A Chinese company, Gotion High-Tech, which is developing an electric vehicle battery facility in Michigan with taxpayer funding, has come under scrutiny for publishing reports and videos of its employees dressed in Red Army uniforms and pledging loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The parent company, Gotion High-Tech, organized multiple trips to CCP revolutionary memorials in China for its workers, where they wore Red Army outfits and made pledges to fight for communism. Video footage showed employees chanting their allegiance to the Party during a trip to China’s Revolutionary Memorial Hall. The company also held a trip to Dabie Mountain to commemorate the CCP’s Long March. The revelation of these CCP trips and party pledges raises concerns about Gotion’s allegiance to the Chinese government.
Opponents of the Gotion project have criticized the company’s ties to the Chinese government, particularly highlighting its corporate bylaws, which mandate the company to participate in Party activities according to the CCP’s constitution. These concerns have led to increased scrutiny from local communities, national security experts, and Republican lawmakers. The company’s 2022 ESG report revealed that it engaged in activities promoting the study of the CCP’s National Congress, red-themed education, and support for students. Additionally, Gotion quietly registered as a Chinese foreign principal earlier this year.
Former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Cella, co-founder of the Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group, warns that China is actively seeking opportunities to exert influence in U.S. states and cites Gotion and CATL as examples of this influence. In April, Cella and former U.S. Ambassador Peter Hoekstra requested a federal investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act related to hush agreements signed during Gotion negotiations.
Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Gotion’s $2.4 billion investment to build production plants and supporting facilities in northern Michigan, with the aim of establishing the state as a global hub for mobility and electrification. The Michigan state Senate Appropriations Committee approved $175 million in direct taxpayer funding for the project, with some Democrats joining Republicans in voting against the funding.
Critics of the Gotion project, including local residents, expressed anger over the lack of transparency and due diligence in the decision-making process. They argue that the community’s concerns have been ignored and vow to continue voicing their opposition. Gotion has acquired 270 acres of land in Green Charter Township for the project, which includes land zoned for agriculture, residential, and industrial use.
At the time of publication, neither Gotion nor Governor Whitmer’s office had responded to requests for comment.
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