Originally published August 21, 2023 2:00 pm PDT
Michigan’s forthcoming $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery facility, backed by over $1 billion in public funds, has become a focal point of debate.
Spearheaded by energy giant Gotion, Inc., the project is facing opposition from a spectrum of groups ranging from local residents to Republican leaders and environmental activists, according to a report from Just the News.
Despite being headquartered in Fremont, California, Gotion, Inc. is wholly under the ownership and jurisdiction of Gotion High-Tech from Hefei, an eastern Chinese city.
Documentation under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveals this corporate linkage, pointing out the foreign nature of the enterprise.
Adding a layer to the intrigue is Gotion High-Tech’s foundational charter, which mandates: “The Company shall set up a Party organization and carry out Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China.”
This charter aligns the company with the practices and directives of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A stipulation further declares the “Party Committee” oversees the firm’s alignment with Party ideologies, policies, and other spheres of operation.
Yet, it’s worth noting that as per a Bloomberg report, it’s a common practice for all Chinese companies, foreign or domestic, to establish committees abiding by the Communist Party’s edicts, requiring at least three Party members to be on board.
Despite the intricate international ties, Chuck Thelen, Gotion’s Vice President for North American Manufacturing, downplayed the concerns surrounding the company’s affiliations.
Addressing the controversy, he stated earlier this month that the company is “not Chinese-owned.”
He added, “The rumors that you’ve heard about us bringing communism to North America are just flat-out fear-mongering and really have nothing based in reality.”
