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Business Mayor
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Chinese solar tech poses 'chilling' threat to US electric grid, lawmakers warn
The reported discovery of 'rogue communication devices' in Chinese-exported solar inverters spurred new scrutiny of Chinese imports and of the security of the domestic electric grid. In a blue state known for backing solar and other green energy alternatives, a top state Republican warned that 'the time to act is now' to stop incursions by a malign foreign actor. 'The recent discovery of rogue communication devices underscores a chilling reality: our critical infrastructure is vulnerable, and New Jersey's leadership is asleep at the wheel,' said state Sen. Doug Steinhardt, R-Belvidere. Steinhardt, a former chair of the state GOP, said allowing 'hostile foreign governments' to potentially penetrate U.S. energy networks is a national security writ large. TRUMP ENERGY CHIEF RECOUNTS EVOLUTION OF US ENVIRONS OVER 56 EARTH DAYS: A HANDILY-ENERGIZED SOCIETY WORKS In New Jersey's case, three bills – all sponsored by Steinhardt – seek to blunt this new threat, including one banning the state from companies owned by or based out of certain foreign countries. Another bill in the Garden State would somewhat mirror Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' policy against Chinese land ownership near protected facilities. Such policies also grew out of CCP-linked purchases of land in the Sunshine State and across the country, including another controversial 380,000-acre purchase in North Dakota near the Grand Forks Air Force Base. A Reuters report last week discovered solar power inverters were found to have 'rogue communication devices not listed in product documents' within the modules after being 'stripped-down' by technologists. Inverters, of which a majority are imported, connect solar panels and wind installations to electric grids by converting DC power to AC power. While solar tech does typically have firewalls against outside incursion, the findings raised concern, according to Reuters. ENERGY CHIEF ENVISIONS US NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE, RESTORING PIT PRODUCTION, LOCALIZING NUKE POWER 'We cannot afford to let our energy systems, our food supply, or any strategic assets fall into the hands of those who wish us harm – the time to act is now,' Steinhardt said in a statement. Citing national security concerns, a bipartisan pair of senators introduced the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, which would prohibit the government from buying batteries from some foreign sources over similar concerns. 'Our national security should not require reliance on components made by adversaries like China,' Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said in drafting the bill with Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. 'This bipartisan legislation will help safeguard both our supply chains and our national security by preventing the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing Chinese batteries for the devices and technology that keep Americans safe.' In comments to Fox News Digital on Monday, Scott called it 'terrifying' the CCP could have any control over the U.S. grid. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 'Communist China is an adversary, led by a ruthless, authoritarian regime that wants to undermine our national security, spy on our citizens, steal our technology, and destroy our economy,' Scott said. 'We cannot allow this regime to have access to the very systems and resources families and businesses depend on. That's why I've introduced legislation to cut off our dependence on Chinese-made batteries that serve as Trojan horses for their surveillance state, and I'm bringing back the Protect American Power Infrastructure Act to slam the door shut on any Chinese influence over our electric grid.' Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Phil Murphy as well as the Energy Department for comment.
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
America Is No Longer for Sale to the CCP
Commentary President Donald Trump has launched the most comprehensive effort in modern U.S. history to block the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from accessing American capital, technology, and farmland—and to stop China's military-linked entities from ' The media are fixated on the rising cost of Chinese imports caused by tariffs during the Trump administration's ongoing trade war with China. They're focused on the impact this has on discount retailers such as Walmart and Target, as well as on low-income families, claiming the strategy is backfiring or that the administration's trade war is failing. However, the fact that Chinese imports have become more expensive means the strategy is working. It will force these retailers to source locally or find alternative supply chains if they wish to stay in business. Meanwhile, the national security threat posed by the Chinese regime's trade and investment in U.S. technology and farmland is real, and is finally being addressed by Trump. One reason Americans are feeling the impact so sharply now is that the previous administrations ignored the issue almost entirely, with some in the media even suggesting that the CCP national security threat was a The narrative that communist China's rise is harmless has been echoed and promoted Despite the pain Americans may feel from reduced purchasing power, tariffs remain a strategic instrument of national defense. By raising the cost of Chinese goods, they reduce U.S. dependence on adversarial supply chains, protect key domestic industries, and deny revenue to companies linked to the CCP or its People's Liberation Army (PLA). This economic pressure is part of a broader effort to sever the financial ties that allow Beijing to exploit U.S. markets while funding its