Chuck DeVore still remembers the scene about 17 years ago when FBI agents came to him at his home. The FBI informed him that he was under surveillance by the Chinese Communist regime.
At that time, DeVore was a California state assemblyman and he supported a resolution about “Tibet Awareness Day.” DeVore said officials from the Chinese Consulates in San Francisco and Los Angeles launched a high-pressure campaign to prevent the resolution from passing.
Chinese officials began visiting numerous California lawmakers, pressuring them to vote against the resolution. DeVore said no Chinese consulate officials officially visited him, which may have been due to his co-authoring of a novel called “China Attacks” in 2013, in which they depicted China’s attempt to annex Taiwan.
To his shock, he discovered he was under surveillance.
DeVore discussed his experience at the recent Texas Policy Summit in Austin last month, stating, “It got so bad, in fact, that the FBI actually came to see me, saying, ‘You’re under surveillance; have any Chinese people been talking to you?'”
He quoted the FBI at the time, saying, “This is unprecedented. We’ve never seen anything like this before at a state level.”
Chuck DeVore currently serves as the Chief National Engagement Officer for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He stated that the Chinese Communist regime’s pressure back in the day successfully thwarted the bill in California highlighting the Tibet issue, and in subsequent years, Chinese special agents continuously reinforced their infiltration efforts based on that foundation.
He noted that since then, the Chinese regime has become more aggressive, continuously organizing protests and intimidation campaigns to oppose state lawmakers who support bills protecting their states from potential Chinese spy activities and sabotage.
State Armor is a nonprofit organization that helps states combat global security threats. Michael Lucci, the organization’s founder and CEO, told the Epoch Times that 19 states in the United States have successfully passed legislation to prevent hostile nations from buying American agricultural land. Some states have also restricted their purchase of near-military facilities or sensitive infrastructure.
Furthermore, some state lawmakers have gone a step further by proposing the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act to enhance their states’ preparedness in crucial areas such as supply chains, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and public health in the event of conflicts involving China.
At the national level, Lucci pointed out that many of the areas of concern raised in former President Donald Trump’s February memorandum on foreign investment align with those at the state level. The memorandum restricts investments from China in advanced technology, critical infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and raw materials. At the federal level, the U.S. is also safeguarding land near sensitive facilities.
During the summit, Christopher Holton, the National Outreach Director for the Center for Security Policy based in Washington, DC, highlighted that the United States is facing “a series of asymmetric warfare aimed at us,” though many are unaware of the situation.
He stated, “The CCP has employed overwhelming, full-court-press tactics against us on many fronts, and as a nation, we are not prepared for it.”
Republican Senator from Texas, Lois Kolkhorst, shared at the summit that after hearing real stories from voters, she started efforts to pass legislation to restrict Chinese citizens or companies from purchasing land in the state.
A few years ago, during a meeting with the Agriculture Bureau, voters reminded Kolkhorst that Chinese citizens and companies were buying agriculture land in the state.
Kolkhorst recalled that the mayor of Sealy, a small town in Texas, informed her that an old factory belonging to Stewart & Stevenson, a company that once manufactured military vehicles and was headquartered in Houston, had been acquired, but no one knew who the buyer was.
Later, she heard from a farmer next to the factory that all activities were conducted at night.
She mentioned that the buyer turned out to be a Chinese company.
Kolkhorst had visited the factory producing copper wire coils for air conditioning units. To her surprise, she discovered a military camp inside the factory, which she found very disturbing.
These incidents prompted her to introduce Senate Bill 147 during the 2023 Texas legislative session.
Senate Bill 147 required banning government entities from selling land in Texas to governments, entities, and foreign nationals from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea listed in the National Threat Assessment Report.
Kolkhorst mentioned that after the bill was proposed, there was a fierce and well-organized backlash, which led to the bill not being passed.
She recalled, “Because of offering this law, I was called a racist hundreds of times, every day.” Kolkhorst said, “I remember a group of people cornered me; they were really brazen.”
According to information obtained from the 10th Airlift Wing subordinate to the Air Force Reserve Command, China launched a misinformation campaign on the communication software “WeChat,” developed by Chinese People, to obstruct the passage of the bill in Texas.
