U.S. Senators Demand Probe Into Alleged Chinese Backing of SpaceX
Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim have called for an immediate Pentagon investigation into potential Chinese investments in SpaceX. The lawmakers cite evidence that Beijing-linked entities may have used offshore vehicles in the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands to acquire stakes in Elon Musk's aerospace company.
The national security concerns gained urgency following SpaceX's $1.25 trillion merger with artificial intelligence firm xAI. Caribbean shell companies appear to have served as conduits for Chinese capital seeking access to sensitive U.S. space technology, according to judicial testimony and media reports.
The Department of Defense faces a February 20 deadline to respond to the senators' inquiry. The SpaceX-xAI deal's unprecedented scale raises new questions about foreign influence in critical infrastructure sectors.
