Blog Archives - China Tech Threat

2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019

2024

Tuesday, June 4 - Newly Introduced New York Bill Targets Restricted Chinese Technology
On March 18th, New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar introduced a new bill A9312. The bill relates to prohibiting the procurement of certain technology and products which pose a state or national security risk. In a post from Assemblywoman Rajkumar share stated, “New York State spends tens of millions of dollars on tech so vulnerable […]
Thursday, May 2 - Maine Bill To Stopping CCP Tech Threats To State Becomes Law
On May 1, Senator Lisa Keim’s bill , An Act to Increase Cybersecurity in Maine, became law. The bill, (LD877, SP0374) will prohibit local and state government from entering contracts with companies that are connected to hostile foreign governments, like China. In an interview about her bill, Senator Lisa Keim told CTT: “China is not […]
Wednesday, April 17 - Nebraska: Senator Bostar’s Bill Heads to Governor Pillen’s Desk
On April 11th, Senator Eliot Bostar’s bill, the Adopt the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and the Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act (LB 1300), received final approval by a vote of 46-0. The bill will now go to Governor Pillen’s desk for his approval. The Adopt the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and the Foreign […]
Tuesday, March 19 - Bills To Stop China Tech Spending Advance, State Momentum Grows, Dangerous Spending Continues – March 19
From 1 to 9 to 16: States Are Acting To Ban Dangerous China Tech. In 2019, Vermont was the single state that had banned risky technology by companies owned or operated by the Chinese government. By 2023, when China Tech Threat (CTT) released its States of Denial vs States of Momentum report, that number had […]
Thursday, March 7 - Lenovo’s Last Ditch Lobbying Fails as Senator McCay Successfully Restricts PRC Tech from Utah
In the wanning hours of the 2024 Utah legislative session, HB 404 – which would stop the state from purchasing tech manufactured by PRC-owned companies – was challenged on the floor of the Senate. Senator Daniel McCay, the senate sponsor, successfully deflected an 11th hour attempt to weaken his bill. Here is how he explained […]
Wednesday, March 6 - Video: NH Rep. Roy on Bill To Prohibit Contracts with Chinese Government Owned Tech
Under the leadership of New Hampshire State Representative Terry Roy, the Granite State joins the growing momentum as states take policy action to ban the purchase of dangerous technology from Chinese government owned or affiliated technology manufacturers. China Tech Threat’s May 2023 report showed New Hampshire spent $204,765 on restricted Chinese technology from Lexmark, Inc. […]
Thursday, February 29 - VIDEO: UT Bill To Stop China Tech Purchases Passes Full House
On February 22, Utah bill HB 404, the Public Entity Restrictions bill passed the full House with sweeping bipartisan support and is now before the Senate rules committee. Bill cosponsor Karianne Lisonbee has been committed to stopping taxpayer dollars from being used to purchase technology from CCP-owned companies. China Tech Threat (CTT) talked with Rep. […]
Wednesday, February 28 - Q&A With General Spider Marks: ‘24 Momentum In State Capitols To Ban Risky China Tech
As February draws to a close, many state legislatures are well into their sessions and some, like Utah, quickly nearing the end of their business for this year. China Tech Threat (CTT) is encouraged by the leadership many new states have demonstrated already in 2024 by advancing bills to prohibit state purchase of risky technology […]
Wednesday, February 21 - New CTT Data Indicates States Continue To Spend Millions on Restricted Tech
States Making Progress to Curtail Further Spending China Tech Threat’s original 2020 research found that nearly 40 states had contracts to purchase technology Chinese government-owned technology manufacturers Lenovo and Lexmark. Beginning in Fall 2022, we began to re-examine data from each state to determine if the states have made payments to either company, how much […]
Friday, February 16 - Tennessee Takes Steps To Stop State Procurement of Restricted China Tech
This past January, Tennessee State Representative John Ragan, Chairman of the Government Operations Committee, introduced The Procurement Protection Act (HB 1841) which was followed by the companion Senate bill (SB 2859) introduced by Senator Kerry Roberts. The bills prohibit certain foreign entities, including China from submitting bids for contracts with the state or a political […]
Thursday, February 15 - Key Kentucky Departments Are at Risk Due to Continued Spending on Restricted Chinese Tech
Kentucky continues to spend taxpayer dollars on restricted Chinese technology from Lenovo Inc. and Lexmark Inc. Following original research released in 2023, China Tech Threat’s (CTT) updated report found that in 2024 Kentucky bought an additional $920,340 worth of restricted technology from the two companies, on top of the $1,805,465 it spent in previous years. […]
Wednesday, February 14 - VIDEO: UT Rep. Pierucci Bill to Stop Tech Purchases from CCP-Owned Companies Advances
Utah State Representative Candice Pierucci is making it a priority to stop taxpayer dollars from being used to purchase technology from CCP-owned companies. In video comments provided to China Tech Threat (CTT), Rep. Pierucci talks about her bill, the Public Entity Restrictions bill (HB 404) that received unanimous support at the committee level and will next […]
Tuesday, February 13 - Kansas Continues to Be at Risk Due to Restricted Chinese Tech
Since China Tech Threat’s (CTT) original report in 2023 on Kansas’s spending on restricted Chinese technology, we have found that the state of Kansas spent an additional $305,558 in 2023 on technology from Lenovo, Inc. also it was discovered that previously unreported data shows an additional $55,279 spent in 2018 and $38,500 in 2016. Our […]
Monday, February 12 - Wisconsin Looks to Stop Awarding Contracts to CCP-Linked Entities
Wisconsin State Representative Alex Dallman and Senator Pat Testin are making progress in their attempt to stop CCP influence in the state. On February 7, the pair introduced Senate Bill 1000, which prohibits any public entity from contracting with certain prohibited business entities, including companies owned or operated by the Chinese government. No public entity […]
Friday, February 9 - Nebraska Lawmakers Advance Bill to Protect State from China Threats
China Tech Threat (CTT) provided expert testimony at a February 8 Nebraska Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee meeting, where the committee heard from Senator Eliot Bostar on his bill, the Adopt the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and the Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act ( LB 1300). During Senator Bostar’s testimony, he shared, “LB1300 […]
Thursday, February 8 - CTT Allies Heritage Action and State Armor Helping Fuel State-Level Momentum to Ban Dangerous Chinese Technology
China Tech Threat has spent years urging state governments to prohibit the use of dangerous technology from Chinese-owned companies such as Lexmark and Lenovo. The threat has not abated: This week the federal government disclosed that Chinese hackers have already spent five years lurking inside critical infrastructure. State-level leaders should recognize that the Chinese Communist […]
Wednesday, February 7 - 2024 State Momentum Update: February 7
Since our last update on January 23, a number of states have added to the strong momentum with bills to prohibit the purchase of technology by companies owned or operated by the Chinese government. Below is the latest roundup of legislative activity by state lawmakers leading the fight to help protect residents, businesses, government offices, […]
Tuesday, February 6 - AZ Spending on Restricted China Tech Continues, But Lawmakers Working to Stop It
Updated research at the start of 2024 shows that the State of Arizona continues to spend taxpayer money on Lenovo technology, despite its close connections to the Chinese government. According to data available on the state’s Arizona’s Financial Transparency Portal, the state has spent an additional $648,129 on Lenovo technology already in 2024 and $543,881 […]
Friday, February 2 - Nebraska Bill Will Help Protect State from CCP Influence
On January 16, 2024, Nebraska State Senator Eliot Bostar introduced the “Adopt the Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and the Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act” (LB1300). The bill comes as the update research shows the state continues to spend taxpayers’ dollars on risky Chinese technology. Research released by China Tech Threat (CTT) in 2023 revealed […]
Friday, February 2 - CTT Advisor Steve Coonen Calls Out Failing U.S. Control Regime
CTT Advisor Steve Coonen—who resigned from the Pentagon in 2021 over the U.S. Government’s totally ineffective export control regime—is up with a piece in The Wire China. Although Congress has been warning since 1998 that American technologies are arming China, U.S. export control authorities have done little of consequence to arrest the flow of American know-how […]
Thursday, February 1 - Washington Post Report on China Strategy To Target and Influence State and Local Officials
“The ruling Chinese Communist Party has long had a strategy of using “the local to surround the center” Amidst fresh warnings to Congress by FBI Director Chris Wray about CCP hackers targeting American infrastructure and preparing to “wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities,” a new Washington Post report details China’s […]
Tuesday, January 30 - CTT and FAI Jointly Submit Comments to the FCC on National Security
China Tech Threat (CTT) and the Foundation for American Innovation (FAI) submitted joint reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet. The proceeding attempts to classify broadband under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act, offering the Commission a set of tools to regulate internet prices and traffic under […]
Monday, January 29 - VIDEO: Maine Advances Bill To Stop State Purchase of Restricted China Tech
China Tech Threat (CTT) provided expert testimony at a January 25 Maine State and Local Government Committee meeting, where the committee voted to advance legislation to restrict state purchase of dangerous Chinese technology already restricted by the federal government. Nine other states have already enacted similar policies, including Vermont which was the first state to […]
Thursday, January 25 - Statement by China Tech Threat on Recent News Story
A news story posted which reflects China Tech Threat (CTT)’s success highlighting the danger of using technology manufactured by Chinese-owned companies. During the course of our discussion with this publication, we repeatedly asserted that since its origin in 2019, CTT has never published anything that was factually incorrect. Likewise, the outlet was unable to […]
Tuesday, January 23 - States Starting 2024 with Legislative Focus on Restricting China Tech
Building on strong momentum in 2023, lawmakers in a growing number of states are starting their 2024 legislative sessions with bills to prohibit the purchase of technology by companies owned or operated by the Chinese government. Below is a roundup of legislative activity by state lawmakers leading the fight to help protect residents, businesses, government […]
Tuesday, January 16 - TikTok 2.0: Tencent’s WeChat and Epic Games Present the Same Threats as TikTok – But Without the Scrutiny (Yet)
On Friday, we blogged about efforts to restrict TikTok, calling it the “greatest Trojan Horse in history.” You can read that blog HERE. Today we present Tencent, a Chinese digital media and entertainment behemoth that presents similar security risks as TikTok, but has mostly flown under the radar as a threat to the United States. […]
Friday, January 12 - The Greatest Trojan Horse in History
In the past year, public controversy over TikTok has died down somewhat. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous. The end of 2022 saw a deluge of reporting that should lead state and federal officials to conclude that TikTok, the app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is the greatest Trojan Horse in history and should […]
Thursday, January 11 - UPDATE: Protection Procurement Act (House Bill 2436) Introduced – Arizona Lawmakers Start ‘24 Session With Focus on China Threats, Stopping Purchase of Banned China Tech
Updated: In the days following the Arizona Senate Military Affairs, Public Safety, and Border Security (MAPS) Committee on policies to address threats posed by China, State Representative Lupe Diaz introduced the Protection Procurement Act (House Bill 2436) which will require agencies and vendors who are contracting with the State to disclose their purchases from hostile […]
Thursday, January 11 - Is 2024 the year of the legacy chip?
It may be too early to tell, but the momentum is promising. The latest evidence comes from a Wall Street Journal exclusive on a letter from House CCP Select Committee leaders. In the letter, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) call on the Biden administration to take “urgent action” to keep the PRC […]
Wednesday, January 3 - Commerce Department Commissions Survey of U.S. Companies to Create Trusted Legacy Chip Supply
Secretary Raimondo and her team have closed out 2023 with welcome action to stem the tide of a China-dominated legacy space. In early December, China Tech Threat commended the Commerce Department for directing the first allocation of CHIPS Act funding to support domestic production of semiconductors. Then, on December 21, the Commerce Department announced that […]

2023

Thursday, December 28 - Deck the Halls with China Tech Threat’s Holiday Reading List
Coonen: Defense Spending Increases Will Be Irrelevant If We Don’t Curtail China Acquisition Of U.S. Technology. Following his praise of Congress for increasing defense spending and military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), former Defense Technology Security Administration Senior Advisor and CTT Special Advisor Steve Coonen warns that increased spending could be irrelevant without complimentary export […]
Wednesday, December 20 - The U.S. Has Work to Do at Home to Stop the PLA’s Modernization
By Steve Coonen In a sign that it still knows how to do at least one thing right, Congress has lately been busy preparing the U.S. military to fight and win against the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In December, the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives with increases in defense […]
Wednesday, December 13 - Kudos, Secretary Raimondo: First Chips Act Grant Supports U.S. Legacy Chip Production
Give credit where it’s due: The Commerce Department has made a notable decision in using the first CHIPS Act grant to support U.S. legacy chip production. On December 11, the Commerce Department announced that a U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems would receive $35 million “to support the modernization of the company’s Microelectronics Center, a […]
Thursday, December 7 - Raimondo Talks Tough at Reagan Defense Forum But Challenges Remain
Last weekend Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo spoke at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the signature events on the national security calendar. As the name might suggest, the gathering is traditionally popular with right-leaning national security figures, so credit a Democratic Secretary of Commerce for making an appearance. While she did have comments […]
Thursday, November 30 - USCC Report Underscores Risks from China’s Legacy Chip Sector
Each year the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission issues its annual report to Congress. This year’s offering grasps that legacy chips should be considered as part of the U.S.-China national and economic security equation. Earlier this year, CTT’s Every Chip Matters report articulated how China is subsidizing state champion chipmakers like SMIC in order to […]
Wednesday, November 29 - CTT Weighs In on Bipartisan AI Bill
Earlier this month, Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a group of bipartisan Senators in introducing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research, Innovation, and Accountability Act of 2023. The legislation is designed to establish a framework to bolster innovation while bringing greater transparency, accountability, and security to the development and operation of the […]
Monday, November 20 - Caught Red Handed: Applied Materials Allegedly Illegally Exporting Tech to China
For years China Tech Threat has warned that U.S. export controls have been insufficient to stop the transfer of American technology to the Chinese military. In our August 2023 report, Cash Over County, we explained how American semiconductor equipment manufacturers Applied Materials, KLA, and Lam Research grew their combined revenues from China by 103% between […]
Wednesday, November 15 - As Biden and Xi Meet, Chinese Tech Threats Continue to Grow
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in San Francisco today. In the lead-up to the meeting, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the U.S. seeks “a pragmatic economic strategy: one that protects our vital national security interests while seeking a stable and healthy economic relationship.” It sounds wonderful. But the most pragmatic […]
Friday, November 10 - YMTC’s Chip Breakthrough Shows Weakness of U.S. Export Controls
Last year, the U.S. imposed export controls designed to curtail the flow of American chipmaking technology to Chinese semiconductor firms. Soon after, one of China’s top chipmakers, YMTC, was added to the Entity List. Both actions were long awaited, but were they too little, too late? The evidence is mounting and suggests the federal government […]
Tuesday, October 31 - New Report Warns of Chinese Control of Legacy Chips
The Silverado Policy Accelerator is out with an excellent new report on how the Chinese government is using subsidies to grow China’s semiconductor industry, put Western firms out of business, and make the world dependent on Chinese legacy (or “foundational”) chips. Foundational Fabs: China’s Use of Non-Market Policies to Expand Its Role in the Semiconductor […]
Thursday, October 26 - Lam Research’s China Revenues Show that U.S. Export Controls Aren’t Working; Blanket Policy Denials Are Needed
By Steve Coonen A top U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment manufacturer, Lam Research, released its most recent quarterly results last week, and the numbers clearly indicate that U.S. export controls are not working. As Nikkei Asia reports: Despite the semiconductor-related export curbs first announced in October 2022 that barred American companies from shipping advanced chip equipment […]
Tuesday, October 17 - Experts React to Disappointing New Round of Export Controls at “Cash Over Country” Event
A year ago, BIS issued a landmark set of export controls designed to hinder China’s ability to make advanced semiconductors (and with good reason, since China’s major semiconductor companies are tied to the Chinese military). While encouraging at the outset, they’ve ultimately proved to be inadequate because of loopholes and a too-narrow focus on advanced […]
Monday, October 16 - As BIS Prepares to Issue Updated Export Controls, A New Report from James Mulvenon Highlights SMIC’s Ties to Chinese Military
Three Years Later – Mulvenon Looks Back on His SMIC Findings In 2020, a report by cybersecurity expert James Mulvenon on Chinese chipmaker SMIC’s ties to the Chinese military undergirded the Commerce Department’s export controls targeting the company. Those controls (purportedly) cut off SMIC’s access to certain leading edge American technologies. But as Mulvenon and […]
Monday, October 9 - House China Committee Follows CTT’s Lead, Asks Hard Questions about Lenovo on Navy Bases
On September 25, CTT released a memo exposing Lenovo’s presence as a sponsor of the Navy Exchange’s Gaming Hangar in Virginia Beach, VA during the Naval Air Station Oceana air show. Not only did Lenovo have a display booth inside a U.S. military facility, but Lenovo laptops were for sale through the Navy Exchange website, […]
Thursday, October 5 - SMIC’s Boom Shows Last Year’s Export Controls Haven’t Properly Limited the PRC’s Semiconductor Capabilities
A year ago on October 7, the U.S. government seemed like it was getting tough when it issued long-awaited export controls targeting the Chinese chip sector. But, one year in, it is now evident that these restrictions have not been adequate to stop China from making major chip advances or positioning itself to dominate the […]
Friday, September 29 - China Inches Closer to Legacy Chip Dominance – Will the U.S. Government Act Fast and Strong Enough?
A collection of recent headlines reinforces what China Tech Threat has been warning about for months – that the world is increasingly at risk of relying on China for its legacy semiconductor needs. The news tells the story of China’s march to obtain total self-sufficiency in semiconductors. This month the world saw Huawei unveil a […]
Tuesday, September 26 - DOD-Restricted Chinese-Owned Tech Sold on U.S. Navy Bases + 4 Recommendations
While the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is investigating how Chinese nationals have gained access to U.S. military installations, China Tech Threat is releasing our own policy memo on an equally concerning issue: How companies substantially owned by Chinese entities have effectively deployed their products inside the Department of Defense. Over the […]
Friday, September 15 - 4 Export Control Fallacies and Their Rebuttals
By Steve Coonen Writing in the Wall Street Journal last week, professors Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman criticize American export control policies as having the potential to create more problems then they solve. Pointing the finger at America as a force for destabilization is divorced from the reality of the global export control landscape. China’s […]
Wednesday, September 6 - Actions Speak Louder than Words—So Where’s the Action from the Commerce Department?
“Actions speak louder than words” was the refrain from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on CBS’ Face the Nation last Sunday. Raimondo is referring to what she hopes to see from the Chinese government following her meetings in Beijing last week—not just promises of change, but concrete steps. The world shouldn’t hold its breath waiting for […]
Tuesday, September 5 - Congress’ Narrow Inquiry into U.S. Investment in China is not a Winning Strategy
Writing in The Washington Times this week, Roslyn Layton examined the current inconsistencies in the United States’ regulatory approach towards curbing investment in Chinese military proxies. As we covered recently, President Biden issued an executive order that would require “U.S. firms to notify the federal government if they invest in some lower-end semiconductor production not […]
Wednesday, August 30 - Actions Speak Louder Than Words – Willful Blindness Series Recap
With Labor Day around the corner, the unofficial end of summer is almost here. So, here’s our final plug for beach reading from CTT special advisor Steve Coonen. Coonen, who spent more than two decades in uniform as an Army artillery and foreign affairs officer and then nearly 14 years as an analyst at the […]
Friday, August 25 - Ca$h Over Country: Biden Administration Must Stop U.S. American Chipmaker
With Secretary of Commerce Raimondo visiting China this weekend, Dr. Roslyn Layton penned an op-ed for the National Security Institute demanding the Biden Administration stop American semiconductor equipment manufacturers from profiting on the Chinese legacy chip sector. Rather than seek new economic cooperation with China, Dr. Layton argues the Secretary should be focused on preventing […]
Thursday, August 24 - How BIS Has Accommodated Corporations at The Expense of National Security
By Steve Coonen Recently I was asked, “On a scale of A to F, how would you grade BIS’s performance over the past 5 years?” My response: “If one removes ‘security’ (the S from BIS), then BIS fully merits an A+.” That’s not a compliment. For years BIS has accommodated corporations and industry groups at […]
Wednesday, August 23 - CTT-CPA “Ca$h Over Country” Report Exposes How Three U.S. Toolmakers Are Boosting Dangerous Chinese Legacy Chipmakers
A new report co-authored by Coalition for a Prosperous America Chief Economist Jeff Ferry and CTT co-founder Roslyn Layton reveals how American semiconductor equipment manufacturing companies are earning billions from Chinese legacy chip manufacturers. That bad choice is undermining American national and economic security: American semiconductor equipment manufacturers (SEMs) have succeeded in lobbying the U.S. […]
Thursday, August 17 - National Security is Economic Security
Last week, the White House released the much anticipated Executive Order on outbound investment. As Politico notably reported in a preview story, President Biden’s action will require “U.S. firms to notify the federal government if they invest in some lower-end semiconductor production not already covered by export controls.” This is a step in the right […]
Wednesday, August 16 - Fixing the Failings of the Interagency Export Control Review System
By Steve Coonen As I established in my paper Willful Blindness released in May, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (the unit within the U.S. government primarily responsible for stopping the Chinese military from obtaining American technologies) has become a rubber stamp for the export of controlled technologies to China. Case in point: […]
Thursday, August 10 - The U.S. Cannot Continue to Export Dual-Use Technologies to China
By Steve Coonen As anyone who has seen the new film Oppenheimer can attest to, the U.S. government has historically gone to great lengths to prevent military tools from falling into the hands of our adversaries. So why is the federal government continuing to rubber stamp the export of dual-use technologies to our greatest adversary? […]
Wednesday, August 9 - CHIPS Act Anniversary: Must Play Offense and Defense
Today, in honor of the first anniversary of the CHIPS Act, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said, “The CHIPS for America program is a historic opportunity to solidify America’s leadership and protect national security.” Yes, the CHIPS Act is an important step in developing our own capabilities, but to be successful, we need to play offense […]
Tuesday, August 8 - CHIPS Act Anniversary: Every Chip Matters
For the CHIPS Act to succeed, we need to increase our domestic capabilities and decrease our dependence on China for all types of chips. Retired Major General James “Spider” Marks tells us that in a new video to mark the one year anniversary of the CHIPS Act. His emphasis on all types of chips is […]
Monday, August 7 - CHIPS Act Anniversary Arrives, Former National Security Advisor Weighs In
This Wednesday (August 9), marks the one year anniversary of President Joe Biden signing the CHIPS Act into law. While it’s too early to judge if it’s ultimately a success or not, challenges persist, namely: What do all these concerns share? Legacy chips. For these reasons and more, China Tech Threat recommended that when CHIPS […]
Wednesday, August 2 - Why BIS End-Use Checks in China Are Useless
By Steve Coonen Quoting an old Russian proverb, President Ronald Reagan once remarked, “Trust, but verify.” Reagan’s words may have been appropriate as the U.S. negotiated an arms control agreement with the USSR. But when it comes to inspecting how China is using American technologies, the U.S. government should adapt his words to go a […]
Friday, July 28 - Scratching the Surface on Legacy Chips
During Wednesday night’s Select Committee on the CCP hearing on “Ensuring U.S. Leadership in the Critical and Emerging Technologies of the 21st Century” Lindsay Gorman from The German Marshall Fund raised an important point. She said we must look at the CHIPS Act as a start of America’s recovery of strength in the semiconductor space, not an […]
Wednesday, July 26 - Reforming the Flawed Process of Listing Chinese Entities on A Case-By-Case Basis
By Steve Coonen In 2019, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) wisely placed Huawei on the Entity List. This action was necessary for making sure the company could not obtain American components it needs to win the 5G race. But Huawei moved fast to protect its interests, quickly spinning off a […]
Tuesday, July 25 - Is Your State 1 of the 46 That Has Purchased Banned PRC-Owned Technology?
