Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Chinese Products in U.S. Military Exchanges
In Washington, a group of lawmakers is expressing serious concerns about networking and smart home devices linked to the Chinese Communist Party that are being sold at military exchanges for the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Twenty-three members of Congress are urging the Trump administration to investigate the situation and even consider banning products from TP-Link Technologies and its affiliates in the U.S. market, citing fears of infiltration.
A letter addressed to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick highlights that information suggests TP-Link could pose a significant risk to U.S. information and communications technology (ICT). The bipartisan group, led by Sen. Joni Ernst from Iowa, stated, “Right now, there’s nothing stopping companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party from spying on Americans through internet-connected cameras in their homes.” They worry these devices could be used to track, threaten, or blackmail U.S. citizens, including military and government officials.
The lawmakers are particularly focused on TP-Link cameras sold in the U.S., especially as their popularity appears to be rising. While some products are currently out of stock on military retail websites, the trend is not reassuring.
Ernst stressed the urgency of the situation: “China will invade us by any means necessary. We must prevent China from accessing our homeland and military bases.” She referenced previous concerns surrounding other companies, like Huawei, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into whether TP-Link poses a similar threat to national security.
TP-Link, which offers a variety of products like Wi-Fi routers, cameras, and smart plugs, operates out of Shenzhen, China, and has a smaller presence in Irvine, California.
China has implemented laws, such as the National Intelligence Act of 2017, that might require companies to cooperate with national intelligence operations, raising alarms about potential backdoors in the technology and equipment. Other legal frameworks have also been solidified, like the Cybersecurity Law of 2017 and the Data Security Law of 2021, which further tighten regulations.
Concerns about TP-Link have been voiced for years. Just last year, leaders from the House Special China Committee echoed calls for an investigation into high-tech companies, expressing the risk of introducing technology linked to the Communist Party into American homes.
Rep. Ashley Hinson from Iowa, who also signed the letter, stated, “Congress has found that TP-Link is bringing technology that is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party into the homes of Americans.” She added that, in an era where cyber threats are paramount, it should be simpler to curb these risks.
In the meantime, TP-Link products remain available through various military exchanges and other major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, with some items being best sellers.
A TP-Link spokesperson responded strongly to the concerns, claiming the company holds only about 3% of the U.S. security camera market. They emphasized that their security capabilities and data infrastructure are based in the U.S. and categorically denied any ties to the Chinese Communist Party. They also mentioned that their founder, who resides in California, has never been a member of the party.
Further reinforcing their position, the spokesperson claimed that U.S. data is stored securely within American infrastructure and asserted that TP-Link does not allow foreign entities to monitor American networks or users.
Finally, this bipartisan group is pressing the Commerce Department to evaluate the national security threats posed by TP-Link, setting a deadline of November 30 for this assessment.
