US Senator sends letter to Intel Board on CEO Lip-Bu Tan's 'China ties', says: What measures did you …

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan

’s appointment is, once again, under scanner as

US Senator Tom Cotton

has sent a letter to Intel's board chair, seeking clarifications about the chipmaker's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, and his alleged ties to Chinese firms. The senator is also seeking clarification on a recent criminal case involving Bu Tan’s former company,

Cadence Design

. According to a report, Cotton expressed “concern about the security and integrity of Intel's operations and its potential impact on

US national security

.”News agency Reuters reported that in his letter to Intel chairperson Frank Yeary, Cotton specifically inquired whether Intel’s board was aware of subpoenas sent to Cadence Design during Tan's tenure as CEO, and what measures were taken to address those concerns before his hiring.Cotton also questioned whether Intel's board required Tan to divest from Chinese chip firms linked to the Chinese military or Communist Party. He further asked if Tan adequately disclosed other ties to Chinese companies, especially given Intel's involvement in the Secure Enclave program, a Biden administration initiative aimed at securing microelectronics supply for defense. Due to Intel receiving federal funding under this program, Cotton pressed Yeary on Tan's disclosures related to investments, professional roles, or other connections to Chinese entities, the report added.

"Intel is required to be a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars and to comply with applicable security regulations. Mr. Tan's associations raise questions about Intel's ability to fulfill these obligations," Cotton reportedly wrote.

What Intel said in response to US senator’s question on Lip-Bu Tan's 'China ties'

In response, the company confirmed it would address the matters raised in the letter directly with the Senator.“Intel and Mr. Tan are deeply committed to the national security of the United States and the integrity of our role in the U.S. defense ecosystem,” an Intel spokesperson stated.In April this year, Bu Tan's appointment came under scrutiny as he is reportedly one of Silicon Valley's longest-running investors in Chinese companies. Reuters reported that he holds stakes in over 600 Chinese companies and controls more than 40 Chinese firms and funds, including at least eight with links to the People's Liberation Army. An analyst even claimed that Intel CEO is 'unqualified' for his role in the company."The simple fact is that Mr. Tan is unqualified to serve as the head of any company competing against China, let alone one with actual intelligence and national security ramifications like Intel and its tremendous legacy connections to all areas of America's intelligence and the defense ecosystem," said Andrew King, a partner at venture capital firm Bastille Ventures.It's important to note that it is not illegal for US citizens to hold stakes in Chinese companies, even those with ties to the Chinese military, unless those companies are explicitly listed on the US Treasury's Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List, which bans such investments.