Did your state contribute to the more than $285 million states have spent on dangerous PRC-owned tech? Has your state taken up policy to prohibit these dangerous contracts that put your residents, businesses and state infrastructure at risk? The answer to these questions can be found in China Tech Threat’s (CTT) 50-state research and analysis […]
Monday, July 24 - Challenges Still Loom Large on the Eve of the CHIPS Act One Year Anniversary
On August 9th of last year, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act to restore American semiconductor manufacturing. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo described the impetus in response to China’s ominous ambitions: Over the past decade, China’s leaders have made clear that they do not plan to pursue political and economic reform and are instead […]
Friday, July 21 - China Select Committee Puts Tech Vulnerabilities on Full Display
Yesterday, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Community Party (CCP) held a hearing on “The Biden Administration’s PRC Strategy.” When asked if U.S. technology should go to a company that spies on the U.S. like Huawei, there was universal agreement from the witnesses: No. Huawei has become the poster child for Chinese companies that […]
Thursday, July 20 - Georgia’s Early Leadership To Prohibit Purchases of Dangerous China Tech Is An Example For Other States
As China Tech Threat (CTT) reported in February, Georgia emerged as an early leader with the passage of SB 346 to protect Georgia residents from China intrusion. Authored by State Rep. Martin Momtahan and signed into law in 2022 by Governor Kemp, the law prohibits companies owned or operated by China from bidding on state […]
Wednesday, July 19 - Kentucky Must Halt Purchases Of Dangerous Tech Due To Improper Ties To China
In June, Kentucky officials halted the payment of incentives to an electric vehicle battery facility after the U.S. Department of Energy rejected a $200 million loan for the project due to questions about improper ties to China. Kentucky should also halt purchases of restricted Chinese technology manufactured by Lexmark and Lenovo, which the state spent […]
Wednesday, July 19 - 5 Questions for Tomorrow’s Hearing on The Biden Administration’s PRC Strategy
Tomorrow, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will hold a hearing on “The Biden Administration’s PRC Strategy.” With Thea Rozman Kendler, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, set to appear before the Committee, it is virtually certain that lawmakers will probe the activities of the Bureau of Industry and Security […]
Wednesday, July 19 - Why BIS Should Put Components for Legacy Semiconductors Under Export Controls
By Steve Coonen Last week, Chairman Mike Gallagher of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party spoke a plain truth: “Every foreign business that enters China takes on a sometimes silent, sometimes not-so-silent business partner: the Chinese Communist Party.” This reality continues to play out in the legacy semiconductor space. The more that […]
Tuesday, July 18 - Arizona’s Next Steps in Stopping PRC Infiltration
Arizona is in the process of positioning itself to become a hub chip maker. Taiwan Semiconductor TSMC announced late last year their second Phoenix factory, making a $40B investment. With its position as a chip hub, the state is taking action to bolster defenses against PRC intrusion and has banned Chinese citizens from owning property […]
Friday, July 14 - House China Committee: American Businesses Risk Bolstering Chinese Military
The House of Representatives Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to expose how the CCP’s role in China’s economy harms American national security. At a hearing on July 13th, “Risky Business: Growing Peril for American Companies in China,” Chairman Mike Gallagher reinforced what American companies can expect when they do business in China: “Every foreign business that enters […]
Thursday, July 13 - Raimondo Email Hacked, Huawei-SMIC Teaming Up – China’s Not Slowing Down
Yesterday, news broke that Chinese cyberspies hacked into emails at the U.S. Commerce and State Departments. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was among those affected. According to The Washington Post, officials said the hackers were “looking for information useful to the Chinese government” and “had access to the email accounts for about a month before the issue was discovered […]
Wednesday, July 12 - Useless Export Controls Fail to Stop China from Acquiring Sensitive Emerging Technologies
By Steve Coonen “If you want it, here it is, come and get it,” sang the British band Badfinger in their 1969 song “Come and Get It.” That tune, written by Paul McCartney, might as well be the theme song for the U.S. Government’s inability to protect emerging or foundational technologies, including semiconductor technologies, from […]
Tuesday, July 11 - Wyoming Cyber Infrastructure And Data Made Vulnerable by China Tech Purchases
Recently, Microsoft warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrated government and communications organizations’ critical cyber infrastructure. Hackers are not the only cyber security threat, however. China Tech Threat’s (CTT) research shows in the last five years Wyoming spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars on restricted Chinese technology, making its data and digital infrastructure vulnerable […]
Monday, July 10 - New Mexico’s Legislators Should Follow Other States Prohibiting Purchases of Dangerous China Tech
In May, Microsoft warned that critical cyber infrastructure in government and communications organizations had been compromised by Chinese state-sponsored hackers. Not all cybersecurity threats come from hackers, though. China Tech Threat’s (CTT) research shows New Mexico spent over a million dollars on restricted Chinese technology in recent years, putting its data and digital infrastructure at […]
Friday, July 7 - Virginia Must Try Again to Prohibit Dangerous China Tech Purchases
In January 2023, Delegate Emily Brewer sponsored House Bill 2385, which would prohibit state agencies from entering into contracts for goods or services with scrutinized companies. Unfortunately, the bill was weakened by a carve out for companies approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and ultimately failed. Given the more than […]
Thursday, July 6 - Spy Balloon’s U.S. Components Point to the Need for Tougher Export Controls
By Steve Coonen, CTT Special Advisor China’s brazen violation of U.S. airspace to collect intelligence via a spy balloon has justifiably served as a clarion call for the American people to more closely scrutinize the threat to U.S. national security from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Now that the balloon is confirmed to have used […]
Thursday, July 6 - Chinese Technology Puts Maryland’s Data At Risk Of Chinese Surveillance And Collection
Late last year, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a directive prohibiting the executive branch from using and downloading certain Chinese and Russian-influenced products and platforms due to cybersecurity risks they pose. Also presenting a cybersecurity risk is the more than $60,000 worth of risky Chinese technology purchased by the state in recent years. China Tech […]
Friday, June 30 - CTT Urges South Carolina To Continue Efforts In Stopping PRC’s Infiltration
In mid-March, the South Carolina State Senate showed its commitment to combating threats from the PRC by approving a bill banning Chinese citizens from buying or controlling property in South Carolina. Its next step should be passing a law to stop the purchase of dangerous Chinese technology which is being used by the Department of […]
Friday, June 30 - Heavy Metal Beach Reading: Steve Coonen’s New Weekly Column Examines America’s Broken Export Control System
While many channel Alice Cooper with “School’s Out” as a summer anthem and get ready to kick back, the Chinese Communist Party remains steadfast in its ambition to be the dominant superpower, and chip supremacy is a top priority. As CTT Special Advisor Steve Coonen said in Willful Blindness, “The Chinese Communist Party is the […]
Thursday, June 29 - Even Small Purchases Create Data Security Risks for Rhode Island
Last month, Microsoft warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrated critical U.S. government and communications infrastructure with the goal of gathering information. Similar threats are posed by restricted Chinese technology purchased by many U.S. states, including Rhode Island, making its data and infrastructure vulnerable to Chinese infiltration. China Tech Threat’s (CTT) recent research shows between 2022 […]
Wednesday, June 28 - As Nvidia Holds Its Annual Meeting, One Shareholder Raises the National Security Risk of Serving the PRC
By Steve Coonen California-based artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia had its annual shareholder meeting on June 22. Owners of the company’s stock should have plenty to be thankful for. The explosion of investor interest in AI technologies since ChatGPT’s emergence in November of last year has caused Nvidia’s share price to climb 200% in 2023, leading […]
Wednesday, June 28 - China Evades U.S. Chip Controls – When Will We Respond?
A recent joint column for Foreign Policy makes the point that if the Biden “administration wants to succeed in holding a chokepoint over national security-sensitive supercomputing, [BIS] will have to get more creative.” That’s true, and time is ticking. To put a finer point on why, Tim Fist of CNAS, Lennart Heim of Governance of […]
Tuesday, June 27 - New York’s Spending On Risky China Tech Drops Significantly, But Goal Remains No Spending
China Tech Threat’s (CTT) initial reporting on state spending on risky Lexmark and Lenovo technology revealed that New York spent more than $28 million on technology from these manufacturers. The concerns with New York – home to the world’s financial markets, a leader in modern optics and electronics, a hub for biotech innovation, and soon […]
Monday, June 26 - PA Taxpayers’ Data At Risk of Surveillance Through Risky Chinese Technology
Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill prohibiting TikTok on state-owned devices and networks to protect Pennsylvania residents unanimously passed the Senate earlier this year. In addition to this bill, to properly safeguard taxpayers’ data, Pennsylvania should join the growing list of states passing laws to prohibit the purchase of other dangerous Chinese technology. As […]
Thursday, June 22 - Dangerous Chinese Technology Makes Ohio’s Data Vulnerable to PRC Infiltration
On May 24 Microsoft warned that China-sponsored hackers gained access to critical cyber infrastructure in U.S. government and communications organizations. Similar threats are posed by restricted Chinese technology purchased by many U.S. states, including Ohio which spent more than $200,000 dollars on dangerous PRC technology, making its data and infrastructure vulnerable to Chinese surveillance. According […]
Tuesday, June 20 - Out of the Dark, Into the Light: Exposing Vulnerabilities in the U.S. Defense Supply Chain
Two years ago, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) put China-based encryption chip maker Hualan Microelectronics on the Entity List for “acquiring and … attempting to acquire US-origin items in support of military modernization for [China’s] People’s Liberation Army.” But as WIRED’s Andy Greenberg writes, Hualan and its subsidiary Initio still supply chips to Western […]
Tuesday, June 20 - Over $10 Million Spent on Dangerous China Tech Makes Massachusetts Data Vulnerable
On May 24 Microsoft warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers compromised critical cyber infrastructure in government and communications organizations. Similar threats are posed by restricted Chinese technology purchased by many U.S. states, including Massachusetts that spent over $10 million, making its data and infrastructure vulnerable to Chinese infiltration. China Tech Threat’s (CTT) recent research reveals between […]
Monday, June 19 - $479,918 Spent By The First State Causes Security Concerns
In a February interview with Delaware Public Media, University of Delaware professor and cybersecurity expert John D’Arcy discussed the state’s recent TikTok ban for security concerns, including the Chinese government being able to obtain data from Delaware agencies or employees. The First State’s agencies’ and employees’ data is also vulnerable to Chinese theft through the […]
Thursday, June 15 - Chinese Majority Owner of Lexmark Blocked By U.S Homeland Security Department
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security blocked the import of products made by Ninestar, the Chinese owner of Lexmark International. Ninestar and eight China-based subsidiaries are blacklisted because of their “participation in business practices that target members of persecuted groups” including Uyghurs. Lexmark positions itself as an […]
Thursday, June 15 - Nearly $5 Million Spent On Restricted China Tech Puts Wisconsin Data At Risk
On May 24 Microsoft warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers compromised critical cyber infrastructure in a variety of industries, including government and communications organizations. But, not all threats to U.S. infrastructure come from hackers. China Tech Threat’s (CTT) research shows in recent years Wisconsin spent nearly $5 million on restricted Chinese technology, making its data and […]
Wednesday, June 14 - Will Japan Go Beyond U.S. in Semiconductor Export Controls?
Last October, the U.S. showed leadership on the global stage when the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued long-awaited export controls aimed to restrict the PRC’s semiconductor capabilities. Multilateral momentum followed with Japan and the Netherlands agreeing to limit exports of chip making equipment to China. More recently, The Financial Times reports that Japan […]
Tuesday, June 13 - Alabama is On The Right Track to Protect Data from the PRC
Alabama’s action to mitigate threats posed by the People’s Republic of China with Senate passage of HB 379, the Alabama Property Protection Act, is an encouraging sign the state is taking the threats seriously. Next Alabama should join the growing list of states passing laws to prohibit the purchase of dangerous Chinese technology. In a […]
Monday, June 12 - Industry Analysts See China’s Legacy Chip Sector Booming – What Will the U.S. Government Do?
Last year’s export controls on China’s advanced chip sector have been effective in denying China tools for making the most advanced semiconductors. But there has also been a negative consequence: China has ramped up efforts to dominate the legacy chip market. CNBC recently featured several analysts commenting on China’s prowess in producing legacy chips (those […]
Friday, June 9 - $18 million Spent On Risky China Tech Causes Security Concerns
The Chinese spy balloon attracted warranted attention and headlines as its path covered sensitive areas, including travel over North Carolina, which has one of largest military footprints in the country. Another threat that needs attention and action is the nearly $18 million dollars North Carolina spent on restricted Chinese technology. As detailed in China Tech […]
Thursday, June 8 - The State of Michigan is Building Momentum Against Banning Contracts with the PRC
In March of 2023, more than 100 residents in rural Michigan revolted against a decision to allow Chinese-owned firms to build a battery plant in the area, wanting to protect their land from the threats of the PRC. The revolt made it clear Michigan residents do not want ties to China within the state. One […]
Wednesday, June 7 - House China Hawks Demand Commerce Department Protect U.S. Chip Sales
Last month, Beijing announced retaliatory measures to counter the U.S.’s trade restrictions on Chinese chips. In response, leaders on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Select Committee on China are demanding the administration ensure China can’t enforce it’s ban and calling on the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to place CXMT on the Entity […]
Wednesday, June 7 - Oregon’s Spending on Restricted Chinese Technology Leaves Sensitive State Data Vulnerable
In March 2023, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined other senators in introducing the Transnational Repression Policy Act, looking to counter transnational repression as a foreign policy priority. Also a policy priority is ending Oregon’s purchasing of restricted Chinese technology making its data vulnerable to Chinese technology aggression. In a recent report, China Tech Threat […]
Monday, June 5 - Louisiana Banned Some Risky Tech But Dangerous China Tech Still Being Purchased
In 2020 and 2021, Louisiana policymakers passed two laws that banned all state government agencies and publicly funded educational institutions from buying information and communications technology and services covered under Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act. Despite these commendable efforts, the state’s data is still vulnerable due to purchases of dangerous Chinese technology. […]
Friday, June 2 - Risky Chinese Technology Purchases Put California Data At Risk
On May 6, a San Bernardino man was arrested on allegations he stole sensitive information from his Southern California employers intended to aid China. The event is an ominous reminder of the need to remain vigilant to protect sensitive information, and why California needs to take action to stop the purchase of dangerous Chinese technology. […]
Wednesday, May 31 - CTT Releases No Weak Links Paper Offering Solutions for Keeping U.S. Defense Supply Chains Free of Dangerous Chinese Technologies
[Read the full white paper here.] One of America’s greatest security vulnerabilities is the U.S. Government’s lack of knowledge of the exact components that go into the weapons and systems American military personnel depend on. Today many items used by the federal government – e.g. smartphones, batteries, vehicles, and weapons systems – contain components with […]
Tuesday, May 30 - Not Just Land And Social Media, Missouri Must Also Protect Sensitive Data From China
In February, Missouri Senate President Caleb Rowden announced the formation of the Select Committee on the Protection of Missouri Assets from Foreign Adversaries to bolster the state’s defenses against foreign enemies. While the committee’s focus is agriculture ownership and social networking sites, the state must also stop purchasing risky technology from China-owned manufacturers. China Tech Threat […]
Friday, May 26 - NO WEAK LINKS – New White Paper Coming Next Week
On February 28, Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen asked BIS Under Secretary Alan Estevez, “How many PRC chips are you comfortable having in DoD systems and critical infrastructure?” In response, Mr. Estevez said that BIS focused only on high-tech chips, basically conceding that the U.S. government intends to do nothing to curtail the Chinese legacy […]
Thursday, May 25 - Connecticut Should Ban More Than Apps To Protect Its Privacy
The Connecticut General Assembly is moving closer to a TikTok ban on state devices. About the potential ban, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said, “We hear more and more from the federal government and others about privacy concerns.” If citizens of the Constitution State knew that between 2015 and 2023, the state spent over […]
Thursday, May 25 - CTT Joins National Security Leaders In Calling for Outbound Investment Review To Prevent US Capital From Bolstering CCP
China Tech Threat’s Major General James “Spider” Marks joined the Coalition for a Prosperous America and members of the American foreign policy and national security communities in a letter to President Biden supporting an outbound investment review mechanism to protect U.S. capital from the bolstering the CCP. In the May 17 letter, the signatories wrote: […]
Wednesday, May 24 - Roslyn Layton Column: Don’t Make the Mistake of Ignoring China’s Legacy Chip Sector
“De-risking” has become the big buzzword to convey how Western democracies intend to manage their economic relationships with China. The concept is good. So why isn’t the threat of the Chinese legacy chip sector a greater part of the conversation? As Roslyn Layton writes for the Foundation for American Innovation, U.S. policymakers are ignoring a […]
Wednesday, May 24 - Nevada Should Expand Its Blacklist To Include Risky Tech from Lexmark and Lenovo
On March 6, Nevada’s CIO issued a New State Security Standard blacklisting TikTok and other applications and technology from state-owned devices, networks, and platforms, including Chinese companies already banned at the federal level. If Nevadans knew of the over $2 million their state spent on restricted Chinese technology from Lexmark, Inc. and Lenovo, Inc., they’d […]
Tuesday, May 23 - Time for Kansas To Stop Purchasing Dangerous China Tech
In December, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued Executive Order No. 22-10 prohibiting the use of TikTok on state-owned devices and networks citing the need to safeguard the security and privacy of Kansans’ data. Also in need of safeguarding is the sensitive information held by the state agencies that purchased more than $3 million worth of […]
Wednesday, May 17 - CTT Releases 50-State Analysis of Spending On Restricted Chinese Tech
Building state policy momentum to stop the spending is encouraging progress Did your state contribute to the more than $285 million states have spent on dangerous PRC-owned tech? The answer can be found in China Tech Threat’s (CTT) state research and analysis of spending on restricted Lexmark and Lenovo technology that now includes all […]
Monday, May 15 - MN Spending Millions on Risky China Tech Makes State Vulnerable
Governors in four states have recently signed into law bills to prohibit the purchase of dangerous Chinese technology that has been banned at the federal level. With Minnesota spending more than $4.5 million on this dangerous technology, the state’s lawmakers should follow the lead of 17 other states that have taken action to stop these […]
Thursday, May 11 - Vermont Was First State to Ban Chinese Tech But Can Do More
On February 16, Vermont’s Agency of Digital Services issued Cybersecurity Update Standard 2023-1 adding TikTok and WeChat to the list of technology products including Chinese manufacturers and telecom equipment its state agencies are prohibited from acquiring. Originally outlined in a 2019 directive, Vermont was the first state to enact a ban of this kind. China Tech […]
Wednesday, May 10 - “I felt like I was watching a car crash in slow motion”: Former DOD Official Exposes Broken U.S. Export Control System Strengthening the Chinese Military
For more than two decades, Steve Coonen served as a U.S. Army artillery officer and foreign affairs officer. After his active duty service, he helped lead the Pentagon’s unit charged with keeping sensitive American technologies away from our adversaries. As the Defense Technology Security Administration’s Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor for China, Steve won top performance […]
Tuesday, May 9 - Washington State Spending More than $11 Million on Dangerous Chinese Technology Puts Security at Risk
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s latest comments about the threats posed by Chinese technology companies are yet another reminder that these threats are real. Now more than ever it is important for states to take action, especially in Washington where the Office of the Secretary of State is one of many agencies spending millions on […]
Monday, May 8 - What Did Your State Spend on Restricted Chinese Technology? Find Out on May 17.
