From social media applications such as TikTok to Beijing’s 5G efforts with Huawei, Chinese technology has stormed the globe, providing a cheaper alternative to services provided by Western companies. Yet these savings come with risks, Keith Krach, the State Department’s undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment, told the Washington Free Beacon. Krach is the principal point man in the administration’s multi-pronged effort to challenge China on the tech front.
"The CCP is a bully. We know when bullies are confronted, they back down," Krach said. "They really back down when you confront them, and you have all your friends by your side."
Krach and other senior U.S. officials have gone on the offensive, pressing allies to cut ties with Chinese companies that do work in the cellular, cloud computing, cable, and wireless sectors. The Trump administration says the choice is clear: Side with America and the West or face the fallout of partnering with a communist country that has no qualms about stealing private data.
China’s dominance in the tech sphere is in large part the result of its decades-long espionage operations, which have targeted American and European businesses working on cutting-edge internet services, medical research, and other types of computing innovations. Beijing’s theft of intellectual property ranks among the worst in the world. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chose Krach to helm this campaign, which centers on exposing China’s unfair business practices and reliance on cyber espionage. This approach marks a significant departure from past administrations that sought to play nice with China.