WASHINGTON DC (July 1, 2019) — Senators Charles "Chuck" Grassley and Joni Ernst are pressing the Department of State for information about the process through which Boeing has provided American-made satellites to Chinese-connected companies, which may be used to advance Chinese military development and in the course of human rights abuses by China.
“The use of American satellite technology by the Chinese military and police raises serious military, national security, and human rights concerns,” the senators wrote.
According to an April report, Boeing has built nine satellites and was in the process of building another for sale through a loophole in American export control-laws that would allow the technology to be used by the Chinese government — raising significant national security concerns.
“Robust export-control laws are critical to ensuring that sensitive technology does not fall into the hands of those who may use it against us,” the sens continued.
These satellites may be used in furtherance of Chinese military goals and technological development, raising significant national-security concerns for the United States. The communications satellites may also be used in support of domestic efforts to suppress protests and the free exercise of religion among other human rights.
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sens Grassley and Ernst seek the department’s assessment of whether these sales constitute a violation of the broad statutory prohibitions on selling satellite technology to China. The senators also want information on how to prevent circumvention of those export control laws and how to stop further transfer of American-built satellites that may be used to support human rights abuses and Chinese military development.
Full text of the letter from Grassley and Ernst follows or can be found HERE.