In 2020, China Tech Threat authored an original report detailing how 40 state governments purchased millions of dollars worth of technology from two Chinese government-owned companies Lenovo and Lexmark, which are restricted by the Pentagon Inspector General. While the federal government has taken steps to curtail spending on dangerous tech products and services, states have […]
Monday, May 8 - North Dakota Should Stop China Tech Purchases Like Grand Forks Stopped China Corn Mill
City council members in Grand Forks, North Dakota, last month voted unanimously to halt a Chinese company’s proposed corn mill after the US Air Force said its proximity to a military base would pose a national security risk. If North Dakotans knew of the more than 1 million the state spent on banned Chinese technology […]
Friday, May 5 - Nebraskans at Risk of Sensitive Data being Leaked to the PRC
Reports of a Chinese “police station” in Nebraska should concern residents and lawmakers in the state and serve as a warning to bolster state defenses to protect sensitive data and infrastructure. This is especially concerning as a new report shows the Nebraska State Patrol has purchased Chinese technology that has been banned by U.S. military […]
Thursday, May 4 - Colorado Should Follow Other States In Banning Chinese Technology to Protect Its Data
In February, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado called on Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, stating no “Chinese Communist Party dictates should have the power to accumulate such extensive data on the American people.” Of equal concern is the more than $4,000,000 Colorado spent on dangerous Lenovo, Inc. technology, as uncovered […]
Wednesday, May 3 - Tennessee Should Take Next Steps To Ban Chinese Tech Following TikTok Ban
In April, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed into law Bill SB0834/HB1445 banning access to platforms and apps that are hosted from China. The signing of the bills comes after continuous potential threats of data leaks to the PRC. While banning Chinese applications is a first step, Tennessee must do more. Having spent more than $330,000 […]
Tuesday, May 2 - Indiana Is 4th State in 2023 to Enact a Law Prohibiting Dangerous Chinese Tech
On May 1, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed a law to prohibit the purchase of dangerous Chinese technology that could put the state and its sensitive data at risk of intrusion by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In doing so, Indiana joins the growing list of states that have enacted similar bills in recent […]
Thursday, April 27 - Legislation Banning Chinese Technology is Necessary to Protect Hawaiian Information
In late February, it was reported that China is likely behind the unidentified green lights that were seen in the skies over Hawaii. The concern and uncertainty this caused among Hawaiians is warranted and also a reminder that they need to be addressing state vulnerabilities as reports show the PRC is increasingly targeting states as […]
Wednesday, April 26 - Skirting U.S. Export Controls, China Stockpiles U.S. Semiconductor Toolmaking Equipment
New Financial Reports Reflect Huge Profits from Selling to Chinese Chipmakers with Connections to the Chinese Military The White House’s June 2021 supply chains report noted that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) relies on the U.S. and a couple of other companies/countries to purchase the tools that allow them to manufacture their own microchips. […]
Monday, April 24 - UPDATE: New Arkansas Law Prohibiting Contracts with China Is Progress, But Loopholes Need Closed
[Updated] On April 12, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law HB 1789, a bill to prohibit contracts with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Introduced by Representative Mindy McAlindon and State Senator Gary Stubblefield, the bill demonstrates a commitment by Arkansas leaders to protect sensitive data from PRC intrusion and advances a growing […]
Friday, April 21 - Bill A5384 Will Protect New Jersey From Theft From China Tech
In January, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a cybersecurity directive to prohibit the use of technology vendors and software products and services that present an unacceptable level of cybersecurity risk to the state. Currently, Lexmark and Lenovo are not prohibited by this directive, but the $1,121,777 New Jersey has spent on dangerous technology from […]
Thursday, April 20 - New CTT Paper: Three Solutions for Confronting the Looming Chinese Legacy Chip Monopoly
Yesterday China Tech Threat released a new paper detailing the dangers a looming Chinese legacy chip monopoly poses to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. In essence, With the U.S. government exclusively targeting China’s advanced chip manufacturing sector, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) – led by SMIC, its national champion working with the Chinese […]
Wednesday, April 19 - New CTT Paper: Three Dangers of Looming Chinese Legacy Chip Monopoly
Today China Tech Threat unveiled a new resource – EveryChipMatters.com – which includes both a quick :30 explainer video for busy people and a 16-page research report for policy experts. When it comes to semiconductors, the U.S. government has focused almost exclusively on restricting China’s ability to produce advanced chips, while ignoring legacy chips. Recognizing […]
Tuesday, April 18 - China Tech Threat’s Exclusive Interview with Congresswoman Radewagen
During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on February 28, Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen asked BIS Under Secretary Alan Estevez, “How many PRC chips are you comfortable having in DoD systems and critical infrastructure?” We interviewed the Congresswoman afterwards to understand her perspective and what she hopes to achieve. Q1: What would you have […]
Thursday, April 13 - HB 86 Will Bolster Granite State Defenses Against Chinese Security Threats
WGME recently reported that Governor Sununu banned the use of TikTok and popular messaging applications from all computer devices controlled by their state governments, saying “the Chinese government may be able to access users’ personal information.” New Hampshire can take additional steps to protect the Granite State by banning state contracts with risky Chinese technology […]
Wednesday, April 12 - Prairie Infrastructure Protection Act First Step In Protecting Illinois’ Data
As reported by AP News, a former Illinois Institute of Technology student was convicted in January of acting as a spy in the U.S after having sworn his allegiance to China’s Ministry of State Security. Equally frightening is the access Illinois may be giving to the People’s Republic of China through its purchases of risky […]
Wednesday, April 12 - Iowa’s Legislators Should Prohibit All State Spending on China Tech, Not Just Educational Funds
“Mr. Chew has a long way to go before any of us are convinced that TikTok isn’t feeding data to the CCP,” Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said on March 23 during the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s questioning of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. She has good reason to be concerned. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds […]
Tuesday, April 11 - Spending on China Tech Troubling, But Texas Is Taking Action
In February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a statewide model security plan which includes a prohibited technologies list for state agencies. The list was created to address vulnerabilities presented by TikTok and other technology as the threat of Chinese access to critical U.S. information and infrastructure grows. If Texans knew their state spent $12,282,750 on […]
Tuesday, April 11 - Roslyn Layton Op-Ed: 25 Senators Support RESTRICT Act to Protect U.S. Against Tech Companies from Adversarial Nations
The 2020 President attempt to restrict TikTok with an executive order based on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act failed in court as the law was not built for today’s digital landscape of today. A new bipartisan Senate bill from Senators Thune and Warner attempts to modernize that law with Congressional oversight, define set of countries […]
Monday, April 10 - State Policy Update: Ending Contracts with PRC-Owned Manufacturers
Six weeks after publishing our landmark report (“States of Denial vs. States of Momentum”), we return to provide good news: Already in 2023 two states have enacted laws to end contracts with Chinese government-owned companies and ten more have considered the same. In just the past few weeks, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed SB […]
Friday, April 7 - More Voices Call for Action to Stop Chinese Control of Semiconductors – Including “Mid-Range Chips”
This week started with an unusual endorsement of active export controls by a prominent financial titan. Warning of the prospect of a Chinese-dominated chip market in his annual letter to shareholders, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon stated: But China, using subsidies and its economic muscle to dominate batteries, rare earths, semiconductors or EVs, could […]
Friday, April 7 - Update: Idaho’s Bill to Thwart Contracts with Chinese-Owned Companies Signed Into Law
Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed into law HB 294 that will prohibit public contracts with companies owned or operation by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Introduced by Representatives Sage G. Dixon and Edward H. Hill, the bill received overwhelming support in the House (67-7-1) and Senate (28-7). “The most important aspect of my anti-CCP […]
Thursday, April 6 - Spending On Dangerous China Tech Should Sound Legislators’ Alarms In Alaska
The Pentagon shooting down an unidentified object over the waters near Alaska rang the alarm bells about the threats to America’s security. These threats come in many forms, including through dangerous Chinese technology from Lenovo, which Alaska spent more than $1 million on between 2020 and 2023. China Tech Threat’s (CTT) recent analysis reveals Alaska […]
Thursday, April 6 - Idaho’s Bill to Thwart Contracts with Chinese-Owned Companies Advances to Governor Little’s Desk
Having already passed the House, the Senate (28-7) overwhelmingly approved HB 294 last week, so the bill is off to Governor Little’s desk. Introduced by Representatives Sage G. Dixon and Edward H. Hill, this bill would prohibit public contracts with companies owned or operation by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We anticipate the Governor […]
Wednesday, April 5 - Prohibition Of Agricultural Purchases A Good First Step, But Montana Shouldn’t Let Up
The Daily Montanan reported that a Chinese surveillance balloon was seen flying above the state within days of a hearing on a bill to prevent foreign adversaries, including China, from buying up agricultural land in Montana. While prohibiting the PRC from land purchases in Montana is a good start, the state is still at high […]
Friday, March 31 - Heritage Report Address China’s Aspirations of Tech Dominance, Part 2 of 2: State Tech Purchases
Today CTT releases our summary – Part 2 of 2 – of some of a new Heritage Foundation report, “Winning the New Cold War: A Plan for Countering China.” Today’s post focuses on prohibiting U.S. state government purchases of Chinese technology. * * * “In July 2022, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center issued a […]
Thursday, March 30 - Florida Is Leading The Fight Against Dangerous Chinese Technology, But Don’t Let Up
“At this critical point, our nation must pursue a whole-of-government approach to dealing with the China threat, with urgent action at the local, state, and federal levels,” Florida State Representative David Borrero outlined in a Miami Herald op-ed. He correctly highlights Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order as the sort of bold action required to limit China’s […]
Thursday, March 30 - Heritage Report Address China’s Aspirations of Tech Dominance, Part 1 of 2: Export Controls and Tariffs
A landmark report out this week from the Heritage Foundation points the way forward on countering the most consequential strategic threat facing the U.S. in the 21st century: the Chinese Communist Party. The ultra-comprehensive report addresses the dangers emanating from the CCP across multiple domains, including national security, economic, and homeland security arenas. Helpfully, the […]
Wednesday, March 29 - Oklahoma Moving in the Right Direction With Bills Banning Contracts With China
That the National Weather Service (NWS) is now alerting Oklahoma residents to the differences between weather balloons and spy balloons shows how concerned Oklahomans are about national security threats posed by China. While they may not be aware, they should also be concerned about the more than $587,000 in dangerous technology used in state networks. […]
Tuesday, March 28 - Idaho Bill To Restrict China Tech Advances to State Affairs Committee
In 2016, China was Idaho’s number two trade partner, and its rank has now dropped to number seven. At the same time, the Idaho State Legislature is also acting to restrict the use of dangerous China tech that opens the doors to intrusion as China Tech Threat’s recent report shows that the state of Idaho […]
Monday, March 27 - South Dakota Bill To Prohibit Dangerous China Tech Signed Into Law
On March 22, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed into law SB 189 that prohibits purchasing agencies from contracting with companies owned or controlled by certain foreign entities or governments, including China. The bill received broad support, receiving only 2 votes against it in the Senate. At the bill signing ceremony, the bill’s original sponsor […]
Thursday, March 23 - Maine Debates Bill To Stop Hemorrhaging Sensitive Info To CCP
The more than $5 million the State of Maine has already spent on dangerous Chinese technology from Lenovo was a concern raised throughout a Maine committee hearing on legislation to prohibit state contracts with companies owned or operated by the Chinese government. Maine leaders should move the bill quickly through the work session that will […]
Wednesday, March 22 - COMING SOON: New Report Demonstrates the Need to Defend Legacy Chips or Risk the U.S. Military Relying on a Chinese Monopoly
China Tech Threat will soon release a new briefing paper titled “Every Chips Matters,” urging the U.S. government to aggressively protect domestic legacy chip capacity, alongside high-tech semiconductors. Last month, Alan Estevez, Under Secretary for the Bureau of Industry and Security said, “Chips are a ubiquitous commodity at the legacy level.” The problem with Mr. […]
Monday, March 20 - Mississippi State Auditor Issues China Tech Spending Warning, Legislators Respond
In January, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White warned in the Sun Herald that government offices in his state “may be buying dangerous Chinese technology.” A recent China Tech Threat (CTT) analysis confirms there is cause for concern within findings that show Mississippi spent more than $400,000 on dangerous technology from Lexmark and Lenovo between 2018 […]
Thursday, March 16 - ME Bill To Prohibit Chinese Technology Comes As Research Reveals State Spending Millions on Dangerous Tech
On March 21, the Maine State Legislature will hold a hearing on a bill to ban the purchase of risky Chinese technology from manufacturers in the Pine Tree state. Introduced by Senator Lisa Keim, An Act to Prohibit State Contracts with Companies Owned or Operated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (LD877) […]
Tuesday, March 14 - West Virginia Must Protect State Data In Addition To Land When It Comes To PRC Threats
West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey recently introduced legislation to protect West Virginians and their property from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). As reported by the WTRF, this legislation proposes adding the PRC to a growing list of countries banned from buying natural resources, farmland, and property from the state of West Virginia. While […]
Tuesday, March 14 - Utah Spent $34 Million on Risky Chinese Tech, Time For State To Take Action
In February, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, urged the Biden Administration to implement recently passed bipartisan legislation requiring the US to develop a comprehensive strategy addressing the China threat, stating, “it drives me nuts to watch us deal with China.” This is not just an issue to be dealt with in the halls of Congress. Between […]
Tuesday, March 7 - Advanced! Advanced! Advanced! What About Legacy Chips?
If you watch what comes out of the Commerce Department on semiconductors – especially as it relates to CHIPS and export controls – you’ll notice an emphasis on advanced and leading edge chips. The U.S. aims to be the “premier destination” for leading edge chips and has “been intentional” about limiting China’s access to advanced […]
Wednesday, March 1 - HFAC Hearing Recap: McCaul Calls Out BIS on SMIC, Estevez Offers Mixed Bag on New Export Controls
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul wasted no time yesterday in taking a hard line on the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) approach to Chinese semiconductor firm Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC). Said McCaul: “In just one recent six-month time period, BIS approved licenses worth $60 billion to Huawei and $40 billion to […]
Tuesday, February 28 - Multiple News Outlets Describe How PRC Tech State Purchases Put All Americans at Risk
“When it comes to defending America from the Chinese Communist Party, Sacramento and Bismarck are no less a locus of competition than Shanghai and Beijing,” China Tech Threat principal and retired U.S. Army Major General James “Spider” Marks wrote in a recent Newsweek op-ed. The column focused on China Tech Threat’s new report that details hundreds of millions of dollars in […]
Monday, February 27 - Five Pressing Questions for BIS Director Alan Estevez
The House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) announced that BIS Under Secretary Alan Estevez will participate in a hearing on Tuesday morning at 10 AM on “Combatting the Generational Challenge of CCP Aggression.” The hearing should come as no surprise. Last June, Congressman McCaul told reporters that he planned to “focus like a laser on export […]
Friday, February 24 - New China Tech Threat Paper Details Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in U.S. State Government Purchases of Lexmark and Lenovo Equipment
On Thursday, China Tech Threat released a report rife with new research into how 28 U.S. states have created massive vulnerabilities for their citizens by purchasing at least $230 million worth of technology made by Chinese-owned and operated companies Lexmark and Lenovo since 2015. While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is capable of exploiting many […]
Friday, February 24 - U.S. Ready to Double Down on Huawei, Why Not SMIC?
The Biden administration is reportedly considering cutting Huawei, a well-known Chinese telecom giant with “inextricable ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” off from American suppliers, including the likes of Intel and Qualcomm. As a precursor, the Commerce Department is said to have told some American companies it will no longer issue licenses for U.S. […]
Friday, February 17 - Despite U.S. Export Controls, SMIC Posts Record Revenue
Last week, China’s largest chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), recorded record revenue with $7.2 billion in earnings and said it’s moving forward with expansion plans despite uncertainty in the industry. For the second year in a row, SMIC’s earnings rose over 30% despite ongoing U.S. sanctions and export controls. Contrast that with fellow Chinese […]
Wednesday, February 15 - Georgia State Rep Calls on Department to Implement Law That Restricts Use of Risky Chinese Tech
Georgia has emerged as an early leader in passing policies restricting Chinese tech infiltration. In the latest action, Georgia State Rep. Martin Momtahan who authored Georgia’s law that prohibits enterprises owned or operated by the People’s Republic of China from submitting bids for state contracts (SB 346) this week issued a letter to Georgia’s Department of Administrative Services […]
Tuesday, February 14 - COMING SOON: China Tech Threat to Release New Report on U.S. State Contracts with Chinese Tech Companies
On Thursday February 23rd China Tech Threat will release an update to our March 2020 paper detailing U.S. state government contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to buy products from Lenovo and Lexmark, which are Chinese government-owned technology companies restricted by U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, as noted in an August 2019 Pentagon report. […]
Friday, February 10 - Biden’s SOTU Should Spur More Bipartisan Action on CCP-Backed Semiconductor Companies
On the heels of the Chinese spy balloon incident, President Biden delivered his State of the Union (SOTU) address. Three welcome calls to action related to China came through: The first of the key points in President Biden’s address was the bipartisan passage of the CHIPS Act, a law designed to help increase domestic production, […]
Tuesday, February 7 - New Study Confirms China’s Ability to Spy… Through the Fridge
Chinese spy balloons have been dominating headlines over the past few days. As the New York Times reported, “Balloon Incident Reveals More Than Spying as Competition with China Intensifies.” While the U.S. recovers the balloon and takes a closer look at the findings, it will not only be interesting to know what may have been […]
Wednesday, February 1 - China’s Use of American Chips for Nuclear Programs Shows Necessity of Export Control Enforcement
Tight export control enforcement is as necessary as ever. That’s the takeaway from a blockbuster Wall Street Journal story on January 29, which brings China’s strategy of using American technologies to arm its military – and circumvent U.S. export controls in the process – into sharp focus.
Friday, January 27 - Florida’s Continued Aggressive Action To Counter Chinese Government Intrusion
During a recent news conference, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis drew fresh attention to his Executive Order (22-216) to combat Chinese intrusion and infiltration in the Sunshine State. He announced his administration is looking into banning China from purchasing not only farmland but any property in Florida. “If you look at the Chinese Communist Party, they’ve been […]
Thursday, January 26 - Should Congress Revisit, Toughen Up Section 5949 of the NDAA? A Former National Security Advisor Weighs In
Last year, the United States took a major step toward the goal of addressing the dangers posed by Chinese semiconductor makers by adding YMTC to the Entity List. We hope this action is a marker of a new era of seriousness and action as it relates to countering Chinese chip-related threats. The bipartisan momentum must continue to […]
Friday, January 20 - Biden Administration on China and Export Controls: Economic Cold War or Reflection of Reality?
As China Tech Threat readers very well know, the Biden administration issued long-awaited export controls in October designed to restrict the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) ability to purchase or manufacture high-end chips. Some have criticized the move as “a declaration of an economic cold war.” Daleep Singh, a former Biden administration Deputy National Security […]
Wednesday, January 18 - More Dangerous Than TikTok: State Legislators Make Prohibiting Risky Chinese Tech A Priority in 2023
There has been growing awareness over that past few years that states are vulnerable to intrusion by the Chinese government, starting with China Tech Threat’s 2020 report, Stealing From the States: China’s Power Play in IT Contracts. A March 2022 report by cybersecurity firm Mandiant exposed that at least six states were hacked by the […]
Tuesday, January 17 - UPDATED: Rep. Gallagher Leads New Bipartisan Panel in Congress to Counter Chinese Threats
Countering Chinese aggression will be a major issue that Republicans will pursue in 2023. In that light, it should not be surprising that now-Speaker Kevin McCarthy selected Rep. Gallagher as Chairman of the House Select Committee on China at the end of last year. Gallagher’s expertise and his ability to build bipartisan support on national […]
Friday, January 6 - New Year, New BIS Standards to Safeguard U.S. National Security
The end of 2022 brought good news for those working to keep Americans safe from Chinese tech threats: the federal government banned TikTok on federal government devices, and several state governments did the same. Most importantly, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) and 35 other Chinese entities to the […]
Tuesday, January 3 - Lenovo Quietly Remains Major Threat – And Their Products Are Everywhere
2022 ended with notable momentum from the U.S. government targeting Chinese tech threats. As examples, YMTC was added to the Entity List and TikTok was banned on federal government devices. But as Roslyn Layton writes at Forbes, we can’t neglect a massive threat hiding in plain sight – the ubiquity of Lenovo equipment in state […]

2022

Monday, December 19 - Retired General James “Spider” Marks Analyzes China’s Structure, Culture, and Intentions – and the United States’ Response
Last month, Retired General James “Spider” Marks joined China Tech Threat (CTT) as Principal. Over the course of his distinguished Army career, General Marks served America in a variety of roles in uniform, including as senior intelligence officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. General Marks has […]
Thursday, December 15 - YMTC and Other Companies Added to the Entity List
China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton issued the below statement following the U.S. Commerce Department’s announcement today that YMTC, a state-backed chip maker with close ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has been added to the Entity List, along with several other Chinese companies. “The addition of YMTC, a Chinese military-aligned chip maker, to the Entity […]
Wednesday, December 14 - Japan and the Netherlands Sign on to Export Controls; Will Multilateral Momentum for Them Continue at the WTO?
For months the U.S. Commerce Department has exerted pressure on Japan and the Netherlands to restrict the sale of advanced chipmaking equipment to China. Now that the U.S. has issued its own tough export controls targeting the likes of “bellwether” chip companies YMTC, CXMT, and SMIC, Bloomberg reports that Japan and the Netherlands will join the U.S. in issuing restrictions of their own. The importance of this […]
Tuesday, December 13 - New Report Links YMTC with Known Chinese Human Rights Violator
One year ago, a Hikvision-focused website noted that YMTC chips were being used in Hikvision products. This may not seem like a big deal on the surface – one Chinese company working with another company. It is a big deal. Why? Hikvision, an Entity Listed Chinese surveillance technology giant that’s complicit in some of the […]
Wednesday, December 7 -
Is Commerce Getting Played By The Chinese Government On Export Controls?
China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton issued the below statement following the U.S. Commerce Department’s announcement today that YMTC, a state-backed chip maker with close ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has been added to the Entity List, along with several other Chinese companies. “The Commerce Department passed the 60-day window it set for itself to […]
Tuesday, November 29 - BIS is on the Clock: Experts Assess Export Controls, Effectiveness with Regard to China
We have 7 DAYS left in the BIS Countdown that started on October 7 when the Bureau issued long-awaited export controls targeting Chinese chipmakers. Will YMTC, a national champion chipmaker, and others on the Unverified List (UVL) allow for and pass end-use checks, or will they get put on the Entity List? That’s one of […]
Wednesday, November 23 - CXMT’s Inclusion in Section 889 Amendment Shows It’s a Growing Threat
As Roslyn Layton writes in her latest column for Forbes, a battle is raging in Washington, with concerned national security experts and bipartisan legislators on one side and K Street on the other. The U.S. Congress is currently crafting this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the mammoth yearly bill that provides for America’s […]
Friday, November 18 - More U.S. Pressure Coming on YMTC – Will American Allies Join In?
