Chinese investments in SpaceX raises questions about foreign influences within the most important government contractor – Jalopnik

SpaceX likes to blow up rockets, overlooking sexual harassment and destroying the environment, but as a defense contractor it also gets billions and billions of dollars in government contracts. As a defense contractor, we as a country also have an interest in whether or not SpaceX is influenced by hostile foreign governments. And according to the newly unveiled testimony from a company -insider, SpaceX has taken over money directly from Chinese investors, Propublica report. That feels like a pretty serious concern about national security, but again, CEO Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, is a walk in national security itself.

When Propublica indicates that foreign investments in defense contractors are not downright illegal, but they Are Heavily regulated and monitored by the US government. Or at least they were back when we were a real country that at least pretended he was careful about things like corruption and ethics. Whether or not co-president Stephen Miller Cares has to do with what really happened between Musk and his wife a few months ago than the actual concerns about national security.

Regarding the confirmation that SpaceX has made Chinese investments from part of the SpaceX investor Iqbaljit Kahlon’s testimony in deposition last year:

“They clearly have Chinese investors to be honest,” said Iqbaljit Kahlon, a large SpaceX investor, in one deposit Last year, adding that some “directly on the dop table”. “Cap Table” refers to the capitalization table of the company, in which its shareholders are mentioned.

Kahlon’s testimony does not reveal the scope of Chinese investments in SpaceX or the identities of investors. Kahlon has long been near the leadership of the company and runs his own company that acts as an intermediary for rich investors who want to buy shares of SpaceX.

This is not the first time we hear about Chinese investors who get involved in SpaceX. The Financial times previously reported That Chinese investors bought shares in intermediary companies such as those Kahlon runs that are also invested in SpaceX. However, it is the first time that we have received a confirmation that SpaceX has directly accepted Chinese investments. When Propublica Speaked with various national security experts about this revelation, they said that it is not automatically a scandal, depending on the details of those investments, but also pointed out that “the US government has claimed that China has a systematic strategy to use investments in sensitive industries to carry out spy.”

If the investors gain access to non -public information about the company – for example, details about his contracts or supply chain – it can be useful for Chinese intelligence, said Sarah Bauerle Danzman, a professor in Indiana University who worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That “would cause enormous risks that, if realized, would have enormous consequences for national security,” she said.

SpaceX did not respond to questions for this story. Kahlon refused to comment.

It seems to be sure that Musk and the rest of SpaceX leadership know that there is also something to hide, because the Delaware testimony also claimed that the private individual kept a contractor required Chinese investors to router their investments through the Cayman Islands or other countries that are often used to drag the original source of the investments.

Is something coming from this? Shall we see a real investigation into what exactly is going on at SpaceX? Will Elon Musk lose his security authorization and his government contracts if the investigation finds some inappropriate for his part? Never say never, but I would certainly not hold back my breath. Research is now only for the political enemies of the Republicans, and do not hold powerful people responsible. The last thing Republicans want is that one of their allies will ever be held responsible, even if this means that national security is endangered.