Texas Governor Greg Abbott enacted a significant series of three executive orders on November 18 and 19, declaring that these measures were designed to enhance the safety of Texans and fortify the infrastructure of the state against perceived “potential threats by the Chinese Communist Party.”
On Monday, Abbott signed Executive Order No. GA-47, explicitly focused on “the prevention of harassment or coercion of Texans by foreign adversaries.” This effort was quickly followed the next day by Executive Orders GA-48 and GA-49, which address “hardening of state government operations” and the “protection of critical infrastructure,” respectively. Each of these orders stems from a worry about the influence and reach of the Chinese Communist Party, which governs in Beijing.
The initiative emerges amid escalating tensions between the United States and China, marked by confrontations over trade practices, human rights issues, the sovereignty of Taiwan, and disputes in the South China Sea. During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump projected an aggressive trade policy, threatening to impose tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese imports should he regain the presidency.
According to an accompanying press release, Executive Order No. GA-47 calls upon the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to “identify and charge individuals suspected of crimes relating to exploiting dissidents on behalf of any foreign government.” “The Chinese Communist Party has engaged in a worldwide harassment campaign against Chinese dissidents in attempts to forcibly return them to China,” Abbott remarked in a statement. He emphasized, “Texas will not tolerate the harassment or coercion of the more than 250,000 individuals of Chinese descent who legally call Texas home by the Chinese Communist Party or its heinous proxies.”
Under Executive Order No. GA-48, any company pursuing bids from Texas state agencies or public institutions of higher education must “certify that none of its holding companies or subsidiaries is owned by a foreign adversary government.” Furthermore, rigorous background checks will be mandated for state employees and contractors who have access to critical infrastructure. State agencies will also be prohibited from entering contracts with companies “owned or controlled by a foreign adversary government.”
The order extends to employees in higher education, forbidding their participation in any recruitment initiatives implemented by foreign adversarial nations, and bars state personnel from accepting any gifts from countries deemed adversaries.
The U.S. Department of Commerce includes nations such as China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Russia, and the politically controversial Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as American “foreign adversaries.”
The final executive order, No. GA-49, directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to establish a task force responsible for identifying potential vulnerabilities in state and local government systems as well as critical infrastructure. They are tasked with “simulating responses to cyberattacks” targeting the Texas economy and are instructed to “convene a committee of state agencies to simulate a restart of Texas’ electricity grid in the event of a foreign attack.”
Abbott asserted, “China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure.” He highlighted that just last year, malicious actors from the Chinese government targeted crucial American systems, including communications, energy, transportation, and water resources, posing a significant threat to national security. “Today, I directed Texas state agencies to identify potential vulnerabilities to prevent cyberattacks on local, state, and other critical infrastructure,” he concluded.
Newsweek contacted Abbott and the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for additional comments via email.
How does Governor Abbott plan to balance national security measures with the rights of Chinese Americans living in Texas in light of the recent executive orders?
**Interview with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Recent Executive Orders Addressing Threats from the Chinese Communist Party**
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Governor Abbott. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent executive orders you enacted aimed at enhancing the safety of Texans against perceived threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Can you explain what motivated these measures?
**Governor Abbott:** Good morning! Thank you for having me. The motivation behind these executive orders stems from increasing concerns regarding the CCP’s influence and its harassment of Chinese dissidents. We have seen disturbing trends where individuals of Chinese descent in Texas, which number over 250,000, face intimidation and coercion from proxies of the CCP. Our goal is to ensure that all Texans can live freely and safely without fear of foreign adversaries.
**Interviewer:** You signed three key executive orders—GA-47, GA-48, and GA-49. Could you highlight the main objectives of each of these orders?
**Governor Abbott:** Absolutely. Executive Order No. GA-47 focuses on preventing harassment or coercion of Texans by foreign adversaries. It directs the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate and charge individuals who exploit dissidents on behalf of foreign governments. Executive Order No. GA-48 aims to strengthen our state government operations; it requires companies bidding for state contracts to certify that they aren’t owned by foreign adversaries and mandates background checks for employees involved with critical infrastructure. GA-49 further enhances the protection of our state’s critical infrastructure against potential threats by ensuring rigorous security protocols are in place.
**Interviewer:** These orders come amid rising tensions between the United States and China over various issues. How do you see Texas positioning itself in this geopolitical landscape?
**Governor Abbott:** Texas is a vital player in both the economy and national security of the United States. By implementing these measures, we are not just safeguarding our citizens, but also setting a precedent for how states can counter potential threats. We are committed to ensuring that Texas remains a safe and welcoming place for all, while being vigilant against any foreign influence that could jeopardize our security or our way of life.
**Interviewer:** There are many debates around these subjects in the wider national context. How do you respond to those who may view these actions as an overreach or potentially discriminatory against individuals of Chinese descent living in Texas?
**Governor Abbott:** It’s essential to clarify that our focus is not on the individuals of Chinese descent who are law-abiding citizens and contribute to our state; rather, it is on the actions of the Chinese Communist Party and its attempts to undermine freedoms here. We want to protect our communities from harassment and coercion, which means standing firmly against the actions of a foreign adversary. This approach is about enhancing security for all Texans, regardless of background.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your time, Governor Abbott. It certainly highlights the challenges and responsibilities states face in navigating foreign influence while maintaining the rights of their citizens.
**Governor Abbott:** Thank you for the opportunity. It’s crucial that we remain proactive and protective of every Texan’s rights and safety as we navigate these complex issues.