YMTC is firmly in the crosshairs of both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Will the desire to stop one of the world’s most dangerous companies go international? Ever since the Biden Administration unleashed a new round of export controls targeting the Chinese semiconductor chip industry on October 7, Chinese firms have […]
Tuesday, November 15 - CTT Quick Cut Wrap Up: Experts Assess Implications of Export Controls for YMTC, Apple
The U.S. is at a key moment with its China-focused export control policy. On October 7, the Commerce Department issued a slew of new regulations targeting China’s semiconductor industry, triggering a crucial 60-day period when Commerce Department will decide whether to add firms like YMTC and CXMT to the Entity List. Meanwhile, a new Congress […]
Tuesday, November 8 - “He and His Company Should Clearly Commit Not to Proceed” – the New York Times Spotlights Apple’s Dangerous Dance with YMTC
Ever since reporting on an Apple-YMTC deal first emerged earlier this year, national security-focused experts and legislators alike have sounded the alarm on the grave damage such a partnership would hold (see CTT’s extensive report on how the Chinese government was poised to infiltrate iPhones with YMTC chips). Now the New York Times is paying […]
Monday, November 7 - BIS Under Pressure to Follow Through on New Export Control Rules
One month ago, the Department of Commerce unleashed a round of China-focused export controls which are already creating massive disruption for China’s semiconductor firms. As China Tech Threat noted in a subsequent memo, the new controls are a much-welcome step, but the Commerce Department – and specifically, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) – […]
Friday, November 4 - The FCC Makes a Statement: Support Taiwan, Fortify U.S. National Security, and Ban Invasive Chinese Tech
This week, Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr visited Taiwan to participate in meetings with Taiwanese government officials. This is the first time that a FCC Commissioner has visited Taiwan and the fourth U.S. delegation over the last several months. This U.S. delegation trip to Taiwan reinforces the importance of U.S.-Taiwanese relations as economic, strategic, and […]
Thursday, October 27 - New CTT Memo on Export Controls: “Five Areas to Watch During This Critical 60 Day Window”
On October 27, China Tech Threat released a new memo calling attention to five priority areas worthy of attention in the wake of the Department of Commerce’s new China-focused export controls issued on October 7. The new set of rules have been described as “wreaking havoc on China’s chip industry” and “strangling with intent to […]
Wednesday, October 26 - Georgetown’s CSET Scrutinizes State Spending on Banned Foreign Tech Threats
CSET Joins Heritage and China Tech Threat in Calling for State Procurement Restrictions In July 2019, the Department of Defense Inspector General published a report exposing $30+ million in military spending on commercial over-the-shelf products such as Lexmark printers and Lenovo computers. These companies are dangerous, among other reasons, because they give the Chinese government […]
Monday, October 24 - New U.S. Export Controls Complicate Xi’s Tech Ambitions
Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping’s two-hour speech to the 20th CCP Party Congress on October 16th didn’t contain too many surprises. If anything, it’s clear Xi remains committed to stiff competition with the West for control of the commanding heights of modern technologies. That control will be harder to obtain in light of […]
Wednesday, October 19 - China’s March Towards the Arctic
The Hudson Institute’s China Center and China Tech Threat recently collaborated on a conference, Dragon in the North: Assessing the Growing Chinese Threat to the Arctic Region, focused on China’s March toward the Arctic and how the region is emerging as a new flashpoint of geopolitical challenge. It featured keynote remarks by Hudson Distinguished Fellow […]
Monday, October 17 - Apple Halts Plan to Use YMTC Chips in Wake of New Export Controls; More Trouble Coming
Tech companies connected to China’s semiconductor industry have been re-evaluating operations in China ever since the U.S. Commerce Department imposed a new round of export controls targeting Chinese chipmakers. Now Nikkei reports that Apple – which had a dangerous deal in the works to buy flash memory chips from YMTC – is hitting pause on […]
Friday, October 14 - A Huge Week for American Policies on Chinese Technology, But More Must Be Done
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) made waves last Friday when it announced new (and long-awaited) export controls to restrict the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) ability to both purchase and manufacture certain high-end chips used in military applications. It also put YMTC on the Unverified List and made clear that this action could […]
Thursday, October 13 - BIS Explains New China-Focused Export Controls, Entity List Regulations
Last Friday, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) introduced new export controls to restrict the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) ability to purchase or manufacture certain high-end chips, a move which China Tech Threat applauds. This timely action also includes the addition of 31 China-based companies and institutions, including Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation (YMTC), […]
Friday, October 7 - Statement: CTT Applauds Export Control Action, Calls for BIS Vigilance and Swift Action Against Other China Tech Threats
China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton issued the below statement following the U.S. Commerce Department’s export control announcement today: “The export controls announced today signal a new era of enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the leadership of Alan Estevez, giving national security the consideration it lacked at BIS. The threats posed by Chinese military-aligned fabs […]
Thursday, October 6 - Flurry of YMTC-related Activity Suggests Coming U.S. Government Action Against YMTC
The last few weeks have seen a bevy of new stories surrounding YMTC, the Chinese chipmaker linked to the People’s Liberation Army, which Beijing dreams of turning into the most powerful memory chip company in the world. Over the summer, China Tech Threat produced a report titled “Silicon Sellout: How Apple’s Partnership with Chinese Military […]
Wednesday, October 5 - CTT Letter: Bipartisan Momentum to Tackle YMTC Gains Steam
On Tuesday, China Tech Threat sent a letter to the Department of Commerce’s Under Secretary for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Alan Estevez, urging him to place YMTC on the Entity List. China Tech Threat and others have made this call before, but we suspect growing bipartisan support will help force a more […]
Thursday, September 29 - How Restrictions on Chinese government IT Products can Support Free Trade
In September, the James Madison Institute – Florida’s top think tank – hosted their annual Tech Summit in Miami. Dr. Roslyn Layton was accompanied by Georgia Rep. Martin Momtahan, and Florida Rep. Randy Fine discussed Chinese government intrusion in US state legislatures. The panelists were asked how to square free trade with restrictions on imports. […]
Wednesday, September 28 - Bipartisan Group of Senators Urges U.S. Intelligence Community to Investigate YMTC’s Risks to National Security
Last week Senators John Cornyn, Marco Rubio, Charles Schumer, and Mark Warner sent a letter to Director of Intelligence Avril Hanes warning about the national security threat of Chinese memory chip maker YMTC and its impending partnership with Apple. Seizing on the growing awareness that Apple is preparing to put YMTC chips in the iPhone […]
Friday, September 23 - Florida Adopts Toughest Rules yet to Protect People and Organizations from Chinese Government Intrusion.
Yesterday Florida governor Ron DeSantis released Executive Order 22-216 to counter Chinese government intrusion in Florida’s computer networks. Noting the critical security threat detailed by national defense authorities and the actions taken to secure federal networks, Governor DeSantis took the step to secure Florida’s state and local government networks by preventing the exposure of government […]
Friday, September 16 - Semiconductors and Export Controls: The Time to Act is NOW
Earlier this week, Reuters wrote in an exclusive that the Biden administration is going to “hit China with broader curbs on U.S. chip and tool exports” next month. There have been several stories that the administration is considering actions of this sort, so suggesting that it is imminent is encouraging. However, the timing and scope […]
Friday, September 16 - Dr. Layton, Rep. Momtahan Join Rep. Fine to Discuss the Perils of State Contracts in Miami
The James Madison Institute – Florida’s top think tank – hosted their annual Tech Summit in Miami with a dozen distinguished speakers including Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. To address the growing China Tech Threat, Dr. Roslyn Layton was joined by Georgia Rep. Martin Momtahan and Florida Rep. Randy Fine. […]
Monday, September 12 - More Scrutiny of Apple Hugging the Chinese Communist Party
Apple’s launch of its new iPhone 14 last week served as a moment for elevated scrutiny. As China Tech Threat warned in a blog, the use of chips from the Chinese military chipmaker YMTC in the smartphone “Signals Era Of Dangerous Partnership With Chinese Military Chip Maker.” China Tech Threat wasn’t the only one sounding […]
Wednesday, September 7 - Apple’s iPhone 14 Release Signals Era Of Dangerous Partnership With Chinese Military Chip Maker
As Apple prepares to unveil its iPhone 14 smartphone at its “Far Out” event today, BusinessKorea add new scrutiny to earlier reports that Apple is compromising American security by shipping devices with chips from the Chinese military chipmaker YMTC. The new reporting suggests that the partnership is laying the foundation for further Apple devices to […]
Wednesday, August 31 - Momentum Builds Behind State Actions to Ban Risky Chinese Tech
This spring, Georgia enacted a law that prohibits companies owned or operated by China to bid on or submit a proposal for a state contract. Governor Brian Kemp signed the bill into law in May 2022, calling it “proactive step to enhance our technological and economic security.” The necessary and timely legislation is critical to […]
Wednesday, August 31 - Bringing the State-Federal Tech Threat Disconnect Discussion to Florida
Competition is hot across the U.S. as states look to attract industry and human capital fleeing California and other states. The profile of Florida, now America’s third most populous state, is rising for tech investors to park their money, entrepreneurs to start businesses, GenZers to buy a home, and parents to secure an education for […]
Friday, August 26 - The Most Dangerous Chinese Company You Haven’t Heard Of
While Chinese companies like Huawei and TikTok have grabbed headlines for threatening American national security and data privacy, the Chinese chipmaker CXMT is less well-known. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Founded in 2016, Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) was created as a “pilot demonstration” of the Made in China 2025 initiative – the Chinese […]
Thursday, August 25 - Chips Act Is the Carrot, Where’s The Stick?
Josh Rogin’s recent column on the Chips Act, “Designed to compete with China, the Chips bill falls short,” calls needed attention to multi-front battle the US must be waging to halt China’s quest to dominate global high-tech manufacturing, and help us compete and win against America’s leading adversary. While the long overdue Chips Act will […]
Thursday, August 18 - YMTC Increases Technical Capabilities While Commerce Department Dithers
A new report from Dylan Patel of SemiAnalysis paints a picture of a NAND chip market over which Chinese chipmakers like YMTC are poised to grab massive market share. Over the past few years, the NAND chip market has enjoyed explosive growth, with Patel writing that “the number of bits of NAND manufactured and shipped […]
Monday, August 8 - New Heritage Foundation Report: Chinese Technology Infiltrating State Governments
Michael Cunningham of the Heritage Foundation has written an excellent new report: “Why State Legislatures Must Confront Chinese Infiltration.” The report covers myriad Chinese influence and intrusion activities taking place inside the U.S. One of the reports key imperatives is, “Preventing companies linked to the Chinese government from obtaining contracts to build critical infrastructure or […]
Friday, August 5 - New Forbes Column: Commerce Department Inaction on YMTC Harms Americans, Shames Sec. Raimondo
For months China Tech Threat and other national security leaders have pressed the Commerce Department to put Chinese military-linked chipmaker YMTC on the Entity list. That move would prohibit U.S. firms from selling high-tech tools to YMTC – a much-needed step to protect Americans’ privacy and national security. Unfortunately, YMTC this week announced the ability […]
Tuesday, August 2 - Bipartisan Group of Senators Pushes Commerce Department to Restrict China’s YMTC
As Chinese military-backed chipmaker YMTC continues to depend on American technology to gain market share in the semiconductor sector, seven U.S. Senators have sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo characterizing the company as an “immediate threat” and urging it to be placed on the Commerce Department’s Entity List – meaning American firms would be banned from selling key technologies to YMTC.
Saturday, July 30 - ALEC Passes Model Policy to Restrict State Contracts with Chinese Government-Owned Tech Companies
China Tech Threat co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton served as an expert advisor at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Atlanta this week, explaining to state lawmakers China’s strategy to infiltrate state governments through the purchase of risky technology embedded in state level networks. Conference members considered and approved a model policy introduced by […]
Tuesday, July 26 - Update in Progress: State Contracts with Banned Chinese Tech Manufacturers
Chinese information technology vendors that have been restricted by U.S. military and intelligence networks still contract with state governments. Once the products from these vendors – such as Lexmark and Lenovo – are put to use, they can serve as backdoors to access sensitive personal and financial information held by courts, police departments, elections departments, […]
Tuesday, July 26 - China Tech Threat joins diverse group of policy scholars and organizations in support of the integrity of satellite broadband in the 12 GHz
Today China Tech Threat joined a diverse group of organizations on a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee in support of the integrity of satellite broadband in the 12 GHz band. Some 10 million U.S. households use satellite broadband today, and the number is growing. […]
Monday, July 18 - Commerce Department Reportedly Focused on SMIC, But What About YMTC and CXMT?
Reuters reports that the Commerce Department is considering banning exports of chipmaking tools to Chinese factories that make advanced semiconductors at the 14 nanometer node and smaller. This would significantly impact the ability of Chinese military-linked chipmaker SMIC from making the most advanced chips.
Thursday, July 14 - Estevez Senate Hearing: Mixed Messages on YMTC Continue
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Under Secretary Alan Estevez testified to the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday about issues related to U.S. Export Controls. There is still no clarity what the U.S. government’s stance is on Chinese military-linked chipmaker YMTC. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia told Estevez that American memory chip manufacturers have complained […]
Wednesday, July 13 - CTT Issues Memo In Advance of BIS Oversight Hearing: What is the Commerce Department’s Export Control Policy?
In advance of Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Under Secretary Alan Estevez’s appearance before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee July 14 hearing on export controls, China Tech Threat issued a memo to congressional staff and interested parties on BIS’ failure to apply China-related export controls. The memo highlights the potential dissonance between Estevez’s stated long-term priority to “stop […]
Wednesday, July 13 - CTT Requests Commerce Dept. Explain Policy Reversal
FOIA seeks disclosure of agency communications with top 3 chip machine makers WASHINGTON – China Tech Threat (CTT) called on Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to clarify the agency’s position on export control enforcement and sales of American semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) to China. The request follows Sec. Raimondo’s recent public statements, quoted in news […]
Friday, July 8 - State Leaders Warned Their Political Careers are Targets of China Influence Campaign
A July 6 notice by the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) is just the latest in a series of recent evidence of China’s aggressive campaign to exert influence at the state and local levels. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the notice follows a February U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee briefing where […]
Friday, July 8 - Take Notice: US-UK Intelligence Leaders Warn of “Immense” Threat from China
When the heads of UK and US security services make an unprecedented joint appearance to warn of growing threats from China, we should all pay attention. Earlier this week, when FBI Director Christopher Wray and MI5 Director Ken McCallum addressed an audience in London, Wray called China the “biggest long-term threat to our economic and […]
Thursday, July 7 - U.S. Government on Export Controls: “Do As I Say, Not As I Do”
Bloomberg reports that the Commerce Department’s Deputy Secretary recently flew to the Netherlands to lobby the Dutch technology company ASML from selling advanced chipmaking equipment to China. That trip raises the question – if the U.S. government is lobbying other nations to curb exports of sensitive technologies, why isn’t the Commerce Department using its power […]
Tuesday, July 5 - A U.S. National Semiconductor Strategy Must Include Export Controls
Between the chip shortages that have plagued countries around the world during the pandemic, China’s designs on conquering Taiwan (where 90% of the world’s most advanced chips are produced), and the CHIPS Act being developed in the U.S. Congress, both policymakers and ordinary citizens alike are putting a new focus on ensuring a stable supply […]
Friday, July 1 - Russia Hammered by Export Controls, But China Gets a Pass
Roslyn Layton has a new column at Forbes illustrating some incoherence on the Commerce Department’s incoherent export control policy: This week Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo kicked off the first Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) conference since the pandemic by saying that export controls “are at the red-hot center of how we best protect our […]
Tuesday, June 28 - Legislators: BIS Is Failing to Implement Export Controls; The Chinese Government Benefits
Earlier this month, Texas Representative Michael McCaul, Chairman of the China Task Force, hosted a roundtable on export controls. Featuring task force members Representatives Mark Green (TN-07), Scott Perry (PA-10) and Andy Barr (KY-6), the discussion centered on the actions that must be taken to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from obtaining critical U.S. […]
Thursday, June 16 - Time for a New Export Control Regime
Emily Weinstein and Kevin Wolf, both fellows at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), held a discussion last month entitled “A New Export Control Regime for the 21st Century.” Multilateral export controls have been around for decades. But according to Weinstein, “the current system no longer meets more complex needs.” The world’s […]
Monday, June 13 - 8 Solutions for Mitigating the Threat of an Apple-YMTC Deal
Last week China Tech Threat and the Coalition for a Prosperous America released the report Silicon Sellout: How Apple’s Partnership with Chinese Military Chip Maker YMTC Threatens American National Security. In our first blog post, we detailed Apple’s motivations for doing business with YMTC. Our second post outlined the risks of this partnership. Policymakers inside […]
Friday, June 10 - CISA Issues New Report on Chinese Hacking
As China conducted threatening aerial intercepts in the skies this week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a new report warning Chinese government-linked hackers are exploiting public and private entities to build a vast global network of compromised infrastructure. In a report about the CISA dispatch, the Washington Times’ Bill Gertz writes “Chinese […]
Friday, June 10 - Silicon Sellout Paper: The Five Risks of An Apple-YMTC Deal
On June 8th China Tech Threat (CTT) and the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) released Silicon Sellout, a report detailing the dangers of Apple’s decision to source memory chips for the iPhone from Chinese state-backed chipmaker YMTC. Our first blog post recounted the reasons Apple is entering into this deal. To recap, the company […]
Wednesday, June 8 - Silicon Sellout Report: Why Apple is Making a Deal with Chinese Semiconductor Manufacturer YMTC
Today, the Coalition for a Prosperous America and China Tech Threat have released Silicon Sellout, a new report detailing how Apple’s decision to use chips made by Chinese semiconductor manufacturer YMTC threatens to harm Americans’ security and privacy and reshape the global semiconductor market in China’s favor. To recap: Right now Apple has entered into […]
Friday, June 3 - “Silicon Sellout” Report Set to Highlight Dangers of Apple-YMTC Deal
Next week China Tech Threat and the Coalition for a Prosperous America will release a new report detailing the dangers an impending – if not already consummated – deal between Apple, the world’s largest company, and YMTC, a Chinese state-subsidized semiconductor manufacturer with deep ties to the Chinese military. The report is one the Chinese […]
Wednesday, May 25 - “They Are Going to Be on the Bad Boy List” – BIS Under Secretary Alan Estevez Hints at Tough Export Control Actions
At an event promoting the launch of the Global Tech Security Commission – a project of the Atlantic Council and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy – former State Department Under Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Keith Krach interviewed Alan Estevez, currently the Commerce Department’s Under Secretary Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In […]
Wednesday, May 25 - Entity-Listed Hikvision Stays in the News for Complicity in Human Rights Abuses
This week the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation released an explosive new trove of documents detailing more of the Chinese government’s horrific abuses of Uyghur Muslims inside Xinjiang. The Commerce Department wisely added Hikvision, the Chinese surveillance technology giant, to the Entity List in 2019 for complicity in the Xinjiang nightmare – some of the […]
Thursday, May 19 - 4 State Policy Ideas to Counter China Tech Threats
China Tech Threat (CTT) released a memo to state policymakers offering four specific policy ideas to counter China threats at the state level. CTT has been closely tracking the state-federal tech threat disconnect, and warning that while federal agencies and the U.S. military have rightly taken action to restrict the use of tech makers with […]
Wednesday, May 18 - BIS Leader Previews New Civil Penalties for Export Control Violations
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Matthew Axelrod, sounded all the right notes at a speech to the Society for International Affairs on May 16th. Recognizing that adversaries like Russia and China advance their own interests at the expense of the United States, Axelrod previewed strengthened civil […]
Tuesday, May 17 - GA State Rep. Momtahan Explains State Solutions To Counter China Tech Threats
China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton talked with Georgia State Representative Martin Momtahan just days after Governor Brian Kemp signed into law his bill, SB 346, that will prohibit the State of Georgia or any state agencies from contracting with any company owned or operated by the Chinese government. During the conversation, Rep. Momtahan explains […]
Thursday, May 12 - Chinese Government Subsidies in the Semiconductor Industry: Bad for American Companies and Competitiveness
Last month, Stephen Ezell, Vice President for Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Much of his testimony addressed how Chinese government subsidies in its homegrown semiconductor industry has damaged American companies and the marketplace in general. The problem, according to Ezell, is […]
Tuesday, May 10 - Is BIS Edging Closer to Putting YMTC on the Entity List?
Is BIS Edging Closer to Putting YMTC on the Entity List? The Information reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce is weighing restrictions on the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) to YMTC, China’s national champion semiconductor manufacturer known to have close ties with the Chinese military. These restrictions, which would also reportedly apply to […]
Friday, May 6 - Lenovo to Benefit from the PRC’s Indigenous Tech Ultimatum. Will Democratic Countries Respond?
Early this morning, Bloomberg reported, “China has ordered central government agencies and state-backed corporations to replace foreign-branded personal computers with domestic alternatives.” The directive, claims Bloomberg, is consistent with China’s “sweeping effort to reduce its dependence on geopolitical rivals such as the U.S. for everything from semiconductors to servers and phones.” Lenovo Consolidates Chinese Market […]
Friday, May 6 - U.S. Sanctions Set to Bite Hikvision – But Bigger China Tech Threats Like YTMC Still Loom
The Financial Times reports that the U.S. government is preparing to sanction Hikvision, the Chinese surveillance technology giant. If enacted, these sanctions would cause an untold number of companies and foreign governments to run the risk of being sanctioned themselves, should they continue to use Hikvision equipment. There will be no choice but for companies […]
Monday, May 2 - BIS Can Take Action to Stop China from Surpassing the U.S. in Artificial Intelligence
China Tech Threat’s Future of BIS project recently released a new paper about the need to “Build an AI Workforce at BIS to Strengthen Controls and Stop Illicit Acquisition of American Artificial Intelligence Technologies.” To recap, AI is a critical technology for achieving economic and military advantages. China already spends billions every year to integrate AI components into […]
Wednesday, April 27 - YMTC Threat Continues to Grow; American Companies May Be Breaking U.S. Law
The Financial Times reports that the U.S. government is examining whether YMTC, a Chinese state-owned semiconductor manufacturer with deep ties to the Chinese military, is supplying Chinese telecom giant Huawei with chips for its 20e phone. If true, that relationship poses enormous legal risk for American companies currently doing or hoping to do business with […]
Friday, April 22 - Genocide of Uyghur Muslims Shows Why China Must Not Lead the World in AI
China Tech Threat’s Future of BIS project came out with a new paper earlier this week: “Build an AI Workforce at BIS to Strengthen Controls and Stop Illicit Acquisition of American Artificial Intelligence Technologies.” AI is an important technology. Countries which can execute AI effectively will seize leadership in military and commercial domains. Sadly, China has already […]
Tuesday, April 19 - The Future Ruler of the World?
China Tech Threat’s Future of BIS project is out today with a new paper: “Build an AI Workforce at BIS to Strengthen Controls and Stop Illicit Acquisition of American Artificial Intelligence Technologies”. AI – which essentially causes machines to perform human-like functions – is one technology that is poised to live up to the hype. […]
Wednesday, April 13 - PLA in Your iPhone? CTT Launches New Site on the Implications of Apple’s Negotiations with Chinese “National Champion” YMTC
Late last month a report surfaced that Apple is in talks with China’s “national champion” semiconductor maker, Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), to provide chips for its next iPhone. This week, China Tech Threat (CTT) is launching a new site to track Apple’s negotiations with YMTC, what’s at stake for the U.S. from national security […]
Wednesday, April 6 - CTT Quick Cut: BIS Is at an “Inflection Point,” Should “Rebalance Economics and Security”
Last week Congress confirmed Alan Estevez to serve as Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, finally filling the top post at the “most important agency most Americans have never heard of.” Mr. Estevez’s confirmation comes at a critical juncture, and he inherits a full slate of issues to address. China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. […]
Friday, April 1 - China Tech Threat Applauds Confirmation of Alan Estevez to Lead BIS
China Tech Threat applauds the confirmation of Alan Estevez to lead the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is the most important agency most Americans have never heard of. Mr. Estevez brings unprecedented experience to the role with some 30 years in defense, supply chain, and logistics. It has been 5 […]
Wednesday, March 30 - March 2022 Newsletter
YMTC Chips May Be In The Next iPhone. Light Reading’s Iain Morris broke news based on a recent Credit Suisse report that Apple, the world’s most valuable company, is in talks to use YMTC chips in the iPhone 14. YMTC is a known Chinese military fab. As Morris aptly put it, “YMTC’s presence in the best-selling smartphone would look […]
Tuesday, March 29 - Apple Reportedly Considering Sourcing Chips for Next iPhone from China’s “National Champion”
Apple, the world’s most valuable company, is considering sourcing memory chips for its iPhone 14 from Yangtze Memory Technologies Company (YMTC), according to a recently uncovered Credit Suisse report. The report, which was obtained by industry news outlet Light Reading, states that “YMTC could start supplying memory for new iPhone models in 2022.” Noting that […]
Wednesday, March 23 - Momentum Builds in Washington to Protect and Re-Shore Semiconductor Supply Chains
Both the Biden Administration and the U.S. Congress are focused on reducing the national security risk from China-based semiconductor supply chains. On March 17th, a bipartisan group of members of Congress introduced the Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors Act (FABS Act), a piece of legislation designed to “drive long term investment into the United States for the […]
Wednesday, March 23 - CTT Conversations: The NVIDIA Hack and the National Security Catastrophe
The hack of NVIDIA has exposed the blueprints of a $580 billion semiconductor juggernaut, putting some of America’s most valuable chip designs at risk of appropriation by Chinese government entities and others. CTT sat down with Dylan Patel, a leading semiconductor industry analyst and Daniel Markus, lead China Task Force staffer to discuss mitigating the impact of this hack.
