Washington, April 25: Political circles in the United States are increasingly alarmed over a copper mining deal linked to China. Senior Democratic senators have raised national security concerns and are calling for an investigation into the agreement.
Among those voicing concerns is Senator Maxine Waters, who, along with three other senior leaders, has written to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen, urging a review of the deal. They assert that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) should immediately investigate this transaction.
The issue revolves around the transfer of federal land in Arizona to Resolution Copper Mining LLC. Senators argue that this land contains one of the largest undeveloped copper reserves in the U.S., and granting it to a company with strong ties to China poses significant risks.
This company is owned by global mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto. In their letter, the senators noted that a substantial portion of the revenue for both companies comes from mineral exports to China. Notably, Rio Tinto’s largest shareholder is a Chinese state-owned enterprise, raising further concerns.
The mining area, known as Oak Flat, is located approximately 100 miles from Luke Air Force Base. Senators warn that foreign investment so close to a sensitive military installation poses serious security risks under current regulations.
They also cautioned that the proposed mining project would involve tunnels, transportation routes, and substantial electrical infrastructure, potentially compromising security in this strategically important area. Additionally, there are indications that a hypersonic missile manufacturing and testing facility could be developed in the region in the future.
Highlighting the economic significance, senators pointed out that the U.S. Geological Survey has designated copper as a ‘critical mineral’ due to its vital role in the electricity and manufacturing sectors. However, current laws do not mandate that copper extracted from this site be processed or sold within the U.S.
The letter clearly states that this entire situation could pose a major national security threat, as critical mineral resources in the U.S. are falling under the control of a foreign company with deep economic ties to China, especially near sensitive military sites.
Meanwhile, Republican senators have also expressed concerns about U.S.-China scientific and technological cooperation. In a letter to the U.S. State Department, they noted the lack of a centralized system to monitor such agreements (science and technology agreements).
Senators warned that these agreements facilitate the sharing of research and technological information, which could be misused by adversarial nations. They allege that China has previously exploited such collaborations to acquire intellectual property (IP) and trade secrets.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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