Kolkhorst stated that in her district, including populous counties like Harris and Fort Bend, protesters collaborated with the Democratic Party, organized demonstrations, and displayed banners demanding to stop the bill.
Opponents also purchased billboards in Dallas along Interstate 35, spreading messages attacking the legislation.
Kolkhorst revealed that a significant number of protesters attended the state Senate committee’s bill hearing, engaging in intimidation and threats against those supporting the bill.
“They would walk into our offices with cameras, you know, doing on-the-spot reporting, and we had to push them out,” she said.
“I think all this can be directly traced back to the CCP, using various groups here to stop our legislation,” she added.
Holton recounted the chaotic and exaggerated atmosphere at a Louisiana Senate hearing, where the committee was deliberating on a bill prohibiting hostile nations from purchasing agricultural land.
“It was definitely organized, a well thought-out action. Typically, those protesting aren’t U.S. citizens,” Holton remarked.
He mentioned that buses brought hundreds of Chinese citizens to the capital of Louisiana, where protesters turned hostile when the committee was passing the bill.
“They started throwing things at the committee,” he recalled, “State police had to rush in and drag some people out. This was a scene I’d never seen before.”
Kolkhorst did not give up on protecting Texas from Chinese threats. She introduced Senate Bill 17 during the 2025 legislative session, building on the previous legislation, prohibiting Chinese and other hostile nations from acquiring certain lands in Texas.
Texas lawmakers have also proposed other bills aimed at counteracting Chinese influence, such as Senate Bill 1348. This bill, a version of the Pacific Conflict bill, aims to establish a committee to “develop state security strategies and policies in advance of a Pacific conflict.”
The committee will review potential security vulnerabilities within the state and formulate corresponding strategies to ensure Texas remains secure and stable in crucial areas like supply chains, cybersecurity, and public health when Beijing uses force to “unify” Taiwan.
Lucci stated that Democrats also support these bills aimed at weakening Chinese influence, such as Nebraska Senator Elliot Bostar.
In 2024, Bostar introduced Legislative Bill 1300, which encompassed the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and the Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act, these bills have now become law.
“Considering Nebraska is home to the U.S. Strategic Command and other crucial assets, it is easy to envision Nebraska being a target for cyberattacks and other disruptive activities,” Bostar pointed out when introducing the bills.
US Strategic Command has jurisdiction over the country’s nuclear arsenal.
Bostar told the Epoch Times that his concerns about Chinese influence began about two years ago when he learned that a substantial proportion of telecommunication towers in Nebraska relied on technology from the Chinese company Huawei.
This led to the introduction of a bill prohibiting state governments from funding telecommunications companies using Huawei technologies.
During the Biden administration, the Federal Communications Commission banned the sale of new equipment produced by Huawei and another Chinese tech company, ZTE, in 2022, citing concerns about potential Chinese espionage or cyberattacks on vital American infrastructure.
Bostar mentioned that the first bill made him see the potential threat posed by China to US states, leading to the introduction of other measures.
He stated that removing potential threats from China is a bipartisan issue. This year, Nebraska legislators are pushing for Legislative Bill 644, requiring registration of hostile foreign agents (such as foreign lobbyists dedicated to influencing state and local policies).
Another area of growing concern is research involving American genetic data conducted by companies controlled by enemy nations.
Bostar explained that Chinese military commanders have openly stated their intention to develop genetically based bioweapons, prompting Nebraska lawmakers to propose legislation safeguarding Nebraskans’ genetic information, which is now part of Legislative Bill 644.
“I think plenty of state legislators believe this issue holds significance only at the federal level. That understanding is incorrect,” he stated, “Every state has a responsibility to protect our residents.”
Lucci noted that in 2019, a Chinese think tank released a report ranking the level of friendliness of US governors towards Beijing, a point raised by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the National Governors Association meeting in February 2020, just before the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Pompeo warned that the Chinese Communist Party was seeking to influence decisions in various US state and local governments.
Lucci stated that currently, he believes the states that exert the most effort in resisting Beijing’s influence are Texas, Florida, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
In June 2024, Republican Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma signed an executive order requiring the state to prepare for conflicts that may occur in the Indo-Pacific region involving China.