Tuesday, March 22 - The Impending NAND Apocalypse Reinforces China’s Drive for Global Tech Supremacy
Dr. Roslyn Layton recently talked with Dylan Patel, a leading semiconductor industry analyst, about the evolving nature of the semiconductor industry as it relates to security, technology, and the recent NVIDIA hacks. During the conversation, Patel also highlighted the NAND market and impending “NAND Apocalypse” given China’s investment vis-a-vis their “Made in China” plan. He […]
Thursday, March 17 - Hiring! U.S. Semiconductor Toolmaker Seeks Engineer to Support Chinese “National Champion”
Three years after Lam Research opened a training center in China to provide customers with “technical guidance and training,” the American semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) maker is seeking an engineer dedicated to supporting Yangtze Memory Technologies Company (YMTC). YMTC, a Chinese “state champion” chipmaker, has emerged as a key player in the People’s Republic of […]
Thursday, March 17 - Lenovo Appears to Still Be Selling Technology to Russia. That Should Warrant U.S. Scrutiny
Following pleas from the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister to stop supplying Russia, Taiwanese PC maker ASUS announced this week that it has ceased shipments and will abide by “all international regulations.” The same cannot be said of China’s Lenovo, the world’s largest personal computer manufacturer—at least not with certainty. Despite reports that Lenovo stopped sales […]
Wednesday, March 16 - Two New Reports Underscore Chinese Communist Party’s Drive for Global Tech Supremacy
Both the U.S. government and independent academic researchers are telling the world what it needs to hear – China’s drive for dominance in the tech sector is a grave threat to American national security and free people everywhere. Let’s start with the newly released Director of National Intelligence’s Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) – a yearly […]
Monday, March 14 - GA on the Cusp of Bolstering the State Against China Tech Threats as Reports of New PRC Hacks Emerge
In February, the Georgia State Senate and House Rules Committee passed legislation, SB 346, that will prohibit the State of Georgia or any state agencies from contracting with any company owned or operated by the Chinese government. Led by State Senator Jeff Mullis and State Representative Martin Momtahan, the legislation is poised for consideration on the House […]
Monday, March 14 - #VoteEstevezNow: Our Adversaries Benefit from the Senate’s Delay
As the crisis in Ukraine continues, more eyes are turning towards China. Over the weekend, The Washington Post reported that Russia is seeking military equipment and aid from China. Eric Sayers, a former advisor to the U.S. Indo Pacific Command, is quoted by The Post as saying, “If Beijing is offering any type of military […]
Friday, March 11 - Threat Tech Disconnect: States Are “Buying the Stuff That’s Going to Create Problems”
Despite federal actions to prevent government agencies from purchasing potentially vulnerable Chinese-made technology, inconsistent state- and local-level policies have created security gaps that put citizens’ personal information at risk. This disconnect was the focus of the latest installment of China Tech Threat’s Quick Cut series on Wednesday, The Tech Threat Disconnect. “It’s time for us […]
Thursday, March 10 - Heritage Foundation Report Exposes the CCP’s Self-Dealing and Authoritarian Push at the International Telecommunications Union
The International Telecommunications Union isn’t well-known, but it’s one of the most important multilateral bodies in the world. The ITU is the forum in which nations come together to set technological standards which govern the global telecommunications ecosystem – including the internet. Rules set at the ITU are what allow digital technologies to function across […]
Thursday, March 3 - The Clock is Ticking: #VoteEstevezNow
This week China Tech Threat (CTT) launched a new campaign around the urgency for the Senate to confirm the next Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). It has been five years since the last confirmed BIS Director and seven months since President Biden nominated Alan Estevez, a national […]
Wednesday, March 2 - Bipartisan Senate Letter Adds New Round of Pressure on Chinese Dronemaker DJI
Action to restrict Chinese Dronemaker DJI are coming from all corners of the U.S. government. The latest move comes from a bipartisan group of U.S. senators who are calling on the Department of Transportation to prohibit taxpayer-funded grants from being used to fund drones manufactured by companies controlled by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Use of these […]
Friday, February 25 - Russia Tech Export Restrictions Have A Weakness: No BIS Leader Yet
The centerpiece of President Biden’s new round of Russia sanctions is a complete embargo on selling semiconductors to Russia. While the sanctions by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will deliver a powerful punch to Russia, they also expose a weakness: BIS, the enforcer of export controls as tools for our national security […]
Thursday, February 24 - Next Week: “Give Alan Estevez Up-or-Down Vote” Special Series
More than seven months after President Biden nominated Alan Estevez to serve as Undersecretary for Industry and Security, Mr. Estevez has yet to receive a confirmation vote in Congress. Next week China Tech Threat is launching a new special series, Give Alan Estevez an Up-or-Down Vote, meant to track the time this important post has […]
Thursday, February 17 - GA, NY Taking Action To Eliminate Risky Chinese Tech Contracts
As tensions between the U.S. and China escalate by the day, the Biden Administration has been making a push to crack down on U.S. trade with Chinese companies that only support the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its enhancement of military capabilities that directly threaten our national and economic security. This approach is recognized […]
Monday, February 14 - BIS Agenda Recommendation #3: Strengthen Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Restrictions to Stop China’s Self-Sufficiency
Today, China Tech Threat released the third installment in its continuing policy recommendation series intended to help leaders at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to prevent adversaries from acquiring and weaponizing sensitive U.S.-made technologies. Semiconductors are critical to power virtually all forms of modern technology, from everyday devices like […]
Friday, February 11 - Coming Next Week: CTT’s Third Installation in Our Policy Recommendation Series for Incoming BIS Leaders
The third policy recommendation from China Tech Threat to help leaders at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prevent adversaries from acquiring and weaponizing sensitive U.S.-made technologies, will be launched next week. This recommendation will reinforce a continued need for policymakers to strengthen the U.S. export control regime to better […]
Thursday, February 10 - 5 Takeaways on the FCC’s Rip and Replace Program
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a statement that 181 telecom providers submitted applications to its Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. This program was established to cover the costs of removing, replacing, and disposing of insecure equipment and services in US networks. Reimbursement requests totaled some $5.6 billion, almost three times the $1.9 billion budgeted.
Tuesday, February 8 - China Launches Agency to Recruit Foreign Chipmakers, Targets Major U.S. Companies
The People’s Republic of China will soon launch a special organization to attract foreign semiconductor makers and investment, Asia Nikkei reported this month. The “Cross-Border Semiconductor Work Committee”—a collaboration among the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, and Tsinghua University—will work to strengthen cooperation between the PRC and foreign chipmakers, with the end goal of building a self-sufficient supply chain.
Thursday, February 3 - Updated: Chinese Dronemaker DJI Obscured Chinese Government Funding Reports Show
A new report by the Washington Post now reveals that DJI obscured its Chinese government funding while claiming that Beijing had not invested in the firm. The story follows the review of company reports and analysis by the IPVM research group. IPVM has recently been in the news for its record of published investigations on how Hikivision and Dahua technology are being used to support the surveillance and internment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, thus deeming them a national security risk by the FCC and subject to the revocation of FCC equipment authorizations. Charles Rollet, the IPVM analyst who uncovered the links between DJI and the Chinese government investments told the Washington Post, “DJI has been saying they have no Chinese government investments. This evidence directly contradicts that.”
Wednesday, February 2 - As Biden Pushes Congress to Strengthen U.S. Semiconductor Industry, Reports Indicate Divisions on China Policy
As the Biden Administration begins a push on Capitol Hill to bolster U.S. competitiveness against China, Axios reports that a recent dispute among senior advisors may signal disagreement in the White House over trade policy. With support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the White House recently urged members of […]
Wednesday, February 2 - Chinese Dronemaker DJI Obscured is Chinese Government Funding Reports Show
In October, FCC commissioner Brendan Carr participated in a China Tech Threat panel where he announced the agency will commence a process to add Chinese dronemaker DJI to the agency’s “Covered List” of restricted equipment producers. Calling DJI a “Huawei on wings,” Carr cited the vast amounts of information collected by drones and how DJI […]
Thursday, January 20 - Next Recommendation in BIS Agenda Series: Publish Emerging and Foundational Technology Lists
Today, China Tech Threat released the second in a series of policy recommendations meant to help leaders at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prevent adversaries from acquiring and weaponizing sensitive U.S.-made technologies. BIS Agenda Recommendation 2: Within 90 days of starting, the new BIS Director should publish Congress’ required lists of emerging […]
Wednesday, January 19 - Axios cites CTT: Lawmakers warn of states using risky Chinese tech
Drawing on the recent publication of a letter from Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Axios China reporter Bethany Allen- Ebrahimian published a piece about states continuing to purchase risky Chinese technology. The […]
Wednesday, January 19 - China Subverting US Efforts to Promote Secure Equipment
Surveillance technology trade publication IPVM is attracting new attention for its work to expose how video surveillance companies Hikvision and Dahua, which are deliberately sowing confusion in the marketplace and flouting our national security laws. They do this by making false claims to the FCC about their Entity List status and marketing those claims as […]
Friday, January 14 - Coming Next Week: CTT’s Second Installation in Our Policy Recommendation Series for Incoming BIS Leaders
The second policy recommendation from China Tech Threat to help leaders at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prevent adversaries from acquiring and weaponizing sensitive U.S.-made technologies, will be launched next week. This recommendation explores a key policy issue for BIS: the process and efficacy to control new and innovative […]
Tuesday, January 4 - UPDATED: Chinese Conditions on SK Hynix-Intel Deal Demands CFIUS Re-Review
This is an updated version of a previous post found here. Stipulation to “Help a Third Party Competitor” Enter the Market Requires New Investigation Thousands of words have been spilled by China Tech Threat and our allies demonstrating that semiconductor design and manufacture are among the U.S.’ most important strategic assets. The National Counterintelligence and […]
Tuesday, January 4 - Chinese Conditions on SK Hynix-Intel Deal Demands CFIUS Re-Review
See updated version of this story here. Stipulation to “Help a Third Party Competitor” Enter the Market Requires New Investigation Thousands of words have been spilled by China Tech Threat and our allies demonstrating that semiconductor design and manufacture are among the U.S.’ most important strategic assets. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center recently reaffirmed […]

2021

Tuesday, December 21 - Biden Administration’s Year End Push To Crack Down On China Tech Threats
As 2021 draws to a close, the Biden Administration appears to be making a push to crack down on U.S. trade with Chinese tech companies that only support the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its enhancement of military capabilities that directly threaten our national and economic security. China Tech Threat is encouraged by these […]
Friday, December 17 - Is the Biden Administration Finally Going to Crack Down on China’s Chipmakers?
Bloomberg reports that the National Security Council (NSC) was set to meet yesterday to discuss tougher restrictions on China’s largest chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC). In September 2020, China Tech Threat described how China’s semiconductor sector is integrated with its military and noted the important report on SMIC by military intelligence expert James Mulvenon. […]
Wednesday, December 15 - BIS Policy Recommendation: Strengthen Export Control Enforcement to Deter Violations
Today, China Tech Threat released the first in a series of policy recommendations meant to help leaders at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prevent adversaries from acquiring and weaponizing sensitive U.S.-made technologies. · BIS Agenda Recommendation 1: Strengthen Enforcement to Detect, Identify and Deter Export Control Violation Export controls […]
Wednesday, December 15 - Exclusive: NY Reps. Call on Governor Hochul to Bolster State Cyber Protections
Members of New York’s Congressional Delegation today issued a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul requesting details about the state’s “lax practices relating to IT cybersecurity and espionage protections” and purchases of restricted information technology equipment. It is being sent as the state looks to allocate new federal funding for IT systems after already […]
Tuesday, December 14 - Coming This Week: CTT Launches Policy Recommendation Series for Incoming BIS Leaders
The Department of Commerce’ Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is the most important government agency most Americans have never heard of. Responsible for setting export control policies, enforcing treaty compliance and supporting U.S. technological leadership, the BIS plays a key role in maintaining the balance among U.S. innovation, commerce and national security interests. This […]
Tuesday, December 7 - Lenovo: “An American security threat”
In a piece published over the weekend, an analysis reports that Lenovo continues “not shy away from its deep Chinese military ties” an remains a serious security threat to Americans across the country. Throughout the piece, the authors emphasize the continued grip that the Chinese Communist Party has on companies across the People’s Republic of […]
Monday, December 6 - National Security Experts Urge FAA to Resolve 5G Rollout Concerns
Following the 30-day pause of the rollout of 5G in the C-band, a group of national security experts including former Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) and several retired generals wrote to the White House, expressing deep concern about the national security implications of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) flawed assertions that aviation safety could be at […]
Friday, December 3 - Secretary of the U.S. Army: “We are in a competition with China that has far reaching consequences.”
This week Army Secretary Christine Wormuth joined Bonny Lin, Director at CSIS’ China Power Project, for a discussion on “China’s Power: Up for Debate 2021.” Secretary Wormuth delivered keynote remarks on the challenges posed by China’s growing power and the provided the view from the United States Army. From the outset, both Dr. Lin and […]
Thursday, December 2 - CTT Founder Pens Op-Ed In The Tennessean: Tennessee Remains at Risk
The Tennessean, Tennessee’s largest newspaper, published a critical opinion piece by China Tech Threat founder, Roslyn Layton. In her piece entitled “Despite warnings, Tennessee leaders not taking cyberthreats seriously”, Dr. Layton outlines the history of Tennessee to buy into risky contracts with insecure technology vendors, and the impact that that has on citizens across the state. […]
Monday, November 29 - BIS Adds 12 Chinese Companies to the Entity List
Last week, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), within the Dept. of Commerce, added a dozen Chinese companies on the Entity List over national security and foreign policy concerns. The action comes as we await confirmation of Alan Estevez to assume leadership of the relatively unknown, but increasingly crucial agency. One of these companies […]
Monday, November 22 - China’s AI startups face few barriers to buy American tech; BIS, DoD, and Treasury on the sidelines
An explosive new report, Harnessed Lightning: How the Chinese Military Is Adopting Artificial Intelligence, from the Center for Security & Emerging Technology (CSET) is a wake-up call to America’s national security and strategic trade control policymakers. The report demonstrates how thousands of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startups can access American technologies, including advanced DRAM semiconductors. […]
Monday, November 8 - White House: The US must be Relevant Against China in SMEs
At an event hosted by AT&T last week, key members of the Biden Administration offered an update on Capitol Hill and Administration activity to address ongoing semiconductor supply chain and ICT issues. Speakers included Sreenivas Ramaswamy, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary at the Department of Commerce; Peter Harrell, Senior Director for International Economics […]
Thursday, November 4 - China Tech Threat Outreach: Assessing Cyber Risk in TN, NJ and ME
Yesterday China Tech Threat sent 29 emails to the Tennessee, New Jersey and Maine congressional delegations. In the emails, China Tech Threat explained that these states have unwittingly purchased vulnerable equipment from Lenovo and Lexmark, vendors restricted by US military and intelligence authorities because of risk of cyber intrusion from actors in the People’s Republic […]
Wednesday, November 3 - Air Force’s GPS Do-Over Serves as Reminder of the Cost of Insecure Technology
In August 2019, a Pentagon report fretted over $30+ million spent by military personnel on Lexmark printers and Lenovo computers that had been banned from US military and intelligence networks. Since that time, China Tech Threat has explored how both companies have continued to sell $50 million worth of equipment to nearly forty states. We […]
Tuesday, November 2 - The Secure Equipment Act of 2021: From House to Senate to the President’s Desk
Last week, the Senate moved quickly to pass by unanimous consent The Secure Equipment Act of 2021, just eight days after the House of Representatives passed it 420-4. The legislation now moves to President Joe Biden’s desk for him to sign into law. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation empowers the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to […]
Monday, October 25 - WSJ: House Republicans Tell Commerce Dept. to Get Tougher on China
According to an article published today in the Wall Street Journal, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are continuing to apply pressure to the Commerce Department to fortify export controls. In a letter led by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and a group of top Republicans called for the “strengthening of export controls on semiconductors.” […]
Wednesday, October 20 - CTT Panel: U.S. Policymakers Should Focus on “Chokepoint Technologies”
During China Tech Threat’s “Unacceptable Risk: Expanding the FCC’s Covered List to Reflect Reality” forum Tuesday, participants roundly supported expanding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “Covered List.” Panelists Colin Andrews (Telecommunications Industry Association – TIA), Jordan Brunner (national security attorney), Martijn Rasser (Center for New American Security – CNAS), and Emily Weinstein (Georgetown Center for […]
Wednesday, October 20 - FCC Commissioner: DJI is “Huawei on Wings”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will commence a process to add SZ DJI Technology Company (DJI), the world’s largest drone maker, to the agency’s “Covered List” of restricted equipment producers, Commissioner Brendan Carr announced during a roundtable forum hosted yesterday by China Tech Threat. “DJI is ‘Huawei on wings,’” Commissioner Carr stated. “Most people don’t […]
Tuesday, October 19 - China Tech Threat Lauds FCC Calls to Expand “Unacceptable Risk” Threat List
Commissioner Carr calls for agency to add drone maker DJI to Covered List China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton today lauded Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr’s announcement that SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. or Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd. (“DJI”) should be added to the FCC’s “Covered List” of restricted equipment providers. […]
Wednesday, October 13 - NJ, ME, TN Continue to Dodge FOIA Requests
In 2019, China Tech Threat released a report on the failure of states to scrutinize the purchase of products and services from risky Chinese information technology vendors Lenovo and Lexmark which have been banned from U.S. military and intelligence networks for their connections with the Chinese government and military. The alarming fact is, despite being […]
Monday, October 11 - 5 Key Takeaways from President Biden’s Export Administrator Nominee
This week the Senate Banking Committee advanced Thea Kendler, President Biden’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, for a full Senate confirmation vote later this fall. If confirmed, Ms. Kendler will help shape export control policy, a frontline defense against the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) weaponization of U.S. technologies. […]
Friday, October 8 - BIS Nominee “Deeply Concerned” about China’s Military-Civil Fusion Threat
By a voice vote on Tuesday, the Senate Banking Committee endorsed Alan Estevez and Thea Kendler to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security (BIS) and as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, respectively. The vote advances President Biden’s nominees—who, if confirmed, will play pivotal roles in shaping U.S. export control […]
Friday, October 8 - Upcoming Event: Unacceptable Risk: Expanding the FCC’s Covered List to Reflect Reality
Spoiler alert: it is not a list any company would want to be on… Join us for an upcoming event on Tuesday October 19, 2021 at 11:30 AM ET. Roslyn Layton will be joined by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and other prominent national security experts for a discussion about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s plan […]
Tuesday, October 5 - Semiconductors: Experts Weigh How US-EU Can Beat China
China Tech Threat co-founder Dr. Roslyn Layton joined Horizon Advisory’s Emily de La Bruyère and the National Security Institute’s David Hanke for a discussion on How the U.S. and E.U. Can Win Against China hosted by the Octavian Report and moderated by its Editorial Director Sam Munson. The panel discussed a trans-Atlantic strategy to address […]
Friday, October 1 - Hudson Institute’s Arthur Herman on Decoupling from China
Last week China Tech Threat founder Roslyn Layton sat down with Hudson Institute’s Arthur Herman. They discussed his recently launched Hamilton Commission, the #FutureofBIS and the importance of the U.S decoupling from China and ensuring that companies such as YMTC cannot enter the U.S market. See full discussion below:
Monday, September 20 - China Tech Threat & Blue Path Labs File FCC Comment on Chinese Tech Loophole
Today, China Tech Threat filed comments with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on proposed rules that would prohibit all future authorizations for communications equipment deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk to national security.” In June, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on a proposal to prohibit […]
Friday, September 17 - Part II: More Experts Weigh in on Estevez for Top BIS Position
Alan Estevez will appear before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday as the nominee to lead the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) during the Biden administration. What are people saying about his nomination and what that means for the future of BIS? Last week, China Tech Threat published assessments from two risk management experts. […]
Monday, September 13 - Part II: USCC Hearing on Export Controls – Kevin Wolf’s Insight
Late last week China Tech Threat published a blog outlining the testimony given by Jeremy Pelter, Acting Undersecretary and Deputy Undersecretary, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at a U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) hearing entitled “U.S.-China Relations in 2021: Emerging Risks.” While Mr. Pelter gave insight into BIS’ actions from a current […]
Friday, September 10 - Part I: USCC Hearing on Export Controls – Jeremy Pelter’s Insights
Earlier this week the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing entitled “U.S.-China Relations in 2021: Emerging Risks.” In a panel entitled Administration Views on U.S. Export Controls, Jeremy Pelter, Acting Undersecretary and Deputy Undersecretary, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) discussed the growing use of BIS to curb the sale of sensitive technology to China. Mr. […]
Friday, September 10 - Part I: Risk Management Experts Assess Estevez for Top BIS Position
Alan Estevez was nominated to be the next Undersecretary of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at the Department of Commerce, an important but little-known federal agency responsible for export control, treaty compliance, and leadership in strategic technology. Not a lawyer steeped in the statues of export controls, Estevez is considered an interesting choice […]
Wednesday, September 1 - House Hearing on SMEs and National Security: National Security is Paramount
The House Intelligence Committee held a hearing on the subject of microelectronics and national security. The witnesses included the Center for Security and Emerging Technology’s Will Hunt, Semiconductor Industry Association’s David Isaacs, and former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Dr. Lisa Porter. The hearing was yet another opportunity to shine light on the critical […]
Thursday, August 26 - Who’s to blame for “toothless” export controls?
