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The National Center for Counterintelligence and Security said on Friday that Beijing’s ambitions in advanced technology may give it an upper hand in health care and other important sectors in the United States.
US officials issued new warnings on Friday about China’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and a series of advanced technologies that could eventually give Beijing a decisive military advantage and possible dominance in US healthcare and other important industries.
Officials from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center said the warnings include renewed efforts to inform corporate executives, academics, and local and state government officials of the risks of accepting Chinese investment or key industry expertise. Although the center does not intend to tell officials to reject Chinese investment, it will encourage efforts to control intellectual property rights and implement security measures.
The national security agency under the leadership of President Joe Biden is taking active and public actions against China. Some officials call China the greatest strategic threat to the United States. The Biden administration is also trying to ease some tensions with Beijing since the administration of former US President Donald Trump, and seek common ground on trade and climate change issues.
Beijing has repeatedly accused Washington of spreading its intentions and attacked U.S. intelligence agencies’ assessment of China, including accusing Chinese leaders of withholding key information about the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has stated its goal of creating profitable technologies in robotics and other fields in a plan called “Made in China 2025”. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Justice has returned a number of indictments accusing China of stealing sensitive U.S. information, including vaccine research and self-driving car technology.
Michael Orlando, acting director of the Counter-Spy Center, told reporters at a rare briefing on Thursday that the United States “cannot lose” to China in several key areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
Orlando pointed out that Chinese enterprises and academic circles are affected by the Chinese Communist Party and must serve the party’s interests.
“Although we say this year after year, people have not digested it,” he said.
Orlando declined to say whether the United States should impose stricter restrictions or outright bans on Chinese investment in certain areas, saying that his role is not to make policy recommendations.
But Orlando said that the Counter-espionage Center regularly holds briefings with private companies and academia, while recognizing that companies and universities may still want to find students, experts, and investors from China. He declined to disclose the name of the company that met with the center.
Edward You, the center’s official in charge of emerging and disruptive technologies, pointed to Chinese companies’ investments in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors in the United States and Europe.
WuXi AppTec has established a vaccine production plant in Ireland since 2019, announced plans to build a production plant in Massachusetts, USA, and acquired the Bayer plant in Germany. Officials did not disclose any information linking these acquisitions to the impact of Beijing, but said they are part of a broader model of Chinese medical companies.
Lobbying, Chinese companies have also provided COVID-19 testing kits and genetic testing in the United States, in compliance with federal privacy standards and other regulations. But You said that data collected by companies connected to China may eventually fall into Beijing’s hands.
In particular, China is already the country with the most medical data among all countries. He said that with data collection and technological advancement, Beijing may one day dominate the healthcare field, leaving the United States completely dependent on China.
“If you are President Xi,” you said, “this is a gift that is constantly given.”
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