On November 23, 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued three executive orders aimed at addressing perceived threats from China, which has led to significant uncertainty among the state's Chinese American community. The orders are designed to protect over 250,000 Chinese descendants residing in Texas by forming a task force to counter threats to state infrastructure and prohibiting state agencies from engaging with Chinese entities linked to the Chinese government. This move has drawn criticism from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, with spokeswoman Mao Ning urging U.S. officials to cease what she termed 'unfounded accusations' against China [509b583f].
In addition to the task force, the new regulations require Texas public employees to notify their agencies before traveling to China and to submit post-travel briefs. Wendy, a Chinese American state employee, expressed her concerns regarding these regulations, stating that they foster feelings of distrust and represent an invasion of privacy. The Mosaic Paradigm Law Group has also criticized the executive orders, labeling them as flawed and predicting that they could have detrimental effects on Texas's economy and academic research [509b583f].
These developments come at a time when Governor Abbott has been actively promoting Texas's economic ties with various countries, including Taiwan and South Korea, as well as strengthening relationships with India. His recent initiatives have aimed at enhancing trade and investment opportunities, showcasing Texas as a global economic player [11cfa185]. However, the new executive orders may complicate these efforts by creating a climate of suspicion and potential backlash against the state's Chinese community, which has historically contributed to Texas's economic landscape [509b583f].