military buildup and global influence campaigns. Related Stories 5/1/2025 4/29/2025 But tariffs are only one front in the Trump administration's economic war. Trump also uses the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to block CCP-linked investments in critical technologies and U.S. real estate. Chinese companies with military ties have increasingly targeted U.S. tech companies and farmland, prompting a forceful policy response. In February, Trump issued the The memorandum empowered CFIUS to reject Chinese investment in sensitive sectors such as technology, agriculture, energy, and health care, and called for new legal tools—including sanctions under the U.S. allies have expressed frustration that the Trump administration's investment restrictions apply to their countries and China. However, this policy reflects a necessary precaution. Chinese companies frequently use The CCP's Military-Civil Fusion strategy depends not just on capital but on acquiring knowledge through students, researchers, and joint ventures. American universities have increasingly served as inadvertent conduits for this transfer of talent and funding. For example, the University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO) A more direct example is the case of Xiaofeng Wang, a cybersecurity professor at Indiana University Bloomington, whose home was raided by the FBI in March amid suspicions of undisclosed affiliations with Chinese institutions. Although he was not charged, the case highlights the heightened scrutiny of Chinese scientists in the United States. In response, the Trump administration has implemented measures to restrict CCP access to U.S. talent and research, particularly in artificial intelligence, through increased export controls, tightened visa policies, and legal tools designed to ensure American innovation does not fuel Beijing's military buildup. These actions have been carried out through a combination of executive orders and legal authorities spanning both of Trump's terms, demonstrating a consistent focus on countering the CCP's infiltration of U.S. markets, research, and institutions. In addition to the America First Investment Policy, the expansion of CFIUS authority, and powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the administration has relied on tools such as Presidential Proclamation 10043, which restricts entry for Chinese researchers tied to military-linked entities, and the Export Control Reform Act, which limits foreign access to sensitive technologies, are key tools in this strategy. These measures are reinforced by ongoing investigations by the Justice Department and FBI under national security laws, many rooted in the China Initiative era. Together, this legal framework reflects the most extensive initiative in modern U.S. history to block CCP access to American capital, assets, and innovation, and to stop China's military-linked entities from gaining a foothold in critical U.S. sectors. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Trump to postpone ‘TikTok ban' because of ‘sweet spot' for social media-obsessed Gen Z
Advertisement President Donald Trump vowed to extend the deadline for the 'TikTok ban' until a deal is struck to sell the Chinese-owned social media app to a U.S. owner, saying in an interview on Sunday that he has a 'warm spot' in his heart for it. 'I'd like to see it done, I have a little sweet spot in my heart because I won young people by 36 points… and I focused on TikTok,' Trump told NBC 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker. President Biden signed the so-called 'TikTok' ban into law in April 2024. The law stipulated that unless CCP-linked parent company ByteDance divests from the app and sells its stake to a US owner or company TikTok would be outlawed in the United States as of January 19, 2025. Advertisement Trump extended the ban by 75 days via executive order on his first day in office, and recently extended the ban another 75 days in April. 'Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok,' Trump said Sunday. 3 A man leaves the U.S. headquarters of the social media company TikTok in Culver City, California, U.S. January 17, 2025. REUTERS The Chinese-owned app briefly went dark for 24 hours in January when the law was set to take effect. Apple and Google removed TikTok from their app stores. Advertisement 'We regret that a U.S. law banning TikTok will take effect on January 19 and force us to make our services temporarily unavailable, we're working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible, and we appreciate your support. Please stay tuned,' the app, which boasts 170 million US users, displayed in a popup message. 3 'I'd like to see it done, I have a little sweet spot in my heart because I won young people by 36 points… and I focused on TikTok,' Trump told NBC 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker. NBC / Meet the Press 3 The Chinese-owned app briefly went dark for 24 hours in January when the law was set to take effect. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement TikTok resumed service a day later when Trump put out a statement on TruthSocial vowing to extend the deadline for the ban, and ensuring that companies that did business with the app would be shielded from liability. TikTok thanked then-President-elect Trump in a statement upon resuming service. Apple and Google later restored the social networking app to their app stores. Trump vowed to Welker that the app would be 'protected' and said he wants to see a deal for the social media app finalize. Critics of TikTok say that it leaves American users vulnerable to foreign surveillance and causes mental health disorders in children and teens. Trump has downplayed the risk of the app in recent months. 'Is it so important for China to be spying on young people watching crazy videos?' Trump asked Fox News' Sean Hannity when asked about the app in January.
