Disturbing Discovery Regarding US Military Bases Confirmed as True
The president of a technology company, which is planning to establish a factory in Kansas near two military bases, has acknowledged that some employees of its parent company are members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Shawn Montgomery, the president of Cnano USA, confirmed the CCP affiliations during his testimony on March 4 before the Kansas House Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development.
Montgomery's testimony was in response to House Bill 2766, aimed at safeguarding military installations by imposing restrictions on foreign real estate purchases.
U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, expressing apprehension about the proposed location of the 330,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Johnson County, referred to Cnano USA as "a wolf in sheep’s clothing," as reported by the Kansas Reflector. LaTurner cited concerns about the proximity of the facility to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas and Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Despite Montgomery's efforts to dispel "misinformation" about Cnano's intentions to pilfer U.S. military secrets and his assertion of pride in being American, several committee members voiced objections.
Republican state Rep. Patrick Penn raised the issue of reported CCP ties of Cnano USA's parent company, Cnano Jiangsu.
“Cnano Jiangsu operates a CCP party branch with more than two dozen members and participates in CCP-backed initiatives including [the 863 Program],” Penn stated.
He elaborated, “The 863 Program, which has provided funding to the parent company, Cnano Jiangsu, has been a significant CCP initiative aimed at advancing China’s military and civilian science technology. According to a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, it facilitates the clandestine acquisition of American technology and sensitive economic information.”
Penn directly questioned Montgomery about CCP membership within Cnano Jiangsu.
Montgomery responded, “Cnano USA does not have any CCP members.”
However, Penn persisted, clarifying that he was inquiring about the parent company, to which Montgomery admitted, “Cnano Jiangsu has 23 or 26 party members in the company.”
Montgomery sought to contextualize this by stating, “The same thing is actually true for most businesses that are actually doing business in China. That includes Walmart and Ford both. Having a CCP party branch is very, very typical there.”
Republican state Rep. Kristey Williams expressed doubt regarding Montgomery's testimony, as reported by the Daily Caller.
She remarked, “He provided no evidence or reliable assurances that Cnano [USA] operates independently from the CCP.”
Williams added, “Companies owned and operated by the CCP, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, adhere to the policies, directions, and goals of their authorizing entity — which is the CCP.”
Penn, drawing on his background as a retired Army officer, emphasized the importance of clarity, national security, and integrity.
“We know that Cnano Jiangsu is calling the shots for Cnano USA when it is at the top of the chain of command,” Penn asserted, according to the Daily Caller.
“These are legitimate concerns, only heightened by the fact that Montgomery refused to directly address what we are asking.”