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 last decade China has become the United States’ top adversary, increasing their attempted espionage and surveillance against the U.S. government. Despite the known risks presented by Chinese technology companies, state and federal government agencies have continued to have relationships with Chinese owned and operated companies such as Lenovo, Lexmark, Hikvision, and DJI. As a recent example, the U.S. Navy continues to maintain a relationship with… Read More

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 weeks, including Idaho, South Dakota and Arkansas. Introduced by State Senator Justin Busch, Senate Bill 477 prohibits the “purchase of equipment or services produced or provided by certain prohibited persons determined to be a national security threat to communications networks or supply chains,” including China. The new law prohibits companies from bidding on contracts if the company: “would be able to directly or remotely access… Read More

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 trend of new state laws in 2023 (joining Idaho and South Dakota). However, one significant loophole presented during the legislative process renders the new law powerless and must be corrected when the state legislature reconvenes in 2024. When introducing the bill, Rep. Mindy McAlindon said “HB1789 is designed to protect Arkansas and Arkansans from the undue influence of the Communist Party of China. Arkansas has… Read More

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 bulletin warning that “Leaders at the U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial levels risk being manipulated to support hidden PRC agendas….The advisory concluded that ‘geopolitical reality has placed state and local officials in the United States on the front lines of national security.” (p. 66) Engage State and Local Governments The Heritage paper does an excellent job of identifying and offering policy solutions for various… Read More

Updated: Chinese Dronemaker DJI Obscured 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 controls about a 50 percent share of the U.S. drone market and 70 percent of the global consumer and enterprise drone market.  Since then, there has been even more action against DJI, including the U.S. Treasury adding it to the investment blacklist. Just this week, news reports revealed that DJI obscured its Chinese government funding and bicameral legislation was introduced that would require the FCC to add… Read More