Patel’s FBI forges law enforcement ties with China, Russia
U.S. officials have long portrayed Russia and China as exporters of crime instead of potential allies in combating it, not to mention sources of espionage aimed at American interests worldwide.
Patel, appointed by President Donald Trump, said such risks can be managed.
“They are both new and dynamic relationships, and we are extremely mindful of their adversarial approach on many matters,” Patel said. “They are not going to stop, but if we can go and have wins for America, then we must engage.”
U.S. and Chinese flags are seen before Defense Secretary James Mattis welcomes Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Wei Fenghe to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 9, 2018.
FBI, China exchange police officials
The current relationship began with Trump’s visit to China in May 2025 and was followed by two trips by Patel to China. Patel said the cooperation has expanded across four working groups: cyber fraud, violent crimes against children, counternarcotics and a fugitive task force.
As part of the partnership, Patel has brought officials from China’s Ministry of Public Security, or MPS, to multiple FBI facilities in the United States to share intelligence and investigative information.
“Every month, they send their working-level MPS officers here, and the following month we go there,” Patel said. “They are speaking with us daily, which has also never happened before.”
Asked about joint law enforcement operations, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said, “We have always believed that dialogue and negotiation are the right way forward, and that military means offer no solution.”
Patel said information exchanges are narrow in scope and limited to the four types of transnational crime where intelligence sharing is reciprocal. Patel said these new FBI partners would not replace longtime U.S. allies such as the “Five Eyes” intelligence partnership with Canada, Australia, Britain and New Zealand.