A recent opinion piece by Financial Times Greater China correspondent Kathrin Hille makes some powerful assertions. In “Huawei woes hide ‘toothless’ US export controls against Chinese tech,” she asserts: Huawei’s revenues are in “free fall” from the Entity List designation. The US should not construe this as a victory in its “technology war” with China. […]
Thursday, August 19 - “The Chinese are in a Massive Campaign in Collecting Data”: Part II of Vlog Series on Banking Cybersecurity
In the second vlog of our High Tech Heist Series on Banking Cybersecurity, Dr. Roslyn Layton sat down with Congressman Robert Pittenger to discuss the growing threat of Chinese data collection and the ways in which we can prevent rising technology issues. From 2013-2018, Congressman Pittenger represented the Charlotte, NC area, the country’s second-largest banking […]
Tuesday, August 3 - CNAS’ New Report Proposes a “whole-of-nation approach” on Tech Competition
Last week the Center for New American Studies (CNAS) published its third report in the series entitled U.S. National Technology Strategy project. The latest report, From Plan to Action: Operationalizing a U.S. National Technology Strategy, “focuses on concrete and pragmatic measures that U.S. policymakers should take to operationalize a national technology strategy.” The executive summary […]
Friday, July 30 - Biden Nominates China Trade and Export Control Professional to BIS
This week President Biden nominated former Justice Department prosecutor Thea Kendler as assistant secretary for export administration at BIS. If confirmed, she would lead the export arm of BIS, an increasingly important role as US-China tensions rise. This announcement comes off the back of Biden’s nomination of Alan Estevez earlier this month. In a statement on his […]
Friday, July 30 - Dr. Layton Pens Op-ed About the #FutureofBIS
This morning Real Clear Defense published an op-ed by China Tech Threat founder, Dr. Roslyn Layton. The op-ed, entitled “Can Strategic Trade Nominee Lead Crucial Agency to Compete with China?” examines and explains the importance of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). As Dr. Layton notes the “once a relatively […]
Thursday, July 29 - CTT Research Memo Finds Three Main Lessons on BIS Nominee Alan Estevez
Two weeks ago, President Joe Biden nominated Alan Estevez as the director of BIS. On that day, China Tech Threat hosted an online panel of four previous BIS directors’ views on Mr. Estevez’s pending challenges. (China Tech Threat’s coverage of the BIS nomination, opinions, news articles, and expert videos can all be found at chinatechthreat.com/future-of-bis/.) In […]
Wednesday, July 21 - China Tech Threat Headlines International Event On Global Security Challenges
Last month, China Tech Threat’s Co-Founder John Strand spoke about the future security challenges at the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) at the Latin American Parliament, or Parlatino, in Panama. The gathering brought together leading US Senators like Bill Cassidy and Marco Rubio; the President of Panama Laurentino Cortizo, members of the European Parliament, and international […]
Tuesday, July 20 - US and Allies Accuse China of Major Cyberattacks
Yesterday, the U.S., NATO and other allies are came together to call out China for malicious cyberattacks, including a March attack that exploited a flaw in Microsoft’s Exchange Server. It’s the first time that NATO has signed onto a formal condemnation of China’s cyber activities. They authorities are detailing more than 50 different techniques that […]
Thursday, July 15 - The Hill and White House Get Tighter on the CCP’s Abuses
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) on Monday urged Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to add Chinese chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies Company (YMTC) to the department’s Entity List, citing ties to the Chinese military. The lawmakers wrote in the letter that urgency is needed to make sure memory chip supply does not become a “point […]
Wednesday, July 14 - CTT Roundtable: U.S. Can’t ‘Balance National Security with Sales’
Dr. Roslyn Layton hosted a roundtable discussion yesterday, How Should BIS Evolve to Ensure the U.S. Leads in Critical Technologies? The event—which coincided with news that President Biden plans to nominate Alan Estevez to head the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)—featured four former BIS undersecretaries: William Reinsch (Clinton), Mario Mancuso […]
Tuesday, July 13 - Statement: Estevez Nomination Signals Biden Administration’s Focus on China Threat
China Tech Threat Co-Founder Roslyn Layton issued the below statement on Alan Estevez, who President Biden named today to head the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Read here for more on the elevated importance of BIS as the People’s Republic of China seeks to acquire strategic U.S. technology to advance its […]
Tuesday, July 13 - President Biden Officially Nominates Alan Estevez to serve as BIS Under Secretary
Originally reported this morning in the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, this afternoon President Biden announced his intention to nominate Alan Estevez to serve as Under Secretary for Industry and Security at the Commerce Department. The White House press release called Mr. Estevez “a recognized leader in the defense and aerospace community, [that] joined Deloitte […]
Tuesday, July 13 - Biden Expected to Tap Alan Estevez to Lead BIS
News outlets report today that President Joe Biden will nominate Alan Estevez to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). This is a critical and timely appointment as U.S.-China tensions continue to escalate. Mr. Estevez—who served as U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and as the DoD […]
Thursday, July 8 - Introducing High Tech Heist: New Vlog Series on Banking Cybersecurity
China Tech Threat is pleased to introduce High Tech Heist: Vlog Series on Banking Cybersecurity. In the first of the series, Dr. Roslyn Layton speaks with Tom Vartanian, a former federal banking regulator and author of 200 Years of American Financial Panics: Crashes, Recessions, Depressions and the Technology that Will Change It All. “Financial institutions […]
Wednesday, July 7 - Rep. Pfluger: We Are Exporting Our Innovation and Subsidizing China’s Ability to Make It
Last week the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee took up the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act, which seeks to boost U.S. competitiveness with China. During the markup (see video starting around 3 hr, 31 min) , Representative August Pfluger (R-TX11) introduced an amendment to add Yangtze Memory Technologies Company (YMTC) to the […]
Thursday, July 1 - Chinese Universities Join the Push for Semiconductor Dominance
China’s mainland universities are ramping up programs to support the Chinese government’s ambitions to dominate the global semiconductor market, the South China Morning Post reported this week. “The increase in… academic programmes shows how China is doubling down on efforts to build up its semiconductor industry, which has been hampered by Beijing’s tech and trade […]
Tuesday, June 22 - Bank of American spends over $1 billion on Cybersecurity
In an interview earlier this month, Brian Moynihan, CEO at Bank of America, discussed the doubling of cybersecurity spending by the bank since he began as CEO. He noted that, “I became CEO 11 and a half years ago, and we probably spent three to $400 million [per year] and we’re up over a billion […]
Monday, June 14 - White House Report Part 2 of 2: Short-Term Profits Undermine Long-Term Resilience
A White House report last week offers a solemn assessment of American companies prioritizing profits over national security and long-term sustainability. “A focus on maximizing short-term capital returns has led to the private sector’s underinvestment in long-term resilience,” the 250-page report states. The United States has a competitive advantage over China in the production of […]
Friday, June 11 - White House Report Part 1 of 2: China’s “Massive Subsidy Campaign”
The White House released a report on Tuesday that details the findings and recommendations of the Administration’s 100-day supply chain review. Among the findings, the report warns of the Chinese government’s “massive subsidy campaign” to dominate emerging markets. President Biden signed an executive order in February that directed the review of four key industries: semiconductors, […]
Tuesday, June 8 - Let the Chips Fall at BIS? Highlights Challenges, Opportunities for Biden Nominee
President Biden’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will need to advance offensive and defensive measures to curtail China’s ambitions to dominate modern technology markets. That was among the participants’ recommendations during today’s virtual roundtable, “Let the Chips Fall at BIS?” The event, hosted by Dr. Roslyn […]
Monday, June 7 - “China Has Figured Out How to Weaponize America’s Advantages”
Just Announced: FDD’s Emily de La Bruyère to Join Tomorrow’s Webinar. The outcome of the U.S. and China vying for control over modern technology markets will be decided within months or years, not decades, say Emily de La Bruyère and Nathan Picarsic, senior fellows with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). ***Two weeks ago, […]
Friday, May 28 - Cyber Security Forum: “We Are Outfitting Our Most Important Infrastructure with Chinese Products”
During a virtual roundtable event hosted by the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum, participants discussed the growing cyber threat against financial organizations and appropriate policy responses. “The rate of cyberattacks on U.S. financial infrastructure is increasing in severity and sophistication,” Dr. Roslyn Layton explained, despite greater government regulation and spending. Evidence overwhelming indicates these attacks are being […]
Wednesday, May 26 - Texas at Risk of Cyber Attacks Similar to New York and Others
This week, China Tech Threat published a blog detailing a recent cyberattack on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a renowned research and engineering school in New York. With more than $6 million in spending in risky tech products affiliated with the Chinese government, including more than $405,000 worth of spending by college and universities across Texas, are […]
Tuesday, May 25 - Senators Introduce Legislation to Address the China Tech Threat
Yesterday, Senators Rubio and Markey introduced the Secure Equipment Act of 2021. According to the press release, the bill is “to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify that it will no longer review, or approve, applications from companies on the Commission’s “Covered List.” It would also halt any further sales or implementation of […]
Monday, May 24 - Cyberattack Hits NY School With US Military Research Contracts
China Tech Threat has been sounding the alarm over New York’s risky tech contracts with Chinese government-owned technology manufacturers including Lexmark and Lenovo, both of which have been banned by the Pentagon. These concerns have cited why New York, home to the world’s financial markets and high-tech research institutions, is such a valuable target. The […]
Friday, May 21 - Rasser: Three Principles to Protect U.S. Advantages over China
A report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence last month offers a candid assessment of the largest threat to U.S. national security: “China increasingly is a near-peer competitor, challenging the United States in multiple arenas—especially economically, militarily, and technologically—and is pushing to change global norms.” Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow with the Center […]
Thursday, May 20 - Beware China’s “Stealth” Brands
Just a few weeks ago, Protocol called out Lenovo for disguising its name, writing: “Avoiding being seen as Chinese is a trend among companies with major operations, investors, execs or other equities in China that also operate Stateside. And it’s worked remarkably well, even for companies like Lenovo that sell hardware devices into the U.S. […]
Wednesday, May 19 - Deciding Factors in Picking BIS Leadership
In their May 8th edition, The Economist published a narrow sighted piece regarding the forthcoming decision of who will lead The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). While it aptly spotlights the critical role of BIS, which may be the most important agency most Americans have never heard of, it’s missing the […]
Friday, May 7 - The Importance of People and Continued Vigilance: Part III of Cordell Hull on the Future of BIS
Having served as the prior Undersecretary to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Cordell Hull has a unique and important perspective on its future. This is Part III of a three-part series with his reflections on several topics pertaining to BIS. If you missed the prior posts, check out Part I on […]
Thursday, May 6 - SOS International Report Details Chinese State-Owned YMTC’s Military Ties
Last December, James Mulvenon of SOS International released a report that explored Chinese state-owned memory chip maker Yangtze Memory Technologies Company’s (YMTC) ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The report identified alarming uses of state subsidies to support espionage and anticompetitive practices against competitors. The December report came weeks after Dr. […]
Wednesday, May 5 - Cyber-attacks on the Rise Warns Bank of America Chief Technology Officer
This week, Cathy Bessant, Chief Operations and Technology Officer at Bank of America gave a stark warning about cyberattacks on U.S. financial institutions saying, “there’s no question that the rate and pace of attacks, and the nature of attacks, has grown dramatically.” “Criminals are by definition very crafty, very entrepreneurial – and times of stress […]
Monday, May 3 - Part II: Former Commerce Undersecretary Cordell Hull on the Future of BIS
Having served as the prior Undersecretary to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Cordell Hull has a unique and important perspective on its future. This is Part II of a three-part series with his reflections on several topics pertaining to BIS. If you missed Part I on license processing and emerging and […]
Thursday, April 29 - Part I: Former Commerce Undersecretary Cordell Hull on the Future of BIS
Having served as the prior Undersecretary to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Cordell Hull has a unique and important perspective on its future. Prior to BIS, he served as the general counsel to the House Intelligence Committee when Congress made generational reforms to export control law. While at BIS, he spearheaded […]
Wednesday, April 28 - Rep. McCaul, Sen. Cotton Call on U.S. Commerce to Department to Tighten Controls on SME
Congressman Michael McCaul, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Tom Cotton called on U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo last week to tighten restriction on the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) to China. “The export of advanced dual-use U.S. technology to any People’s Republic of China entity is effectively a direct […]
Friday, April 23 - New Bipartisan Bill Will Give U.S. An Edge In Competition With China
The recent introduction of the Endless Frontiers Act represents a new, bipartisan tool for the U.S. to combat the intensifying pressure from China, especially when it comes to semiconductors. The bill calls for $100 billion over five years for basic and advanced technology research and $10 billion to create new technology hubs across the country. As […]
Wednesday, April 21 - Washington State Spends Nearly $9 million on Restricted Chinese Technology
Just this month, two members of the House Homeland Security Committee continued the warnings over specific security and privacy threats posed by emerging Chinese tech companies. And now research shows the State of Washington is has emerged as a new risk center with neary $9 million spent on restricted Chinese government-owned technology, including risky purchases […]
Monday, April 19 - Summarizing AEI’s Derek Scissors on Decoupling, Semiconductors, and BIS
Derek Scissors, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), is a leading expert on trade and economic policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He wrote the definitive guide to economic decoupling and offers a critical review of the actions of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). As it relates to the […]
Tuesday, April 13 - Roslyn Layton Tells Voices of America The Importance of Securing the Semiconductor Industry in Both the Long and Short Term
During President Biden hosted a virtual meeting with leaders of some of the country’s biggest companies impacted by a global shortage of semiconductors, on April 12, he noted that the U.S must find a way to “strengthen our domestic semiconductor industry and secure the American supply chain.” This meeting and the President’s urgency on this […]
Wednesday, April 7 - Biden Administration Giving Attention to Semiconductor Supply Chains
At the end of February, President Biden issued an Executive Order directing several federal agency actions to secure and strengthen America’s supply chains. One of the directives is for the Commerce Secretary to submit a report to the President within 100 days “identifying risks in the semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging supply chains, and proposing […]
Monday, April 5 - Calling on Sen. Schumer’s Leadership To Help Halt Government Purchases from Chinese State-Owned IT Forms
Following Senator Schumer’s recent announcements about next-generation semiconductor research initiatives coming to Albany, China Tech Threat today issued a letter to Sen. Schumer requesting his support in determining what guardrails exist to prevent government purchases from Chinese state-owned manufacturers, particularly in New York State as the home to the world’s financial markets. The letter by […]
Monday, April 5 - Summarizing CSET on Security Without Collateral Damage
Saif M. Khan is a leading tech policy expert with a background in intellectual property law and an education in physics. A Research Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), he studies AI policy, semiconductor supply chains, China’s semiconductor industry and U.S. trade policy. Khan has written many, highly detailed reports which […]
Monday, March 29 - Summarizing CSIS on Getting Traction with BIS Export Controls: Short Term Panic Followed by Predictable Patterns
On Friday, new names emerged as potential nominees for the Undersecretary position in the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) – or as the New York Times put it, “The Agency at the Center of America’s Tech Fight With China.” While we await an official announcement, Center for Strategic & International Studies […]
Friday, March 26 - States Must Be Vigilant the American Rescue Plan Doesn’t Open the Door to CCP Exploitation
This month President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion pandemic recovery package that was among the President’s top priorities upon taking office. The bill includes $350 billion that will go directly to state and local governments, much of which will be invested in information technology and system upgrades. Bundled in the plan […]
Friday, March 26 - What to Expect, the Next Four Years
Earlier this week, China Tech Threat’s Roslyn Layton and Coalition for a Prosperous America’s (CPA) Jeff Ferry put out a new report on “Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Semiconductors and Countering China’s Threats.” They discussed it yesterday as part of CPA’s annual conference on “What to Expect, the Next Four Years.” In framing the discussion and […]
Thursday, March 18 - #StopAsianHate
There has been a troubling wave of violence against Asian people – mostly recently with the mass shooting in Atlanta. Disturbingly, Newsweek reports that “Researchers at the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University found a 149 percent increase in such crimes compared to 2019.” We condemn this violence in […]
Wednesday, March 17 - Georgia’s State Spending is at the center of the US-China Tech Conflict
Last week, The Washington Post reported that President Biden’s second big bill may be a China package to to counter China’s rising global power and proposes funding aimed at bolstering U.S. manufacturing and supply chains, among other measures. As China Tech Threat digs deeper into the ways in which China’s malign actions harm U.S. consumers, […]
Tuesday, March 16 - BIS, Allies Must Coordinate on Export Controls to Keep Advanced Tech from Renegade Actors
Stephen Ezell is the Vice President for Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), and he is a leading observer of international semiconductor policy. His new report, Moore’s Law Under Attack: The Impact of China’s Policies on Global Semiconductor Innovation, describes how China’s state-directed strategy to vault into a leadership position […]
Monday, March 8 - Exclusive Interview: Potential Commerce Under Secretary Nominee Analyzes Vital Bureau
China has a clear mission to achieve global military supremacy and is prepared to build, buy, siphon, or steal the latest and greatest tech to get there. When we’re dealing with China, it’s not business as usual, and we need to be vigilant to make sure sensitive technologies in particular are directed to their intended […]
Friday, March 5 - William Galston in the WSJ: U.S. Should Step Up the Tech Fight against China
The United States should step up domestic investment in its semiconductor industry and strengthen export controls to stop the People’s Republic of China from acquiring semiconductor manufacturing equipment, columnist William Galston writes in the Wall Street Journal this week. Galston applauds the Trump Administration’s joint efforts with the Netherlands to “block the sale of Dutch-made […]
Monday, March 1 - Kansas State Spending is Harming Kansans Far and Wide
This week China Tech Threat is set to launch our new report: High Tech Heist: Chinese Government IT Vendors And The Threat To U.S. Banks. Through this report we show that, despite major investment by US banks in cybersecurity and significant federal policy efforts, attacks on US banks are increasing frequency, severity, and sophistication. In […]
Friday, February 26 - Preview: China Tech Threat Report Urges Banks to Avoid Chinese Government IT to Defend Against State-Sponsored Cyber-Attacks
Cyber-attacks against financial organizations are growing in frequency and severity and U.S. banks are the most targeted, an upcoming White Paper by Dr. Roslyn Layton finds. A complex thicket of government agencies and regulation has been largely ineffective in curbing cyber threats. In 2015, U.S. financial services were targeted about four times more than other […]
Thursday, February 25 - President Biden Signs Executive Order Directing Review of U.S. Supply Chains
On Wednesday, President Biden signed an executive order directing both an immediate and year-long review of U.S. supply chains for critical products, including semiconductors. “We need to stop playing catch up after the supply chain crisis hits,” President Biden said. “We need to prevent the supply chain crisis from hitting in the first place.” The […]
Thursday, February 18 - Report: The Detrimental Impact of China’s Mercantilist Policies on the Semiconductor Industry
In his new report, Stephen Ezell, Vice President of Global Innovation Policy at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), explores how China’s aggressive strategy to distort and harm the global semiconductor market is continues to hurt the U.S and the market at large. In highlighting the growth of the industry, he explains “a thriving […]
Tuesday, February 16 - 5G Security Challenges Webinar: “Lenovo is more Chinese than Huawei”
Last week, the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security forum (PI-SF) held a webinar titled “5G Security Challenges.” The second in the 5G security series, Congressman Robert Pittenger hosted a lively conversation featuring U.S. political leaders and European lawmakers to discuss the growing threat from China’s 5G ambitions. One major takeaway from the event was that we must be […]
Friday, February 12 - Importance of Crucial BIS Post in International Spotlight
During the past week top international newspapers have noted the vital importance of President Biden’s choice to head the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The 450-person agency “oversees the nation’s export-control rules, giving it a big role in deciding which technologies are exported to China…” The Wall Street Journal said the pick […]
Thursday, February 11 - New Hampshire Spends Over $1 million on Restricted Chinese-Owned Products
This weekend, President Joe Biden expressed that his administration is ready for “extreme competition” with China. This is a welcomed approach as China Tech Threat continues to report on the danger of Chinese cyber threats to the US. One of the largest threats comes from state governments continuing to purchase U.S. military-restricted equipment. This includes […]
Monday, February 8 - Biden Says Administration is Ready for “extreme competition” with China
During his pre-Super Bowl LV interview with CBS News, President Biden discussed his approach to China and his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that his administration is ready for “extreme competition.” This has been a consistent theme in the early days of the new administration. China Tech Threat called attention to White House Press […]
Monday, February 8 - Semiconductors are the New Oil: Looking ahead at the Semiconductor Market in 2021
In a webinar hosted by Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) last week, participants emphasized the importance of the industry and expressed great expectations for its growth in the coming years. C.J. Muse, Senior Managing Director and Head of Global Semiconductor Research at Evercore ISI, said that while 2020 was a turbulent year for the industry, it […]
Tuesday, February 2 - USCC Eyes China’s Tech Rise with Concern
On Thursday January 28, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) held a hearing entitled “U.S.-China Relations at the Chinese Communist Party’s Centennial.” In the first public hearing during Joe Biden’s administration, the council held three different panels to address the ways in which the US-China dynamic will evolve as the Chinese Communist Party […]
Monday, February 1 - Nebraska Spending on Chinese-Owned Tech Puts Citizen Data At Risk
As conversations around the way the new administration will tackle cybersecurity threats from China continue to evolve, two things are clear: concrete action is necessary, and it must be taken sooner rather than later. As China Tech Threat works to report on the danger of Chinese cyber threats to the US, we are once again […]
Wednesday, January 27 - Biden’s Press Secretary Confirms President’s Chinese Policy: No Changes Expected
For many months, experts have anticipated that President Biden’s China strategy would like a lot like that of former President Trump (WSJ: What’s Biden’s New China Policy? It Looks a Lot Like Trump’s). Yesterday, during her daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Biden’s expected attitude saying that “our approach to China remains […]
Tuesday, January 26 - Cyber-Attacks on U.S. Banks Are Immense—and Growing
The U.S. financial services industry is one of the most targeted sectors by cyber-attackers and those attacks are escalating quickly in number and sophistication. In 2015, a report by Websense Security Labs found that banks and other financial institutions were targeted by cyber-attacks four times more often than companies in other industries. In 2019, the […]
Monday, January 25 - Lincoln Network Event: US to experience severe industrial loss without US Semiconductor Policy
On January 22, the Lincoln Network hosted a panel titled “The Future of U.S. Semiconductor Policy: Answering the China Chip Challenge.” Panelists included China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton, Stephen Ezell, Vice-President, Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Dr. James Mulvenon, Director of Intelligence Integration at SOSi and Dan […]
Friday, January 22 - China Tech Threat Newsletter – January 22, 2021
Today: Panel On National Semiconductor Policy To Counter The Chinese Challenge. With the official start of the Biden administration, the Lincoln Network will host a virtual panel today at 2:00PM (EST) titled “The Future of U.S. Semiconductor Policy: Answering the China Chip Challenge” featuring China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton, Director of Intelligence Integration at […]
Friday, January 22 - China May Lag with Semiconductor Goals, But They Continue to Make Progress Through YMTC
Earlier this week Scott Foster, an analyst for Tokyo-based Lightstream Research and frequent Asia Times columnist, opined on China’s efforts to achieve their Made in China 2025 goals, with a specific focus on semiconductors. Foster makes a few main points: 1 – China is failing to fulfill its ambitious goals. For example, the country set […]
Thursday, January 21 - Utah’s Data at Risk from China-owned Products Purchased by State
As the U.S. settles into a new president and congress, the threat that China poses to the U.S. has never been clearer. At his confirmation hearing this week, Anthony Blinken, President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State said, “As we look at China there is no doubt that it poses the most significant challenge of […]
Wednesday, January 20 - Chinese ‘Advanced Persistent Threats’ Have U.S. Companies and Consumers in Their Crosshairs
The People’s Republic of China is ramping up cyber-attacks against the United States—and not just against government agencies, but U.S. businesses and consumers as well. “For too long, U.S. networks and data have been exposed to cyber threats based in China which are using that data to give Chinese firms an unfair competitive advantage in […]
Tuesday, January 19 - Listen: Dr. Roslyn Layton and Dr. Jim Lewis on CSIS’ ChinaPower Podcast
Ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, China Tech Threat founder Roslyn Layton joined Bonnie Glaser and Jim Lewis on the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS) ChinaPower podcast. Ms. Glaser is the senior advisor for Asia at CSIS and host of the ChinaPower podcast. Dr. Lewis is senior vice president and director of the Strategic […]
Friday, January 15 - Hudson Institute: The Importance of the Defense Industrial Base
On January 14, The Hudson Institute hosted a virtual discussion entitled “A Discussion on the Defense Industrial Base with Government Leaders.” The panel featured leaders from the Defense Department including Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bryan Clark, […]
Thursday, January 14 - Idaho’s Data at Risk from China-owned Products Purchased by State
China Tech Threat continues to report on how Chinese technology is harming consumers across the US. One of the largest threat comes from state governments continuing to purchase U.S. military-banned equipment. This includes buying products from Lenovo, a Chinese-owned company that has been banned by multiple military and intelligence agencies in the U.S. and around […]
Tuesday, January 12 - ITIF: Should the U.S. Accept China’s Economic and Tech Rise?
