China's push to gain influence and control within the U.S. has taken many forms, including buying up land and infiltrating American schools. Now, evidence shows the Chinese are gaining a foothold at the border, in more ways than one. A federal indictment of two dozen Sinaloa drug cartel members reveals the cartels are working with underground Chinese banks on a massive drug distribution and money laundering operation. At the same time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports the number of Chinese nationals crossing the southwest border so far this fiscal year has already surpassed the annual numbers from the past three years.
Both of these developments are concerning, but not necessarily surprising, given the state of our border and current foreign policy. "Chinese money launderers have taken over that dirty business from others," says Gordon Chang, author and China expert. "This is not just in Texas, not just in Mexico, this is globally...and clearly the United States has not taken sufficient measures against it."
"Under the Patriot Act, the United States could deny Chinese banks the ability to transact business in dollars," Chang continues. "We should be doing this, because we should not allow anyone to money launder through our own banking system."
As for the surge in illegal crossings by Chinese nationals, Chang notes the concern is partially in the numbers, but also in the makeup of those crossing. "Border Patrol reports that about 80 to 85 percent of the Chinese migrants are single males, of military age, traveling without family members, in groups of 5 to 15," he tells KTRH. "So these packs of Chinese males look extremely suspicious...we've got to assume that Beijing is seeding operatives into the United States."
Photo: Moment RF