Moolenaar Calls for Michigan Leaders to Stop Gotion as FBI Director Issues Another Warning on CCP Companies

Last night on “60 Minutes,” FBI Director Christopher Wray told the country his agency has “seen a variety of efforts by Chinese businesses, some cases state-owned enterprises, some cases ostensibly private companies, attempting to acquire businesses, land, infrastructure, what have you, in the United States in a way that presents national security concerns.” 

“The FBI Director’s warning of how CCP companies buy land and use industrial sites for espionage in the United States is yet another alarm bell for the people of Michigan. Unfortunately, state and local leaders in Lansing, Mecosta County, and the MEDC have ignored numerous warnings about the national security risks of doing business with CCP-affiliated companies, including Gotion. These leaders need to take these warnings seriously and stop the Gotion project,” said Congressman John Moolenaar.  

Wray along with intelligence directors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom appeared on "60 Minutes" last night to discuss the increasing threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During the interview, Wray gave the response above, when the intelligence directors were asked directly, “Is the Chinese government building industrial sites in your countries that are actually covers for espionage operations?” 

Gotion Inc., a subsidiary of the CCP-affiliated Gotion High-Tech, is planning to build a battery component factory in Mecosta County. The proposed site of the battery factory is just over 100 miles away from Camp Grayling, where the Michigan National Guard has hosted training for Taiwanese military leaders. Gotion has also announced its plans to send 20-50 Chinese nationals to the site of the factory. On September 4, the Wall Street Journal reported that the federal government is aware of 100 incidents where CCP nationals tried to enter military bases, sometimes posing as tourists. The Journal wrote that, “Officials familiar with the practice say the individuals are typically Chinese nationals pressed into service and required to report back to the Chinese government.”   

In July, Moolenaar questioned the former director of counterespionage in the United States, Bill Evanina. Moolenaar asked if the Gotion project will be used by the CCP for spying to which Evanina responded, “One hundred percent.”