A Daily Caller report found that Chinese military-linked companies have spent over $24 million on lobbying the US government since 2020.
Major firms named include Huawei and Megvii. Huawei was the top spender at over $10 million, battling legislation limiting its products.
“Chinese military corporations cast a wide net across the American government, lobbying the House, Senate and various parts of the executive branch, including the office of the president, often setting their sights on proposed policies that would impact their U.S. operations,” one report noted.
Other companies lobbied against bills that would harm their interests or outlaw them due to human rights issues.
Republican lawmakers discussed unofficially boycotting lobbyists working for such firms, convincing many to drop Chinese clients.
“It’s definitely a conversation among members on the China committee. These companies represent our adversary and there is obviously an orchestrated effort on their part to buy us off with lobbying firms to gain influence,” a Republican committee member stated.
Proposed legislation included requiring registration as foreign agents or prohibiting lobbyist meetings with Congress.
Experts say Chinese lobbying increased after restrictions on Huawei, aimed at disrupting actions negatively impacting market share and defending against sanctions.
The informal pressure on lobbyists indicates how powerful Congress has become in addressing national security issues related to China.
“China’s lobbying roster reads like a who’s who of Washington insiders, from retired Pentagon brass to former high-ranking congressional aides. One moment they’re advocating for a Fortune 100 company or U.S. defense contractor, the next they’re billing hours for DJI, Huawei, or another Chinese firm linked to China’s military or Chinese human rights atrocities,” Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) senior fellow Craig Singleton said.
“There are just certain entities we won’t meet with because we understand that while they may be doing it for commercial reasons, the interests that they’re representing are linked to Chinese goals, military goals and aspirations,” Sen. Marco Rubio said.
“The Chinese are unique in that there is no true solely private sector; they are forced to share information with the PLA and with their intelligence agencies. So, I would say anytime we’re dealing with a Chinese-owned enterprise, it’s a cause for concern,” said Sen. John Cornyn.
“The goal of these lobbying operations is simple: disrupting any actions that could negatively impact their clients’ market share, deflecting regulatory scrutiny and defending against sanctions,” Singleton said.
