U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) co-sponsored H.R. 7767, the "STOP Enemies Act," along with U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas) and other members of Congress to amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Companion legislation has been introduced by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in the U.S. Senate.
This legislation comes after an investigation based on evidence from social media that Pengxiang "Chris" Zhang, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier, lived, studied and trained in the United States from at least 2014 to 2020. Since his return to China in 2020, Zhang has trained the People's Armed Police (PAP) and PLA units on tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), which he learned from former U.S. special operators and service members.
After their service, many former special operators utilize the skills they received in the military to train civilians and police across the country. Most of these courses require proof of U.S. citizenship due to the TTPs taught and the equipment utilized. However, in the case of Zhang, this was dismissed.
This legislation would amend the UCMJ to expand the definition of aiding the enemy, including providing military education, military training, and tactical advice to a foreign adversary. Although former servicemembers may not be able to be prosecuted under UCMJ most of the time, this may happen under certain circumstances, especially to retirees.
Strong said of the bill, "The scope of conflict and strategic competition is always evolving. I am proud to join my colleagues in taking steps to prevent our adversaries from exploiting the operating procedures that make our military the best on the planet. We cannot allow our own military tactics to be used against American service members."
"Protecting U.S. military training tactics from foreign adversaries is paramount to safeguarding our national security interests and maintaining a competitive edge," said Luttrell. "The legislation we introduced today aims to protect our strategic capabilities from any adversary who attempts to exploit or undermine our national defense and military operations."
In addition, according to NewsNation correspondent Ali Bradley, an unauthorized Chinese national was found to be on a U.S. military base near El Centro, Calif., and refused to leave. Border Patrol agents, along with military police, responded, and the purpose and intent of the man are unknown at this time.
Although the base is not named in the tweet, the only base in El Centro is Naval Air Facility El Centro, a former Marine Air Station that is the "winter home to the Navy's Blue Angels" and is only 15 minutes from the border with Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it encountered 24,048 Chinese migrants in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September 2023 and is a 7,000% increase over previous years.
U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), the House Homeland Security Committee chairman, said in a press conference that he possesses evidence that some Chinese migrants who crossed the southern border illegally and were released into the U.S. under the Biden administration are connected to the Chinese Communist Party and PLA.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email Bradley.cox@1819news.com or on Twitter @BradleyCoxAL.
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