Last week the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) hosted a roundtable discussion focused on a key question: Should the United States accept China’s economic and technological rise? Especially as the incoming Biden-Harris administration prepares to take office, America’s response to China will shape leaderships roles well into the future. Jennifer Ruben wrote in the […]
Thursday, January 7 - North Dakota’s Data at Risk from China-owned Products Purchased by State
As part of our ongoing FOIA project to unveil taxpayer funds being used to purchase Chinese government-owned products at the state level, China Tech Threat has analyzed the State of North Dakota. The analysis found that it has spent over $26,000 on Lenovo products in recent years, despite the Chinese government having access and control […]
Wednesday, January 6 - Trump Bans Eight Chinese Apps over Privacy Concerns
Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order banning transactions with eight Chinese apps: Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS Office. The order cites threats to users’ personal data and notes that the apps could allow the Chinese government to “track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, and build […]
Monday, January 4 - As YMTC Booms, China Aims to Dominate Flash Memory Industry
Despite China’s struggles other the years to seed its domestic semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) industry, the rise of Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) threatens to unseat non-PRC firms. That state-sponsored growth could position the People’s Republic of China to unseat the United States as a leader in next-generation flash memory, or so-called 3-D NAND memory, […]

2020

Wednesday, December 23 - DHS Issues Warning to U.S. Businesses about China Threat
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning on Tuesday to American businesses about data security risks from Chinese communications equipment and services. The 15-page advisory warns U.S. companies about the threat of data theft through partnerships with Chinese companies. China’s state-owned entities are known to share information and technology with the country’s […]
Tuesday, December 22 - Trump Administration Publishes List of Chinese and Russian Companies with Military Ties
The U.S. Department of Commerce published a list of Chinese and Russian companies with military ties on Monday. U.S. companies will be restricted from selling certain goods and technology to those named. The final list includes 103 entities, 14 fewer than on a draft obtained by Reuters in November. Fifty-eight are Chinese companies, 31 fewer […]
Monday, December 21 - Mike Rogers: “Cyber Threat Is Real and Growing”
The SolarWinds breach may be the “most significant” cyber-attack in American history, and the scope is likely to grow, former Congressman Mike Rogers wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Sunday. Beyond the sheer breadth of the attack, it also reveals that government agencies are no longer the only targets of the United States’ adversaries—American […]
Thursday, December 17 - SolarWinds Breach Underscores the Threat from U.S. Adversaries
A cyber-espionage campaign that was revealed this week infiltrated at least five U.S. government agencies. The attack underscores the sophistication of modern technological threats—and the challenges of defending against them.
Monday, December 14 - China Is Targeting the Incoming Administration, Says Intel Official
The Chinese government has ramped up its influence campaign since the U.S. election, with a focus on personnel in the incoming Biden-Harris administration a senior U.S. intelligence official said earlier this month. U.S. intelligence agencies had expected an “uptick” of maligned influence activity and that China would “revector their influence campaigns to the new administration,” […]
Friday, December 11 - S&P Dow Jones to Remove 21 Blacklisted Companies
The S&P Dow Jones Indices will remove 21 Chinese companies with ties to the People’s Liberation Army from its global stock and bond benchmarks, Reuters reported on Thursday. Last month President Trump issued an executive order preventing U.S. investors from owning or selling shares of Chinese companies with ties to the country’s government and military. […]
Monday, December 7 - Layton Warns Senate on China Digital Yuan, Urges Scrutiny of Next SEC Chair Nominee
China Tech Threat co-founder Roslyn Layton issued a policy letter today to the U.S. Senate, urging a sharp focus be placed on the needs of the U.S. cryptocurrency and blockchain industry when handling the confirmation of the next Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Layton warned of a “deliberate lack of regulatory clarity” […]
Saturday, December 5 - McMorris Rodgers Tapped for Energy & Commerce Committee
This week House Republicans picked Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers - an experienced China hawk - to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees tech policy.
Friday, December 4 - Nevada’s Data at Risk from CCP-owned Products Purchased by State
Following our FOIA reports on states such as Colorado using taxpayer fuds to purchase Chinese government-owned products, we have now discovered that the state of Nevada has also made substantial purchases of U.S. military-banned equipment. Through a FOIA request, we found that Nevada has spent a total of $862,849.26 on Lenovo products in recent years, […]
Thursday, December 3 - Report to Congress: U.S. Must Do More to Counter China
This week the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) presented its Annual Report to Congress. The 575-page analysis is frank in its assessment of China’s growing threat to U.S. economic and national security interests. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is moving from “catching up” to “surpassing” the United States on economic, diplomatic and military […]
Tuesday, December 1 - Three Brands to Avoid on Cyber Week: Part 3—Motorola
Expect smartphones to be a popular gift this holiday season. A recent survey found two-thirds of respondents plan to upgrade to a 5G-capable phone this year. On Black Friday, smartphone sales reached $3.6 billion, a 25% increase over last year and 40% of total online spending. About three-quarters of Americans will only consider a brand […]
Tuesday, December 1 - Three Brands to Avoid on Cyber Week: Part 2—GE Appliances
When shopping for computers, smartphones and appliances (yes, even items like washing machines have gone digital), most Americans will only consider brands they know—or think they know. But some products branded as proudly American-made may actually support the United States’ biggest adversary, China, and put buyers’ personal information at risk. Watch below: Roslyn Layton’s Guide on […]
Monday, November 30 - Three Brands to Avoid on Cyber Week: Part 1—Lenovo
It’s Cyber Monday, and across the country millions of Americans are going online today for their holiday shopping. Experts anticipate a record-setting year, as more consumers take advantage of an abundance of virtual deals. Two days ago, Black Friday marked the second largest day of online spending ever for Americans, just shy of Cyber Monday […]
Monday, November 23 - Trump Administration Lists 89 Chinese Companies with Military Ties
The U.S. Department of Commerce plans to designate 89 Chinese companies as “military end users,” which would require U.S. companies to obtain a license to sell dual-use technologies to those named, Reuters reported today. The restrictions appear to be aimed chiefly at China’s aerospace industry, including Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Aviation […]
Friday, November 20 - Roundtable Recap: China’s Threat to National and Economic Security in Democratic Nations
On November 19, the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on “China’s Threat to National and Economic Security in Democratic Nations.” The event was moderated by former U.S. Representative Robert Pittenger (NC-9), who, during his time in Congress, spearheaded legislation to halt the flow of sensitive U.S.-made duel-use technologies to China’s military. […]
Thursday, November 19 - China’s Big Presence in the U.S. Stock Exchange
Last month the bipartisan U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission released a report of Chinese companies listed on NASDAQ and NYSE. It finds there are 217 Chinese companies with a total capitalization of $2.2 trillion—including 13 national-level state-owned enterprises (SOEs). While many of these companies disclose that they are headquartered in China, others use offshore […]
Wednesday, November 18 - The TikTok Threat that Reveals a Deeper Threat from China
The clock keeps ticking for the popular video sharing app, TikTok. On Friday, the Trump administration extended a deadline, initial set for November 12, to give the Beijing-based owner, ByteDance Ltd., an additional fifteen days to find an American buyer—or face restrictions that would ban the app’s use in the United States. CFUIS reviews that […]
Tuesday, November 17 - U.S. Semiconductor Equipment Makers Reap Record Profits, Despite Export Controls
Despite export controls meant to stop sensitive U.S.-made technology and equipment from getting into the hands of China’s government and military, American semiconductor manufacturers Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials have enjoyed record profits from continued sales to Chinese state-owned companies. In 2018 the global semiconductor industry experienced its biggest year ever. U.S. semiconductor toolmakers […]
Friday, November 13 - Congressman Pittenger to host briefing: “China’s Threat to National and Economic Security of Democratic Nations.”
Congressman Robert Pittenger will be hosting a high-level briefing on “China’s Threat to National and Economic Security of Democratic Nations.” The webinar, due to take place next week on Thursday November 19 at 10:00 AM ET, will feature a myriad of global policymakers and experts who will engage in discussion around this critical topic. Pittenger […]
Friday, November 13 - 25 Years In, Wassenaar Arrangement’s Mission Remains Critical
During World War I and World War II, technology in wind-up toys was used to engineer self-detonating bombs. In the generations since, technologies have become exponentially more sophisticated. So, too, have their applications. Today, what’s to stop advanced imaging capabilities in a PlayStation from being appropriated for a missile guidance system? The Wassenaar Arrangement on […]
Tuesday, November 10 - Are U.S. Semiconductor Makers Getting Played by China?
Last month senior Chinese officials met to discuss steps to ramp up the country’s semiconductor making capabilities. The purpose of those talks was to set a course to onshore production of “third-generation” chips, the most advanced type necessary to run emerging technologies. Semiconductor and semiconductor-manufacturing equipment (SME) makers that “still believe China is a viable […]
Friday, October 23 - A Balanced Approach: BIS’ Key Role in Protecting the Semiconductor Industry
As we examined in our last post, Dr. Roslyn Layton’s recent semiconductor analysis concludes by recommending the Balanced Approach. As she concluded her recent Forbes column, “it is important for Congress to maintain the pressure on the Department of Commerce to fulfill its mandate on export control in a timely and sufficient fashion. In this […]
Monday, October 19 - Three Approaches to SME Companies: Supporting the Balanced Approach
In the past weeks we have covered the concerning rise of China’s semiconductor industry and the risks it could pose to U.S. national security. We focused specifically on three semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies – namely, SMIC, YMTC, and CXMT – that have ties to the Chinese military. The question then is how can the United […]
Wednesday, October 14 - Women In Tech: 3 Female Policymakers Shaping Tech’s Congressional Future
Rep. DelBene (D-WA1), Rep. McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA5) and Rep. Eshoo (D-CA18) are three female Congressional leaders working to shape a pragmatic future for the American tech sector. Effectively countering the technology threat posed by the People’s Republic of China takes policymakers, leaders and experts from all parts of the political spectrum. In today’s Congress, three representatives […]
Tuesday, October 13 - The Threat of Chinese Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Companies: YMTC and CXMT
In the last post, we outlined the role that semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies have played in the semiconductor supply chain in the US and China. SME companies are critical because they can be a key linkage in slowing down the rise of China’s semiconductor industry. Moreover, some SME companies in China also have ties to […]
Tuesday, October 13 - Coloradans’ Data at Risk from CCP-owned Products Purchased by State
Following our FOIA reports on states such as Kentucky using taxpayer fuds to purchase Chinese government-owned products, we have now discovered that the state of Colorado has also made substantial purchases of U.S. military-banned equipment. Through a FOIA request, we found that Colorado has spent a total of $3,761,125.74 on Lenovo products in recent years, […]
Thursday, October 8 - The Threat of Chinese Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Companies: SMIC
As we explored last week and in Roslyn Layton’s recent study on the state of the semiconductor industry, China is moving rapidly to undermine the US semiconductor industry. China is attempting to build its own semiconductor supply chain in the race to develop 5G. One key piece of that supply chain are semiconductor manufacturing equipment […]
Friday, October 2 - CTT’s New Analysis: With SMIC down, what Happens Next with Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment?
There’s an increased policy focus on Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment (SME) and advanced integrated circuits that power data centers, pcs, missiles, drones, satellites, cloud, AI, smartphones, and communications networks. Americans are concerned about the advanced technology like SME falling into the hands of the military in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Congress passed the 2018 […]
Wednesday, September 30 - FOIA Request Reveals Kentuckians’ Sensitive and Personal Information at Risk
China Tech Threat has continued to uncover taxpayer funds through FOIA requests that have been used to purchase Chinese government-owned products. The state government of Kentucky has spent $1,827,362.95 on Lenovo products in recent years, despite Lenovo’s equipment being banned by U.S. military and intelligence agencies because of the control that the Chinese government has […]
Friday, September 25 - FOIA Request Reveals Pennsylvanians’ Sensitive and Personal Information at Risk
Following our recent reports that showed how the state governments of New Mexico, Louisiana, and South Carolina used taxpayer funds to purchase Chinese government-owned Lenovo and Lexmark equipment, China Tech Threat has uncovered more payments connected to the Pennsylvania state government. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, we have discovered that Pennsylvania has spent […]
Thursday, September 24 - New York State Government’s $28 Million Spend on Banned Chinese Government-Owned Tech Companies
Last year the Department of Defense Inspector General (DODIG) released an audit warning about the purchase of IT equipment manufactured by Chinese government-owned brands known to have security vulnerabilities. Two companies – Lexmark and Lenovo – have been banned by military and intelligence agencies in the US and abroad. (Read the DODIG’s partially-redacted, previously “Secret” […]
Tuesday, September 22 - Semiconductors Vital to the Future and Security of American Technology Sector
Last week the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) hosted a webinar titled, “An Allied Approach to Semiconductor Sector Competitiveness.” The webinar included opening remarks from Senator John Cornyn, a lawmaker committed to addressing semiconductor industry concerns through actions proposed in the National Defense Authorization Act. Panelists included a collection of policy experts and think-tank […]
Monday, September 21 - China Tech Threat Analysis of DoD Annual Report to Congress: Part 2/2
China conducts trade to strengthen its military. Americans assume the domains of economy and military are separate; the Chinese government does not. The American Constitution describes the role of the military to protect the people, property, and interests of the United States of America. In contrast to China, strengthening the military is not the goal […]
Tuesday, September 15 - China Tech Threat Analysis of DoD Annual Report to Congress: Part 1/2
The Secretary of Defense just submitted the Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments of People’s Republic of China. This is the 20th anniversary of the report, and it covers 200 pages on China’s overall military strategy and tactics, growing global presence, and increasing sophistication to meet if not exceed the US. Here […]
Wednesday, September 2 - FOIA Request Reveals South Carolinians’ Sensitive and Personal Information at Risk
China Tech Threat has discovered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that the South Carolina State government has spent $4 million on risky Lenovo equipment in the last three years. This discovery follows our reporting on New Mexico‘s and Louisiana‘s state agencies potentially allowing foreign data transfer through the procurement of Chinese government-owned […]
Tuesday, September 1 - FOIA Request Reveals Louisianans’ Sensitive and Personal Information at Risk
We reported yesterday that over the past five years, New Mexico state agencies have purchased Chinese government-owned Lexmark and Lenovo products that have been banned by the U.S. military and intelligence agencies, putting citizens’ sensitive and personal information at risk. China Tech Threat has discovered similar threats in the state of Louisiana, as through a […]
Monday, August 31 - FOIA Request Reveals New Mexicans’ Sensitive and Personal Information at Risk
As we have reported on in the past, Chinese government-owned technology manufacturers, including Lexmark and Lenovo, have been banned by U.S. military and intelligence agencies because of security vulnerabilities related to their connections to the Chinese Communist Party and the data theft risks that they pose. Despite these bans, and the clear risk that comes […]
Monday, August 17 - Trump Advisor Peter Navarro Calls Out Chinese-Owned TikTok’s Data Collection
Today, senior White House trade and manufacturing advisor Peter Navarro was interviewed by CNBC’s “Squawk Box” regarding President Trump’s recent executive orders on TikTok and WeChat. When asked about the rationale involved in banning TikTok from Chinese government-affiliated ownership, Navarro remarked that the Chinese government has “tools where they collect information that goes back to […]
Friday, August 14 - CTT Cofounder Roslyn Layton Interviewed about TikTok EO
Last week, CTT cofounder Roslyn Layton appeared on a SiriusXM radio show to discuss President Trump’s executive orders on TikTok and WeChat. Layton emphasized the importance the orders will have for national security and online privacy in America, as companies in China must feed their customer data into the government’s “social credit system,” a form […]
Friday, August 7 - Trump’s Fulfills Threats with TikTok and WeChat Executive Orders
Yesterday President Trump issued Executive Orders on TikTok and WeChat. Noting a state of national emergency for the security of information technology, beginning in 45 days (September 20) the President prohibits any person subject to the “jurisdiction of the United States” to transact with TikTok or WeChat. This means that these apps must either divest […]
Friday, July 31 - Senate Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on China’s Economic Transgressions
This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation held a hearing for its Economic and Security Subcommittee. The hearing, titled, “The China Challenges: Realignment of U.S. Economic Policies to Build Resiliency and Competitiveness,” examined topics related to the Chinese Communist Party’s unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft, and market manipulation and their […]
Thursday, July 30 - NDAA Amendment to Establish State-Level Cybersecurity Coordinators
Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which funds all military and national security operations for the next fiscal year. The legislation will now have to be agreed upon with the House of Representatives, who passed their own version of the bill. Of particular note is […]
Thursday, July 23 - CTT Co-Founder Roslyn Layton Delivers Senate Testimony on US Spectrum Policy
On July 23, China Tech Threat co-founder Roslyn Layton delivered testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation during its hearing titled, “The State of U.S. Spectrum Policy.” The hearing examined the Federal Communications Commission’s and National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s role in spectrum management and policymaking.” Dr. Layton explained how China […]
Thursday, July 16 - UK Bans Huawei Equipment from Telecom Networks
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom announced that they would restrict Chinese tech giant Huawei from broadband networks. This marks a 180 turn on Huawei policy by the UK, as previously Huawei was allowed in 30% of mobile wireless networks. See the background here. In practical terms, the existing rules are tightened by committing to a […]
Wednesday, July 15 - Forbes: Frozen Out Of Network Infrastructure Markets, Huawei Hijacks US Patent Regime
This week CTT co-founder Dr. Roslyn Layton was published in Forbes, using the platform to discuss how Chinese-owned Huawei has hijacked the patent system in an effort to strong arm its way into the US 5G-network rollout. Referencing Huawei’s inability to license critical US technology, Dr. Layton states that the Chinese-backed firm is instead seeking […]
Friday, July 10 - Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum: Foreign Investments Affecting National Security
This week, the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) held an expert webinar titled, “Foreign Investments Affecting National Security,” focusing on foreign direct investment in US markets and the regulatory role of the federal government. This follows their previous event, “5G Security Challenges,” which featured leaders from the United States and the EU offering commentary, insight and […]
Wednesday, July 8 - CTT Special Report: The Cryptic Chinese Think Tank Study that Ranked US Governors
China Tech Threat released the first-ever English translation of the 2019 Minzhi Research Institute Study that ranked US governors based on their friendliness to China. Identifying governors as a possible infiltration point for Chinese/US trade in the midst of the current presidential administration’s trade war, the Chinese Think Tank report shows that China has created […]
Thursday, July 2 - CTT Founder Roslyn Layton Interviewed about China Think Tank Study
China Tech Threat founder Roslyn Layton was recently interviewed by One America News Network to discuss the 2019 Minzhi Research Institute study that ranked every U.S. governor based on their friendliness to China. China Tech Threat released a report yesterday with the first full Mandarin-to-English translation of the study. Roslyn explained that the Chinese government […]
Thursday, June 25 - Commerce Department Restricts Chip Makers from Supplying Huawei
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Huawei’s current 5G dominance has been thrown into jeopardy after the Commerce Department’s decision last month to restrict chip makers globally who use U.S. technology from supplying semiconductors to Huawei. This came after the department’s ban last year on Huawei buying American parts, and is seen […]
Monday, June 22 - FCC Efforts to Address Threats from Adversarial Foreign Owners, Part 2 of 2
Dr. Roslyn Layton submitted comments on a proposed federal rule; Executive Order 1391 empowers federal agencies to directly address long-neglected threats from adversarial foreign owners. A previous blog, posted on June 19th, included her background and first of her three points. This blog concludes with points 2 and 3. Point #2: The FCC must continue […]
Friday, June 19 - FCC Efforts to Address Threats from Adversarial Foreign Owners, Part 1 of 2
Dr. Roslyn Layton submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission on a proposed federal rule; Executive Order 1391 empowers federal agencies to directly address long-neglected threats from adversarial foreign owners. This blog post provides except including background on the necessity of the rule, followed by 3 main points. This blog post includes only the background […]
Thursday, June 18 - Army Reveals ‘Cyber TRIDENT’ Contract Request to Boost Cyber Training
The Army has revealed its highly anticipated cybersecurity request for proposals it has deemed “Cyber Training, Readiness, Integration, Delivery and Enterprise Technology” contract, or “Cyber TRIDENT.” This contract could potentially be valued as high as $1 billion to provide cyber training for the Department of Defense. The contract’s website describes it as providing the army […]
Wednesday, June 17 - Democratic Senator Proposes Bills to Boost State and National Cyber Deterrence
Last week, Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan introduced two bills that would better prepare the United States at the state and national level against cyberattacks. The first bill, the Continuity of Economy Act, would require President Trump to create a national response plan in the event of a major cyberattack that disables the economy […]
Friday, June 12 - Tech Supply Chains Scrambling to Decouple from China-Owned Businesses
Bloomberg reported this week that the aerospace, technology, automobile, and countless other industries with global supply chains are scrambling to comply with a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 which would require companies to certify that their entire global supply chain is devoid of gear from certain Chinese tech […]
Friday, June 12 - Global Policymakers Discuss China’s Tech Threats for 5G
This week, the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security forum (PI-SF) held a webinar titled “5G Security Challenges,” with U.S. political leaders and European lawmakers to discuss the unique threat of China’s 5G technology. This follows their previous event, “Security Threats from China,” which discussed the China regime’s cyber espionage campaigns in the U.S. Former Congressman Robert Pittenger again […]
Friday, June 5 - Bipartisan Senate Bill Encourages Cyber Collaboration between Public and Private Sectors
China Tech Threat applauds the “Cybersecurity Competitions to Yield Better Efforts to Research the Latest Exceptionally Advanced Problems Act of 2020’’ or ‘‘Cyber Leap Act of 2020’’ sponsored by U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo. Just as effective policy to […]
Thursday, June 4 - International Group of Lawmakers Shine Light on China Tech Threat
