Chinese Community Troubled by FBI Ad

SAN FRANCISCO – An FBI advertisement in three major Chinese-language newspapers asking the community to contact the agency with “any intelligence service whose intent is to harm the United States” has caused a stir among Chinese Americans. Civil rights advocates are calling the advertisement a troubling reminder of the turbulent history between the FBI and the Chinese community.

The black-and-white Chinese-language ad, which ran in the World Journal, Ming Pao Daily and Sing Tao Daily from June 30 to July 8, asked for help from the Chinese community in the FBI’s counter-espionage program.

“The FBI has many responsibilities. One of these is to protect our domestic security and civil rights,” the ad begins. “Chinese living here have often helped the FBI prevent subversive elements from penetrating and harming our country. We especially welcome anyone who has information about the Chinese Ministry of State Security to contact our office.”

The ad then explains that language assistance is available and includes contact information for the office.

Yvonne Lee, San Francisco police commissioner and former U.S. civil rights commissioner, said that the advertisement is unsettling.

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