The US Government security clearance usually means you at least has to be PR (green card holder). The clearance is much more strigent than the GC name check. No only you cannot have criminal record, you have to be able to show that you will not transfer sensitive infomation to other countries or do any harm to US. With a background of PRC, and have only lived in US for a few year, your clearance will be very very hard to pass.
Of course, if you are really capable, or they need your service so much, you might get through with some limitation. But that's extremely rare for someone without even PR.