Challenging China: How U.S. policy fails
China is perhaps the United States' greatest political challenge—a key trade partner but also a military might that is steadily growing its influence around the world. Yet the United States' policies toward China are often contradictory or reflect a lack of coordination in dealing with the security risks often associated with a nation that seeks to surpass the U.S. in geopolitical dominance.
In a series of stories in 2023, Newsweek documented these contradictions and lapses.
Our coverage:
Federal retirement plan allows investment in sanctioned Chinese companies
Millions of federal employees can invest in Chinese companies sanctioned by the U.S. government via its flagship retirement plan, even though these companies have been branded a danger to national security or are accused of profiting from forced labor or other human rights abuses, Newsweek has learned. Since June 2022, the federal government's employee retirement plan—the largest in the world with $720 billion in assets—has offered its 6.8 million members the option to invest some of their savings in an account containing about 5,000 mutual funds, some of which have holdings in Chinese companies that are on at least nine U.S.
China's plan to rule the world through its smart devices, FCC urged to act
When police, firefighters and other first responders across the U.S. rush to emergencies, they rely on special devices to avoid overwhelmed public networks. Chinese spies could be listening in. Chinese-made components in devices certified for use on the federally managed FirstNet public safety network are designed to be able to send information back to servers in China and it's not clear how effective the security measures to prevent that are, according to engineers and industry sources with knowledge of the equipment who spoke to Newsweek.
Exclusive: U.S. Gave $30 Million to Top Chinese Scientist Leading AI Race
The U.S. government gave at least $30 million in federal grants for research led by a scientist who is now at the forefront of China's race to develop the most advanced artificial intelligence, a Newsweek investigation has revealed. Newsweek's revelations underline how the United States has not only been a source for China of advanced technology with military applications but has also actively collaborated with and funded scientists from its main rival. Only as tensions with China have grown has the research started coming under growing scrutiny.
