China is embedding vulnerabilities into the very technologies Americans depend on.
Originally published in the Washington Examiner — read the full piece here
China is embedding vulnerabilities into the very technologies Americans depend on. Engineers recently found “kill switches” in Chinese-made solar components—evidence of Beijing’s ability to disrupt our energy grid from within. And that’s just one example. From payment terminals to routers and logistics software, Chinese-controlled tech is laced throughout U.S. infrastructure.
This is deliberate pre-positioning. China’s government is backing hackers-for-hire, subsidizing hardware, and embedding tools that could allow them to shut down systems in a crisis. If it were missiles or troops, we’d recognize it as aggression.
What must we do? Cut CCP-linked technology out of critical sectors. Build competitive, secure American alternatives. Reward companies that design resilience into their systems. And map our digital risks as seriously as we would a battlefield.
The bottom line: in cyberspace, the first mover wins. China is already moving. America cannot afford to wait.
