SpaceX. File Image
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Democratic U.S. senators on Thursday (February 5, 2026) urged the Pentagon to conduct a direct evaluate of SpaceX amid allegations that Chinese language buyers have secretly acquired stakes in the intently held rocket maker, citing potential nationwide safety dangers, in keeping with a letter seen by Reuters.
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Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim wrote to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, expressing concern that Chinese language funding in SpaceX might current “a nationwide safety risk, doubtlessly jeopardizing key army, intelligence, and civilian infrastructure.”
The lawmakers cited media experiences and courtroom testimony suggesting that buyers with ties to China routed funds by entities within the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands to masks purchases of SpaceX shares.
Based by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, SpaceX performs a central function in U.S. nationwide safety infrastructure, launching army and intelligence satellites and working its Starlink communications community, which is utilized by the Pentagon and to help Ukraine’s protection.
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The senators warned that any Chinese language possession might set off U.S. guidelines governing overseas possession, management or affect, often known as FOCI, given the potential publicity of delicate data or applied sciences.
The letter asks the Division of Defence to reveal the extent of any Chinese language possession, assess whether or not SpaceX is topic to FOCI mitigation necessities, and decide whether or not overseas investments ought to be reviewed by the Committee on International Funding in the US.
The senators requested a response by February 20. SpaceX’s latest acquisition of xAI, which Mr. Musk has described as “the most formidable, vertically built-in innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based web, direct-to-mobile communications, and the world’s foremost real-time data and free speech platform,” provides to the immediacy of questions on Chinese language funding within the firm, the senators argue.
Printed – February 05, 2026 06:02 pm IST