lawmaker has raised alarm over Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s alleged ties to China, urging the company’s board to address potential national security and corporate governance concerns, according to an exclusive letter obtained by reporters.
The letter, sent by Rep. Mike Gallagher, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, questions Gelsinger’s interactions with Chinese officials and Intel’s ongoing operations in the country. Gallagher expressed concern that the tech giant’s deepening business interests in China could conflict with U.S. efforts to counter Beijing’s technological ambitions.
“It is critical that U.S. companies especially those at the heart of our national security infrastructure—do not compromise American interests for short-term market access in authoritarian regimes,” Gallagher wrote.
Intel, a key supplier of semiconductors essential to defense and critical infrastructure, has long maintained manufacturing and research ties with China. While the company has complied with U.S. export restrictions and has pledged to support domestic chip production under the CHIPS Act, lawmakers worry that close commercial links with China may undermine those efforts.
The letter demands clarity on the nature of Gelsinger’s communications with Chinese authorities, the extent of Intel’s investments in the region, and whether any concessions have been made that could impact U.S. competitiveness or security.
Intel declined to comment on the letter directly but reaffirmed its commitment to U.S. national security, saying, “Intel operates in accordance with all applicable laws and remains committed to transparency with regulators and stakeholders.”
The scrutiny comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over tech supremacy, and follows heightened efforts by U.S. officials to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains for critical technologies.
Gallagher’s letter signals growing bipartisan pressure on corporate America to take a harder line on China, especially in sectors vital to national defense and innovation leadership.