Jon Tester calls for action against China’s acquisition of US technology following Chinese spy balloon incident.

Sen. Jon Tester Demands Crackdown on Chinese Communist Party’s Acquisition of U.S. Technology

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has called for immediate action to address the Chinese Communist Party’s use of American technology in its spy program. In a joint letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Tester demanded answers and emphasized the need to protect national security.

“I write with my deep concerns about the reports indicating that the Chinese spy balloon first spotted by Americans over Montana relied on American-made technology,” Tester wrote. “This brazen act highlights the importance of real and effective measures to stop the Chinese Communist Party from obtaining our American-made and taxpayer-funded technology to undermine our national security.”

The spy balloon, initially claimed by Beijing to be a weather balloon, was revealed to be equipped with American technology capable of spy balloon incident.”>collecting audio-visual information, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, defense officials have assured the public that no U.S. intelligence was compromised during the balloon’s flight over the country. The military took swift action, shooting down the balloon once it reached the Atlantic Ocean.

Tester urged the secretaries to thoroughly investigate how U.S. technology ended up in the hands of the Chinese government and to identify those responsible for the acquisition. He also emphasized the need for additional measures to prevent future instances of technology transfer.

“While I am pleased that the Department of Commerce formally restricted several Chinese entities with ties to the country’s military from obtaining American technologies, I expect that further measures need to be taken,” the senator added.

Although Tester did not specify a timeline for the investigation or response, he expressed his willingness to assist the departments in obtaining necessary clearance from Congress.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington, D.C. have been escalating due to various factors, including aggressive Chinese military maneuvers, the investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spy balloon incident, and other negative interactions. In an effort to ease tensions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary Yellen have recently traveled to Beijing.

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