Senator- Elon Musk China ties ‘na profound threat’ to US national security

US Senator Richard Blumenthal don warn say Elon Musk business ties with China dey pose serious threat’ to US national security, as him dey cite Tesla significant manufacturing and sales presence for China, as well as SpaceX reliance on di US Defence Department.

Musk close relationships with Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, don raise concerns say dem fit use am as backchannel to di Trump administration, potentially compromising US interests.

Experts don also highlight di risks of China exploiting US companies, including Tesla, to advance its national security interests.

Elon Musk involvement for di incoming Donald Trump administration dey draw scrutiny over possible conflicts of interests, with one senator warning say di Tesla and SpaceX CEO business ties with China fit jeopardize US national security.

“I think say him dey beyond dangerous.”

“I think say him dey profound threat to our national security say Mr. Musk and SpaceX dey dis position,” talk Richard Blumenthal, chairman of di Senate judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology and di law.

Trump don talk say Musk go co-lead one government efficiency commission wey aim to oversee some changes to take regulate as well as potentially massive cuts to federal agencies.

Tesla dey manufacture half of dia vehicles for China, wey also account for one-third of dia sales, while di US Defence Department and oda government agencies dey increasingly rely for SpaceX.

Musk close business ties with China and some of dia most senior officials, including Premier Li Qiang, don prompt reports say dem fit consider am by Beijing as backchannel to Trump, especially for di early days of di transition period.

As him dey speak for one show like dat for Tuesday for di US tech companies and dia relationships with China, Blumenthal, one senator from Connecticut since 201, talk say Musk ties with Beijing fit dey exploited.

“dose extensive economic ties and China willingness to exploit dem na dangerous combination, real risk to dis country,” Blumenthal talk, add say Musk and Tesla “far from di only ones for Big Tech wey dey face dis situation.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Chinese Premier Li Qiang for one meeting for Beijing for April 2024.

Isaac Stone Fish, chief executive of New York-based consulting firm Strategy Risks and one of four witnesses wey don appeared on Tuesday’s hearing, come agreed dat Tesla’s dependence on China bin dey raise concern.

“e dey very-very difficult position for Mr. Musk to dey inside,” fish talk say Beijing “love use corporate leverage” over US companies and pipo to push its national security interests.

“Frankly, I no sabi how Mr. Musk go balance di interest him get with di US government, Tesla and SpaceX for di same time. E really, really hard,” he talk.

Di hearing wey dem dey look into possible cybersecurity threats from China happen as Washington dem dey dey worried about Chinese spying activities, wey senators and industry pipo dem talk say dem dey more advanced.

US officials believe be say China fit no only break into weak critical infrastructure like airports and power stations, but also fit launch cyber-attacks if any major conflict happen or attack on Taiwan.

For October, Di Wall Street Journal report say Chinese hackers don breach some US telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon, and dem fit don get access to court-authorized wiretapping requests.

Crowd Strike senior vice-president Adam Meyers talk say China don improve dia spying abilities, wey go make dem more effective with di “operational advancements, beta technical capabilities, and more alignment to national political goals.”

“Now, Chinese hackers dey run complex, sophisticated, hidden, and very powerful cyber operations wey target every region and every industry,” he talk.

Meyers talk say di Texas-based cybersecurity company don see more China-backed espionage campaigns for di last 18 months.

Dem go for “strategic intelligence, steal intellectual property, and carry out targeted group surveillance,” including one cyber espionage group wey dey call Vanguard Panda.

Him talk say Vanguard Panda target US critical infrastructure, maybe to prepare for future conflict.

Him also talk about Liminal Panda – anoda group wey dem track, wey dem say na China state-sponsored and dem focus on exploiting telecom infrastructure worldwide.

Before di US election, Di New York Times report say Chinese hackers target Trump phones and him running mate Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Even Vice-President Kamala Harris, di Democratic candidate, also target, dem report.

For dat time, Chinese embassy spokesperson for Washington deny am and talk say Beijing no get any plan to interfere with di election, say na US domestic mata.

Dem talk say US don dey spread “plenty disinformation” about Chinese hacking threats for recent years. “dose allegations dey full of malicious lies against China, and China no gree with am.”

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