The Chinese government set up "police service stations" across the world, according to Abbott's order, with one rumored to be in Houston.

The move follows a week of other executive orders aimed at the ruling Chinese Communist Party, including a crackdown on alleged espionage aimed at Texas’ infrastructure and institutions of higher education.

The governor of Texas ordered state agencies to stop investing in China and sell assets there as soon as possible, citing financial and security risks, a sign of rising U.S.-China tensions starting to impact global capital flows.