By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) – A congressional committee chair has asked the Pentagon to review Safran’s joint ventures in China, saying the French aerospace company’s commercial ties with Chinese companies raise concerns in light of its U.S. defense contracts.
In a letter to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Republican Representative John Moolenaar said the French company’s activities in China may be aiding the Chinese military, and cited Safran’s work with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, or AVIC, among other issues. Moolenaar heads the House of Representatives Select Committee on China.
“While Safran’s ventures in China are commercial in nature, its work with these AVIC subsidiaries may directly support entities that help advance the CCP’s military capabilities,” Moolenaar, referring to the Chinese Communist Party, wrote in the letter sent late on Thursday, first reported by Reuters.
Safran develops quantum-sensing technology and maintains engines for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter as well as landing systems for various U.S. military aircraft, Moolenaar wrote.
Asked to comment on the letter, the Pentagon said it would respond directly to Moolenaar. Safran and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Moolenaar’s committee for months has been reviewing the activities of American and Western aerospace companies in China, also including Airbus.
Moolenaar said he wants to work with the Pentagon “to ensure that American defense contractors do not support the Chinese military.”
“We expect Western companies who do business with the U.S. government to work with us in good faith to unwind relationships that undermine U.S. national security,” Moolenaar added. “We are concerned about Western aerospace companies supporting PRC (People’s Republic of China) military capabilities.”
Moolenaar sent a similar letter to the Pentagon in December raising concerns about Airbus and its ties to Chinese companies including Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group, or XAC.
His letter concerning Safran raised concerns about the company establishing a joint venture with the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, or SAM, in 2012 to manufacture an electrical wiring connection system for Chinese C919 commercial aircraft. Moolenaar wrote that SAM has been involved in the manufacturing and repair of Chinese military aircraft.
The letter also said Safran established a joint venture with AVIC subsidiary XAC in 2011 to produce components called nacelles for jet engines. The letter said the joint venture produced thrust reverser doors that have military applications, and that XAC has worked on Chinese military aircraft.
Safran and GE are partners in the French-U.S. jet engine maker CFM.
Moolenaar’s letter raised concern that Safran’s development work on Chinese helicopters has accelerated Chinese military efforts, including work with Aero Engine Corporation of China.
“We noticed a pattern where French companies work with China to develop a civilian helicopter, then the (Chinese military) absorbs that civilian helicopter technology into its military platforms,” Moolenaar wrote.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Will Dunham)
Comments