Oklahoma’s Office of Enterprise and Management Services was tasked to identify and implement solutions to ensure the state is shielded from potential threats posed by Chinese influence in areas such as cybersecurity, infrastructure, and public health.
“I can assure you that the Chinese Communist Party will find no friends in Oklahoma,” Stitt declared at the time.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed several bills over the past few years to counter Chinese influence, such as Senate Bill 264 in Florida. The bill limits the sale of land within 10 miles of agricultural land and military facilities or critical infrastructure to foreign citizens or entities from certain countries. Similarly, the legislation prohibits the government from entering contracts with entities or foreign individuals from hostile nations.
DeSantis emphasized that the US’s reliance on Chinese goods and supplies during the global COVID-19 pandemic should sound the alarm.
“Our food security is also national security,” he declared in May 2023. “We don’t want the Communist Party of China controlling any food production.”
Lucci believes that despite differing political ideologies, federal leaders from both Democratic and Republican parties understand one thing clearly.
“They’re shouting it from the rooftops, really, that the CCP is inside our critical infrastructure now, planning attacks on these facilities once conflict arises,” he stated.
Citing an ABC News report from February, Lucci referenced a memorandum issued by the Department of Homeland Security, stating that 12,000 Chinese-manufactured internet-connected cameras were installed on key infrastructure across the United States. These cameras could potentially be used for espionage and other malicious activities.
He added that states should consider removing Chinese-manufactured components in their infrastructure and communications systems, such as routers, cameras, laser sensors, and battery management units. Law enforcement departments should also consider replacing Chinese-produced drones.
In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which bans companies affiliated with hostile nations from accessing Texas’ power grid and other critical infrastructure—such as computer networks and waste treatment facilities. This makes Texas a leader in protecting state infrastructure.
The impetus for this law stemmed from a former Chinese military officer purchasing 140,000 acres of land near Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas, with the intent to construct a wind farm and provide electricity to the state grid.
DeVore believes one of the states’ most significant risks is with power transformers.
He mentioned that large power transformers cost up to $3 million and have long production times. Transformers carry about 70% of America’s power, with a significant portion made in China, followed by South Korea. Between 25% to 30% of transformers used in the United States are made in China.
“I know these large transformers are in short supply,” DeVore said, “If you build a new power plant, it might take up to four years to get one of these large transformers.”
Holton mentioned that as many as 400 large transformers in the US are made in China, enabling the Chinese government to access our power system through backdoor procedures and remotely shut down these transformers.
“It could lead to paralysis,” he emphasized.
President Trump issued an executive order during his first term requiring a halt to procurements of transformers made in China, but President Biden overturned the order upon taking office.
DeVore stated that many Americans are unaware of the long-term game played by the Chinese regime.
He noted that during his tenure in the California state legislature, Chinese Foreign Ministry officials convinced many of his Democratic colleagues to vote against resolutions pertaining to the Tibet issue, such as current US Representative Ted Lieu and current Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
“The CCP built contacts at a state level, thinking when these state legislators become federal lawmakers, these relations may come in handy,” DeVore remarked.
Holton added that the public seems to have forgotten that the Chinese authorities initially knew about the high transmissibility of the novel coronavirus, with many now alleging it originated in a lab in Wuhan. Yet the Chinese government misled the World Health Organization by stating the virus wasn’t contagious.
“They locked down Wuhan, no domestic travel allowed, but international travel was permitted, actively spreading the virus effectively,” he highlighted.
Holton deemed the lack of transparency by the Chinese regime on the issue of the coronavirus as “one of the most atrocious attacks on the world in a century.”
“If a country can do something like this, they have the capability to do worse,” he warned.
Holton mentioned that two colonels from the Chinese army wrote a book titled “Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America,” discussing asymmetrical warfare forms used to combat superpowers like the United States.
In their book, they discussed tactics to defeat a more potent adversary like the US, including drug warfare, political warfare, law warfare, and economic warfare.
“We listened to beautiful deceptive words 35 or 40 years ago, saying as long as we do business with the Chinese, they’ll become more democratic and their system will become more pluralistic,” Holton reflected.
He stated that the continuous infiltration by the Chinese regime has seen the implementation of increasingly restrictive policies towards China at various levels in the US.