On May 26, the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum held a webinar “Security Threats from China” featuring a coalition of domestic and European lawmakers who took turns discussing the current geopolitical threats coming from the Chinese Communist Party. Former Congressman Robert Pittenger (R-NC), who founded the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum as a global symposium for the discussion of […]
Friday, May 29 - Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation that Shines Light on Chinese Tech Firms
Tech Crunch reported last week that while American investors have been pumping billions of dollars into Chinese firms with suspect ties to the Communist Chinese Government, a new bill passed by the Senate would require that these firms disclose whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government – including China. The Holding Foreign […]
Thursday, May 28 - National Defense Authorization Act Critical Vehicle for Cyber Security Legislation
As talks regarding the contents of the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ramp up, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairperson Ron Johnson is pushing for inclusion of cybersecurity recommendations made by the Cybersecurity Solarium Commission. Sen. Johnson (R-WI) said during a virtual committee hearing on cyber threats that it is his goal […]
Monday, May 18 - Four Democrats Lead Bipartisan Push for State Cybersecurity Funding in Next Relief Package
Four members of the House Democrat Caucus are pushing to include new cybersecurity funding for state and local governments in the next planned COVID-19 relief package. In a letter addressed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Chair Cedric […]
Friday, May 15 - Congress Acts to Address the Chinese Threat Through Supporting Emerging Technologies
As the United States continues to venture through the COVID-19 crisis, Congressional leaders are busy working to ensure that the national economy and its critical sectors securely navigate through – and out of – the uncertain period. One sector of particular interest to Congressional leaders is technology, a field in which the US and China […]
Thursday, May 7 - Rep. Mark Green Introduces Two Bills Addressing the Chinese Threat to the American Tech Sector
Following the introduction of a bill by Sens. Cruz and Hawley that would prohibit the use of federal funds employing tech produced by Chinese companies, lawmakers are continuing with attempts to “decouple” American interests from the Chinese regime because of the current health crisis. Congressman Mark Green (R-TN) has been a leading voice in the […]
Monday, May 4 - China Tech Threat Commends Cruz and Hawley on Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping Bill
China Tech Threat applauds Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) for the new bill Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping (C-CAS) Act of 2020. The bill would prohibit the use of federal funds by the US government employing the use of information communication technology produced by Chinese technology companies. The bill makes a necessary […]
Thursday, April 30 - Congress Moving Quickly to Codify Cyberspace Solarium Commission Recommendations
Politico’s “Morning Cybersecurity” newsletter reported this week that while the focus of lawmakers continues to be handling the current health crisis, Congress will potentially enact many of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s recommendations for boosting federal cybersecurity in the coming months. As we reported in a previous blog, “ChinaTechThreat.com welcomes Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report,” the Commission’s […]
Monday, April 27 - CTT Co-Founder Roslyn Layton: FCC puts four Chinese Carriers on Notice
China Tech Threat welcomes the recent Federal Communication Commission (FCC) announcement giving 30-days notice to four Chinese carriers (China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks, and ComNet) to explain Chinese government ownership and control of their businesses. The move reflects a recent Executive Order strengthening so-called Team Telecom. The FCC’s action is built upon […]
Thursday, April 23 - Tech Groups Urge State-Level Cybersecurity Funding in Next Stimulus Package
This week, a coalition of major tech groups sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy demanding that Congress send cybersecurity funds to state and local governments as a part of the next COVID-19 stimulus package, as reported by The Hill. The groups represent some of the largest tech companies […]
Thursday, April 23 - CTT Co-Founder Roslyn Layton: Government Accountability Office Report: DoD Cybersecurity Through the COVID-19 Crisis – Part 2
The new GAO Report stressed the importance of such behavioral elements over technical requirements, for example creating a culture of cybersecurity awareness, which is delivered through training, monitoring, and spot checks. Additionally, the DoD Initiatives called on the IT leaders of the military branches to be held responsible for failing to meet the goals. It […]
Wednesday, April 15 - Vulnerabilities in Pentagon Networks Highlighted by COVID-19 WFH Period
The Department of Defense (DoD) was audited for the very first time in in 2018, covered $2.7 trillion in assets and $2.6 trillion in liabilities for fiscal year 2018, and was likely the largest known audit of an organization in history, noted Defense Department Comptroller David L. Norquist. While the audit covered hard military assets such […]
Monday, April 13 - Executive Branch Agencies Recommend the FCC Revoke and Terminate China Telecom’s US Licenses
Last Thursday, the departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, State, and Commerce recommended that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoke licenses for China Telecom, a state-owned telecommunications company operating in the United States, for national security risks. In a statement announcing the recommendation, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers remarked that “The […]
Wednesday, April 8 - DOJ Urges Federal Prosecutors to ‘Focus Their Resources’ on Pursuing Chinese Intellectual Property Cases
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States, the Department of Justice has chosen to remain focused and vigilant in its work to address malicious actions conducted by the Chinese government in private industry. As reported by National Review, DOJ’s assistant attorney general for national security, John Demers, is looking for all […]
Monday, March 30 - Warning: Don’t Spend Coronavirus Stimulus Funds on Suspect Technology
Late last week Congress passed and the President signed a $2 trillion spending bill to counter mass economic disruptions meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. Part of this package includes $150 billion for state and local funds such as $13.5 billion for k-12 education, which could include buying technology to help students continue their […]
Monday, March 23 - ChinaTechThreat.com welcomes Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report Pt. 2
“For over 20 years, nation-states and non-state actors have used cyberspace to subvert American power, American security, and the American way of life” notes the much-needed report by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a group convened as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Its bipartisan chairs are Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Mike […]
Monday, March 16 - ChinaTechThreat.com welcomes Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report
“For over 20 years, nation-states and non-state actors have used cyberspace to subvert American power, American security, and the American way of life” notes the much-needed report by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a group convened as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Its bipartisan chairs are Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Mike […]
Thursday, March 5 - China Tech Threat Responds to Displeasure From Huawei, Lenovo, and Lexmark
John Strand and Roslyn Layton have followed the policy discussion of the security of Chinese-owned information technology since 2005. Its collected reports and analysis are available here and on ChinaTechThreat.com. Creating transparency can embarrass companies and governments, and Chinese-owned firms do not like to be called out for anything less than stellar behavior. Chinese-owned firms […]
Monday, February 17 - CTT to Release White Paper on State Governments’ Failure to Scrutinize the Purchase of Lenovo and Lexmark Equipment
While members of Congress and commentators over the past year increased scrutiny of the federal government’s purchase and use of Chinese-made information technology equipment, state procurement of such equipment has flown under the radar. On February 24th, China Tech Threat will release “State Governments’ Failure to Scrutinize the Purchase of Lenovo and Lexmark Equipment Jeopardizes […]
Monday, January 27 - FCC Could Expand Ban on Huawei and ZTE
We have been following closely the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) plan to stop the use of taxpayer funds to support equipment manufactured by covered companies which are known as national security threats, notably Huawei or ZTE. Last November, the FCC unanimously voted to ban Universal Service Fund monies for the purchase of Huawei and ZTE […]
Thursday, January 16 - Sen. Rubio: More Than Trade Deal Needed to Solve “Structural Imbalances” Between U.S. and China
China Tech Threat believes that any trade negotiations that seek to improve the economic standing of the United States vis-à-vis China must not include compromises that jeopardize our security. The “Phase I” portion of the deal signed by the U.S. and China this week, as well as future developments, deserve careful scrutiny by policymakers. The […]
Monday, January 13 - Army, Navy Are Right to Ban TikTok
It has been an interesting last year months for the Department of Defense, in terms of the scrutiny the agency applies to its purchases of information technology hardware. There have been documented reports of purchases of equipment with known security vulnerabilities, as well as signs that the military services are taking the risks from Chinese-made […]
Thursday, January 2 - 10 Questions for 2020
2019 saw increased attention by the media and policymakers on the threats posed by Chinese telecommunications and technology firms. However, a number of unresolved issues remain that if left unaddressed, will continue to leave American and western users and systems vulnerable to hacking, data breaches and technology transfers. Progress made over the coming year will […]

2019

Wednesday, December 18 - CTT Highlights Retailers Selling Chinese Products With Documented Vulnerabilities
In recent weeks, China Tech Threat’s Roslyn Layton warned shoppers against buying certain gifts during the Holiday season. This week, she visited national retail chains and found Chinese-manufactured consumer products – that feature documented security flaws and vulnerabilities – being sold to customers without any warnings (see video below). The dangers of using these products […]
Friday, December 13 - Three Links to Bookmark
Educating the public and policymakers about the threats to personal privacy, data security and national security from Chinese technology and telecommunications firms is the main mission of China Tech Threat. Luckily, we are not alone in pursuing this endeavor. Several other sites provide essential information on the threats from Huawei and other Chinese state-owned and […]
Friday, December 6 - US State Dept. Briefing: CTT’s Roslyn Layton and Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Strayer
Summary: This week, China Tech Threat Co-Founder Roslyn Layton was invited to participate in the U.S. Department of State Special Briefing on 5G security and the future of 5G in the European Union. Joining Dr. Layton was Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Strayer, Cyber and International Affairs and Information Policy Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. […]
Wednesday, November 20 - CTT Applauds Sen. Ernst for Her Commitment to U.S. Cyber Security
Today the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support held a hearing on the Department of Defense audit, an overview of operations at the defense agency that has only taken place twice in its long history. Mentioned in the hearing was the Department of Defense Investigator General report, an investigation centered upon […]
Wednesday, November 20 - Press Release: China Tech Threat Co-Founder Praises Senator Joni Ernst’s Tough Question
Senator Demands Pentagon Protect Technology from Known Threats Deputy Secretary Declines to Provide Assurance WASHINGTON, DC – During Wednesday morning’s Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee hearing featuring Department of Defense Deputy Secretary David Norquist, Senator Joni Ernst demanded an end to the Pentagon’s risky use of vulnerable equipment by asking: “Do you know is the […]
Wednesday, November 13 - List Highlights “The Scariest Hacks and Vulnerabilities of 2019″
Two weeks ago, ZDNet compiled a list of “The scariest hacks and vulnerabilities of 2019.” The comprehensive list documented 100+ incidents from the past year, a year the outlet described as “a disaster in terms of cybersecurity news.” Not surprisingly, several incidents involving Chinese products, companies and the government made the list. As the holiday […]
Thursday, November 7 - The FCC Takes on Huawei and ZTE
In less than two weeks, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on a proposal that would prevent telecommunications carriers from using subsidies to purchase equipment from Huawei or ZTE. The plan, outlined in a Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Order, would also gather information on which equipment from companies deemed national […]
Tuesday, November 5 - Notable Voices Oppose Huawei Expansion in Europe
The debate over whether European nations should allow Huawei to help build 5G networks continues, with several key figures voicing strong objections that deserve to be heeded by policymakers across the continent. Recent reports indicate that Germany has opened the door for Huawei to be a supplier for next-generation networks. There has been pushback against […]
Monday, October 21 - New Report from Australian Think Tank Flags Tech Threats from China
A new report released by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute accurately characterizes technology threats from communist China. Authored by Dr. Samantha Hoffman, the 33-page document is worth digesting, as it highlights the nation’s “tech-enhanced authoritarianism” and how, “by leveraging-state owned enterprises (SOEs), Chinese technology companies and partnerships with foreign partners … the CCP is building […]
Friday, October 11 - CTT Welcomes Creation of the Solarium Commission
In May, U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) formally launched the Cyberspace Solarium Commission with the purpose of developing a national cybersecurity strategy. Modeled after President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1953 Project Solarium, members of congress, administration officials, and cyber and private sector experts comprise the commission’s 14 members: Sen. King (co-chair) Rep. […]
Thursday, October 3 - Yes, We Can Afford to Replace Huawei Network Equipment
In recent months, CTT highlighted proposed legislation by members of Congress that addresses threats to communications networks and supply chains. Another measure introduced last week in the House of Representatives would provide resources for rural, smaller wireless providers to rip and replace network equipment from companies that pose security risks and expose data to backdoors […]
Thursday, September 26 - Pentagon Publicly Silent About IG Report Documenting Cyber Vulnerabilities
On July 26th, the Department of Defense Inspector General issued “Audit of the DoD’s Management of the Cybersecurity Risks for Government Purchase Card Purchases of Commercial Off-the-Shelf Items,” a report documenting over 9,000 purchases by Army and Air Force personnel in 2018 on Chinese-manufactured hardware and electronics from Lexmark, GoPro and Lenovo, despite their documented […]
Friday, September 20 - State Department Highlights Chinese Technology Threats
Over the spring and summer, the Commerce Department and Pentagon issued warnings about threats from Chinese technology manufacturers and telecommunications firms. On the anniversary of 9/11, the State Department also raised red flags about how Huawei and other Chinese enterprises threaten privacy and threaten U.S. national security. Dr. Christopher Ashley Ford, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of […]
Friday, September 6 - Bi-Partisan Legislation Seeks to Secure U.S. Supply Chains Against Foreign Exploitation
As tension continues to build between the United States and China in the trade and technology sectors, concerned members of Congress are catalyzing efforts to bolster US security through legislative action. One of these proposed bills comes from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo who in 2019 introduced the MICROCHIPS Act, a bill focused on the security […]
Friday, August 30 - Sen. Ernst Flags Pentagon’s COTS Purchases of Chinese-Manufactured Hardware
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (IA) became the second lawmaker in the past week to draw attention to a recent Department of Defense Inspector General report that flagged the Pentagon’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) purchases of more than 9,000 items of Chinese-manufactured hardware with “known cybersecurity vulnerabilities.” In a to letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist, she […]
Monday, August 26 - Can Congress legislate a secure technology supply chain for the Pentagon?
The problem with computers is that they talk to one another. This is a great selling point, the seamless flow of information from relevant machine to relevant machine, but asset becomes liability the moment the computer holds secrets, or is in a position to collect secrets. Especially if those secrets then make their way in […]
Thursday, August 22 - Congressional Budget Specifies Restrictions on Chinese “Owned, Directed, or Subsidized” Entities Deemed Cyber Threats
In the drafting of the FY 2019 Omnibus legislative bill, Congressional leaders addressed issues ranging from the basic funding of the federal government to defense measures. One of these inclusions, centered upon the purchasing and adaptation of foreign technology into government networks, made clear the position of lawmakers on the use of technology procured from […]
Wednesday, August 21 - Press Release: ChinaTechThreat.com Co-Founder Looks at The Pentagon’s Risky Business
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (WI-08) joined ChinaTechThreat.com
Wednesday, August 21 - CTT: DoD Must Act to Eliminate Suspicious Technology Manufacturers
Memo Re: DoD Must Act to Eliminate Suspicious Technology Manufacturers To: Policymakers, Media, and Experts Click Here to View & Download a PDF of the Two-Page Memo
Wednesday, August 14 - Gen. Clark Issues Timely Warning About Lenovo
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark recently gave the keynote address at the Cybertech Midwest convention in Indianapolis. In it, he drew on his personal military experience to discuss the evolution of cyber threats over the last two decades. Gen. Clark highlighted how hostile actors from foreign nations often attack soft targets more so than […]
Monday, August 12 - New Pentagon report shows how restricted Chinese IT products routinely enter US military networks
A report released July 30 by the Department of Defense Inspector General found that more than 9,000 commercially available information technology products purchased by the DoD in FY 18 could be used to spy, sabotage or surveil US military personnel and facilities. These purchases were made via the Government Purchase Cards, which are given to […]
Friday, August 2 - Department of Defense Inspector General Report Finds Cyber and Security Risks in Lenovo, Lexmark, GoPro Equipment
The Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General released a report showing the potential cyber security vulnerabilities in American weapons, security and IT systems, stemming from the procurement of commercial items (COTS) by defense employees using federally – funded credit cards. These purchases, legally capped at $10,000, were for items like printers, computers, and […]
Thursday, August 1 - Hitting Home: Chinese tech Threatens American’s Home Control Systems
As reported by Bleeping Computer, Chinese smart home solutions provider Orvibo leaked more than two billion user logs containing usernames, passwords, home addresses and control information from users all over the world. The Chinese tech company offers consumers connected home products to allow them greater control over their residences, offices and hotel rooms via integrated […]
Wednesday, July 24 - Washington Post: Huawei found to have assisted rogue nation in building telecommunications network
The Washington Post reported this week that Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei was found to have assisted the North Korea in their construction of a wireless telecommunications network. A direct breach of U.S. export regulations, the supplying of hardware components by Huawei to North Korea show yet again the clandestine nature of business conducted by CCP-backed […]
Friday, July 19 - What Others Are Saying: Members of Congress on Huawei
Three recently introduced, bipartisan congressional bills aim to prevent Huawei from doing business in the United States. The Prevent Abuse of the Legal System Act would prevent companies on the Commerce Department’s Entity List (Huawei was added to it in May) from buying, selling or solely licensing American patents. The Huawei Prohibition Act of 2019, would prevent […]
Wednesday, July 10 - CTT’s Roslyn Layton: Sen. Rubio Legislation a “Welcome Development”
Some media sources like to spin that Trump has softened on China, but a review of the activities at the Department of Commerce suggests otherwise. Indeed, the Department appears to be following the mandates of bipartisan legislation and the President’s Executive Orders. Within the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) staff […]
Wednesday, July 3 - Chinese Tech Backdoors Threaten Private Data Security
Chinese technology giant Huawei has a long and storied history of using secret access points built into exported equipment that could allow Chinese Intelligence teams to conduct cyber-operations through the effected equipment. As reported by renowned Chinese technology columnist Bill Gertz in the Washington Times, cybersecurity research firm Finite State recently released a report stating […]
Saturday, June 29 - China’s Hackers Continue their Attacks
Concerns about hacking by hostile Chinese actors are justified by recent news reports as well as historical data on cyberattacks against western nations and institutions. Earlier this month, Australian intelligence officials claimed China may have accessed thousands of files and 19 years’ worth of data – to include tax and banking records – on Australian […]
Monday, June 17 - Roslyn Layton Submission to USTR Docket
CTT’s Roslyn Layton Submits Comments to USTR Regarding Section 301 Tariffs Responding to the request for public comments regarding additional Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, American Enterprise Institute Scholar Roslyn Layton offered commentary and suggestions to the Office of the United States Trade Representative regarding future action and recommendations as to how the United […]
Tuesday, June 4 - A History of Oppression meets Modern Day Suppression
One of the most iconic moments in modern Chinese history occurred 30 years ago today, when Chinese military forces opened fire and rolled military vehicles over student protesters in Tienanmen Square, Beijing. Mounting pressures from six student groups resulted in a harsh response to Chinese Communist Party leadership, resulting in countless young lives lost in […]
Wednesday, May 29 - Chinese Tech Firms Band Together in Wake of American Action
After US President Donald Trump signed an executive order laying the groundwork to block Chinese telecommunications companies, namely Huawei, from selling equipment in the United States the international community took note. Global firms like Panasonic and ARM followed the lead of the Trump administration, scrutinizing their relationships with the Chinese telecommunications giant and in ARM’s […]
Friday, May 24 - WSJ is the First Major Daily to Recognize the Chinese Technology Threat Beyond Huawei
Extending investigative coverage beyond only Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, Jacky Wong of the Wall Street Journal has drawn fresh scrutiny against Chinese PC giant Lenovo. Referencing the ongoing threat to Lenovo’s export business by the U.S. – Chinese trade war, the article notes that a key threat to Lenovo is the risk of getting caught […]
Wednesday, May 8 - Bloomberg Report Confirms Worst Fears About Huawei
For years, Huawei and its defenders refused to admit that its networking equipment and other products posed security risks for carriers and users. They often claimed that critics held the company to higher standards than other telecoms because of its Chinese origins. Where was the actual evidence, beyond the innuendos and conspiratorial thinking? A recent […]
Tuesday, April 23 - NATO CCDCOE Paper Shows Why Chinese Tech Must be Held to the Highest Security Standards
According to research conducted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), the continued cyber-security debate surrounding Chinese tech giant Huawei is imperative to securing the 5G wireless buildout. The CCDCOE states in the paper that the NATO center recognizes that it is rational to demand the highest possible security assurance for 5G […]
Monday, April 15 - Think Tank Study Recommends “Broadening the Lens” on Cybersecurity with China and Russia
Last week the R Street Institute, a Washington DC-based, pro-free markets think tank released a study which said “Huawei and ZTE are not the only foreign companies that pose a risk to American national security. Other companies from China and Russia, such as Lenovo or Kaspersky, may also pose threats to American national security, given […]
Thursday, April 4 - Is Small Upfront Savings Worth Risking the Privacy of American Students?
Chinese technology firms are not bound to the same privacy constraints as their American counterparts. As detailed by Sixth Tone, Chinese authorities use webcams and artificial intelligence to observe students in classrooms, monitoring their facial expressions and attention patterns to identify possible distractions and behavior not conducive to learning. While efficient in its quest to […]
Wednesday, April 3 - Strand Consult’s 13 Questions to the Chinese government
There is a critique of the People’s Republic of China and their trade and information communications technology practices. Strand Consult will submit the following questions to the People’s Republic of China to get the Chinese government’s view. What is the Chinese government’s policy for which entities have permission to build and run communications networks in […]