The United States is currently investigating Chinese pharmaceutical company WuXi AppTec for allegedly transferring sensitive data from American customers to the Beijing regime, posing a risk to national security, according to intelligence sources cited by Reuters. This information was shared with the Senate as lawmakers work on a biotechnology security bill targeting WuXi AppTec and other Beijing-based companies.
WuXi AppTec is involved in the research, development, and manufacturing of pharmaceutical raw materials and medicines, with clients ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to small biotechnology firms. In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for WuXi AppTec stated that the company complies with U.S. federal and state requirements and is not aware of any unauthorized transfers of customer data to China. They emphasized the importance of protecting their customers’ information and storing it according to their instructions.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) alerted the White House about Beijing’s scientific and technological advancements through intellectual property theft in order to gain economic and military advantages last month. This sparked concerns among U.S policymakers about certain Chinese companies developing biotechnology that could be exploited by the Chinese military.
China’s embassy in Washington rebuked Congress for claiming that WuXi AppTec posed a threat to national security without providing convincing evidence to support their allegations. The debate around potential risks associated with data transfers and intellectual property theft highlights ongoing concerns about the relationship between Chinese companies and the U.S., particularly in sensitive sectors like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
