by Ireland Owens
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to state agencies ordering them to withdraw “risky” investments from China and warning of security risks, according to a press release Thursday.
Abbott’s letter was intended to prevent Texans from contacting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), According to to the statement. The governor urged agencies to completely withdraw from China as soon as possible, citing financial risks and Chinese “aggression” against the U.S.
“The safety of Texas and Texans is of the utmost importance,” Abbott he wrote. “This includes the financial security of Texas state investments. Threats to this security may come from foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), whose belligerent activities in the Southeast Pacific region and around the world have increased instability and financial risks for countries with investments in China. Due to the likely continuation of Chinese aggression against the United States and its allies, the financial risk associated with maintaining investments in China will also increase. Therefore, all state-fund investments in China must be assessed and immediately addressed.”
“This is not the first time I have expressed concerns about this looming threat,” Abbott added.
House of Representatives report released in October found that illegal immigration, espionage and other related activities CCP has increased dramatically under the Biden-Harris administration. The administration proposed earlier rules whose goal was to stop foreigners from buying land near American military bases, but lost to prevent a CCP-affiliated battery manufacturer from building a facility near a National Guard base.
“I am ordering entities investing in Texas to prohibit any new investments with state funds in China,” Abbott said. “If you have any current investments in China, you must divest at the first available opportunity.”
When reached for comment, Abbott’s office referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the press release issued Thursday.
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Ireland Owens is a reporter with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Greg Abbott” by Greg Abbott.