Sky News AU
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Voting drunk allowed, bribing others not: What Australians can and can't do in the polling booth on election day
With this year's federal election now only days away, the AEC is warning voters what they can and can't do at the polling booth - and what could land them in prison. There are things the Australian Electoral Commission doesn't prohibit, including allowing people to be intoxicated when they their vote, or taking a picture of their ballot paper. However, bribery, interfering with political liberty and leaving a voting recommendation for the next person are firmly in the don't-do category. What can lead to prison time The AEC's website lists a number of penalties surrounding voting that if committed, could lead to a term of imprisonment. Anyone who intentionally casts more than one vote in the same election can face a prison sentence of up to 12 months and a fine of up to $19,800. Bribing someone else to vote in a particular way can result in a two-year prison sentence, and hindering or interfering with another person's right to vote can land the offender in jail for three years. Owners or employees of hospitals or nursing homes cannot influence the vote of a patient or resident and can be sent to prison for six months if found guilty. Leaving the next person to enter the polling booth a voting recommendation is not an imprisonable offence but is still outlawed under the Referendum Act. What voters can do legally Voters are allowed to use their mobile phones in the booths and 'generally speaking' can even take a photo of their own ballot paper, the AEC confirmed to Sky News. Though Australia has secret ballot system, an AEC spokesperson said it is matter for individuals as to whether they want to give up that secrecy. 'Generally speaking it's fine to take a sneaky shot of your own ballot paper if you want to post it to social media... or to take a quick selfie so long as you don't include other voters or AEC staff in the shot,' the spokesperson said. Voters also can't film other's votes or the electoral roll and certified lists, and it can be an offence to film inside a polling place without the permission of the officer in charge. There are no specific rules barring people from voting intoxicated, but there won't be any alcohol sold under the same roof as polling stations. 'We do have a rule in the Electoral Act that requires any licensed premises we use as a polling place to not sell alcohol in the same part of the building in which polling is happening,' the AEC spokesperson said. Pets are also OK for voters to bring with them, but the electoral commission asks that people leave their pets tied up outside a polling place where possible. "Assistance animals are of course allowed inside a polling place as they are professionals doing an important job," the spokesperson said. Rules also apply to staff at the booths, and with election day only just around the corner, Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has been heavily scrutinised over discussions to recruit volunteers associated with a CCP-linked organisation. The Australian reported that ten individuals associated with a group linked to Beijing's influence operations agency were being recruited to staff the minister's polling booths on election day.
Epoch Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Dutton Calls China the Top Security Threat as Albanese Urges Diplomacy
With less than a week until the polls, China has entered the Australian election debate. Opposition leader Peter Dutton called China the biggest threat to Australia's national security during the final leadership debate on April 27. 'If you were to believe the intelligence that I received as defence minister and as the leader of the opposition, and no doubt that the prime minister receives as well, the biggest concern [comes] from our intelligence agencies and our defence,' Dutton said in connection to China. When confronted with his views on the subject, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a more diplomatic line. 'China seeks to increase its influence in the region,' he said, adding that the relationship with China is complex because it is 'our major trading partner.' When pressed repeatedly to directly name China as the biggest threat, Albanese said, 'I'm the prime minister of a country, and how you deal as prime minister is diplomatically, and that is what we continue to do.' Albanese cited the recent Papua New Guinea NRL deal as a key step by his government to address the situation. Under the deal, Australia will provide $600 million over a decade to help establish the team. In return, Papua New Guinea will sign a 'parallel' agreement on 'strategic trust' aimed at preventing Beijing from securing a major security presence in the country. Australia-China Stability Tested Australia's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) saw cautious stabilisation in 2024, building on the thaw that began after Albanese's Labor government took office in 2022. A breakthrough came when Beijing lifted its trade ban on live rock lobsters, ending a key pillar of its earlier campaign of economic coercion. Anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine were also removed, beef exports resumed with the lifting of restrictions on two meat processors, and Canberra ended its anti-dumping measures on Chinese sinks. Travel links also improved, with Beijing expanding visa-free access for Australians from 15 to 30 days. Diplomatic activity and high-level meetings resumed, with Foreign Ministers Penny Wong and Wang Yi holding multiple rounds of talks, Premier Li Qiang visiting Australia, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers travelling to Beijing. Yet tensions lurked just beneath the surface. The sentencing of Australian pro-democracy writer Yang Jun to death with a two-year reprieve drew condemnation from Canberra. Australian intelligence agencies warned of rising espionage and foreign interference, culminating in the first local conviction under foreign interference laws. Cybersecurity remained a battleground, with Australia joining allies in exposing CCP-linked hacking operations. Military tensions also flared when a Chinese fighter jet dangerously deployed flares near an Australian navy helicopter in the Yellow Sea. Through it all, CCP state media kept up its propaganda on AUKUS, the Quad, and Australia's growing military ties with the United States. A Critical Year Ahead A new analysis from the UTS's Australia-China Relations Institute warns that the Trump administration and the Australian election outcome will heavily influence the next chapter of the Australia-China relationship. Economic warfare between the United States and China could sharpen Australia's dilemma between its security alliance with Washington and its economic dependence on Beijing. The report notes that a U.S.-China tech war could push Australia to tighten controls on critical minerals or join a U.S.-led supply chain. Conversely, a Trump retreat from the green energy transition could ease pressure on Australian lithium exports to China. Meanwhile, growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea—and potential U.S. intervention—could pull Canberra into direct confrontation.
