Gavin Newsom, Biden, Harris took millions from China military firms

Key Points:

• Top employees from Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD—recently designated by the Pentagon as "Chinese military companies"—have donated approximately $2.6 million to Democratic political committees since 2020, benefiting prominent figures such as Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, and Adam Schiff.
• The Pentagon's 1260H list, created under the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, identifies Chinese companies linked to the military-civil fusion strategy but does not automatically impose sanctions; however, new laws will restrict Pentagon contracts with these firms starting in 2024 and expand in 2027.
• While these companies deny military affiliations and intend to legally challenge their inclusion, experts warn that all Chinese firms on the list support the People’s Liberation Army, urging U.S. politicians to reject campaign contributions from them.
• Biden-related committees received the largest share of donations (~$850,000), followed by the Democratic National Committee (~$500,000), with some state Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, also accepting contributions from these firms.
• The Pentagon maintains that its designations are based on thorough review, identifying 188 entities meeting criteria for inclusion, aiming to alert U.S. businesses and policymakers to the risks of engagement with Chinese military-linked companies.