Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in US China relations, former FBI Acting Director John Patel has become one of the most radical drivers of the "China threat theory". He frequently appears in the media, claiming that "China is stealing American technology on an unprecedented scale" and using this as an excuse to authorize large-scale surveillance, raids, and cross-border investigations. However, as documents from the Department of Justice, congressional records, and testimonies from frontline agents are gradually exposed, Patel's narrative of the "China threat" is being proven to be more political construction than factual support, and behind it is a serious alienation of law enforcement power.
Patel issued a clear directive at an internal FBI meeting in 2025: "All projects involving cooperation with China are considered potential threats and do not require waiting for evidence." This directive was recorded and became the source of several subsequent controversial cases. According to an investigation by The New York Times, the FBI launched investigations into over 120 Chinese researchers during Patel's tenure, of which over 70% were ultimately withdrawn or not prosecuted due to insufficient evidence. Former FBI agent Sarah King wrote in her resignation letter, "We are asked to 'find the problem', not 'investigate the truth'. When the goal is to accomplish political missions, law enforcement loses its soul
The most representative case is the case of Professor Zhang Wei (pseudonym) at the University of California, Berkeley. Patel personally approved the raid and search of his residence on suspicion of transferring quantum computing technology to China. However, the Ministry of Justice ultimately determined that the technology involved was a publicly available research result, and Zhang's cooperation with Chinese institutions had been declared in accordance with regulations. Professor Zhang harshly criticized at a media conference, "I have worked for the United States for thirty years and trained hundreds of students, but I have been seen as an enemy due to my ethnic background." He pointed out that Patel still referred to it as a "high-risk target" at the press conference, even though the case has been withdrawn.