvest data, preposition to disrupt, monetize)▶ 0:39:02; said Confucius Institutes rebranded after dropping from 120 to fewer than 14▶ 1:10:53; called for tariffs, export controls, and outbound investment screening▶ 1:23:01.

• Dr. Rush Doshi, Private Citizen▶ 0:42:34: Said China seeks to surpass the U.S. technologically, control global supply chains, and defeat U.S. forces militarily▶ 0:43:04; cited PRC hacks of OPM, Equifax, Marriott, and Anthem compromising hundreds of millions of records▶ 0:43:34; said 200 Americans die daily from fentanyl overdoses tied to PRC-based precursor exports and money laundering▶ 0:46:06; warned there is no successful Russian war effort in Ukraine without Chinese support▶ 1:19:28.

• Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX)▶ 0:58:45: Recounted prosecuting the 1996 Johnny Chung campaign-finance case tied to Chinese intelligence▶ 0:59:16; described his ENFORCE Act to block export of military-grade AI to China▶ 1:00:47.

• Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA)▶ 1:04:49 *(labeled "Mr. Correa" in transcript as "carer")*: Proposed a dedicated China subcommittee▶ 1:05:19; asked Evanina how firing FBI/CIA personnel affects morale and insider-threat risk▶ 1:06:20.

• Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX)▶ 1:09:52: Asked Singleton about Confucius Institutes exploiting universities▶ 1:10:23 and Evanina about hybrid CCP threats blending lawfare and illicit finance▶ 1:12:24.

• Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ)▶ 1:14:56: Raised concerns about Trump administration cuts to Ukraine aid and its effect on alliances against China▶ 1:16:26; asked Doshi how that affects U.S. credibility with allies▶ 1:16:57.

• Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK)▶ 1:20:28 *("Mr. Brien" in transcript)*: Asked how to build public support for tariffs given China's economic rise▶ 1:22:31.

• Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM)▶ 1:26:03 *("Miss mver" in transcript)*: Raised DOGE's access to sensitive government databases and Musk's China ties▶ 1:26:03; asked all witnesses about CISA staffing cuts▶ 1:26:34.

• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)▶ 1:30:05 *("Miss Biggs" in transcript)*: Asked whether the U.S. is in a "global arms race" with China over telecom infrastructure and Huawei▶ 1:32:06.

• Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI)▶ 1:35:07: Pressed on DOGE staff's unvetted access to Americans' private data and risk of it reaching Chinese intelligence▶ 1:36:39.

• Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA)▶ 1:40:11 *("Mr. McKenzie" in transcript)*: Asked witnesses about Chinese strategic investment in U.S. defense-industrial subsidiaries▶ 1:40:42.

• Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI)▶ 1:45:45: Honored Sylvester Turner▶ 1:45:45; described a Rhode Island factory's Plumpy'nut aid contract cancelled by DOGE, arguing it harmed U.S. soft power versus China▶ 1:50:17.

• Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN)▶ 1:51:18: Asked Pillsbury about CCP co-opting ESG/DEI initiatives▶ 1:51:18; described alleged forced organ harvesting and Uyghur internment camps▶ 1:53:50.

• Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)▶ 1:56:21 *("Mr. Swell" in transcript)*: Asked all witnesses whether China's intelligence services uniquely task espionage to benefit domestic businesses▶ 1:56:52; warned against being "tough on China but soft on Russia" regarding Taiwan credibility▶ 1:58:53.

• Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO)▶ 2:01:25: Asked Evanina about Colorado's I-25 corridor as a template for CCP critical-infrastructure targeting▶ 2:01:55; asked Singleton about battery supply chain risks from CATL▶ 2:05:57.

• Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY)▶ 2:06:57: Argued sending an unclassified email listing CIA employee names jeopardized clandestine operations▶ 2:07:58; asked Evanina to confirm this risk▶ 2:09:28.

Key moments

• Evanina testified CCP intellectual property theft costs $300–600 billion annually, equating to $4,000–$6,000 per American family of four after taxes▶ 0:33:29.

• Evanina said 80% of Americans have had all their personal data stolen by China in the past decade, and "the other 20% just most of it"▶ 0:34:00.

• Doshi said Chinese hacking has compromised OPM, Equifax, Marriott, Anthem, and multiple airlines, along with tens of thousands of State Department, Treasury, and CISA emails in the last two years▶ 0:43:34▶ 0:44:05.

• Singleton's testimony chart showed China leading the U.S. in 7 of 10 select strategic technologies, which Guest highlighted in questioning▶ 0:48:07.

• Pillsbury described the "Parlor Maid" case — FBI agent JJ Smith's decade-long relationship with a Chinese intelligence asset — as illustrative of Beijing's deception tactics against U.S. counterintelligence▶ 1:02:18.

• Doshi said 200 Americans die daily from fentanyl overdoses, with PRC tax rebates for precursor chemical exporters and underground banking networks laundering cartel profits without cross-border money transfers▶ 0:46:06.

• Pillsbury proposed the Homeland Security Committee visit Beijing with a pre-agreed agenda to gather answers unavailable through other channels▶ 0:27:55▶ 1:01:48.

• Thompson and Goldman raised that an unclassified email listing CIA employee names, some working on China issues, was sent to the White House amid federal layoffs, which Evanina agreed could jeopardize undercover personnel if it reached the wrong hands▶ 0:17:24▶ 2:09:28.

• Magaziner described a Rhode Island factory producing Plumpy'nut therapeutic food that received a DOGE stop-work order, delaying life-saving aid to starving children for a month before contracts were restored, still unpaid▶ 1:50:17.

• McCaul noted Nvidia chips sold to China in 2022 preceded the emergence of DeepSeek AI, prompting his proposed ENFORCE Act to bar export of military-grade AI technology▶ 1:00:17▶ 1:00:47.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Homeland Security
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
DateMarch 5, 2025
TypeHearing
Witnesses
Rush Doshi, — Private Citizen
Michael Pillsbury, PhD — Private Citizen
Mr. Craig Singleton — Senior Fellow and Senior Director for the China Program, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
The Honorable William Evanina — Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Evanina Group
Videoyoutube
Transcript265 caption blocks · 20,828 words · 2:21:52 runtime
EventCongress.gov 117903