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How Small Town America Stopped A Chinese Communist Party Takeover (ijr.com)
submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
37 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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A U.S. electric vehicle battery manufacturer with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has suspended its permit application to build a plant near a Michigan National Guard base following fierce opposition.

Chuck Thelen, CEO of Gotion Inc. — a “wholly owned and controlled” subsidiary of Chinese company Hefei Gotion High-Tech Power Energy Co. Ltd. (Gotion High-Tech) — said the decision stemmed from the firm’s ongoing breach of contract lawsuit against Green Charter Township, according to the Big Rapids Pioneer. The township soured on the $2.4 billion project in November 2023 after voters recalled numerous officials following a series of reports revealing Gotion and its Chinese parent company’s ties to the CCP.

“I applaud the people of Mecosta County as Gotion pauses their permitting process, but their fight is not over,” Republican Michigan Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Gotion must announce it will finally listen to the people, and end its projects for good.”

[...]

Questions about Gotion’s CCP-ties began to arise around March 2023 when The Midwesterner reported Gotion High-Tech’s “Articles of Association” required the firm to establish a “Party organization and carry out Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China.”

[...]

The House Select Committee on the CCP investigated Gotion High-Tech in 2024 and “found their supply chains are reliant on forced labor as part of the CCP’s ongoing genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang Province,” Mooleenaar told the DCNF.

[...]

Meanwhile, Michigan residents — like Joseph Cella, the director of the Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group — engaged in grassroots activism to oppose the CCP-tied company. Cella served as the U.S. Ambassador to Fiji during the first Trump administration.

[...]

“[They] refused to follow the directives given to state and local governments on dealings with China-based companies to exercise vigilance, conduct due diligence, and ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability are built into the partnership to guard against potential foreign government exploitation,” Cella said. “It is important that executive branch agencies, Congress, the Michigan Legislature, and citizens continue to scrutinize and investigate this ‘deal.’”

[...]

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[–] TacoButtPlug 2 points 3 days ago

What is this garbage post. "We LoVe FrEeDoM" says a Michigan township that most likely voted to take freedoms away of people they hate.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Anti-CCP rhetoric from white rural conservatives is just patent racism washed with a political guise. Every business in China has "ties to the CCP." That's how it works over there

So much for autarky lmao

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Every business in China has “ties to the CCP.” That’s how it works over there

Than that proves that China is extremely fucked up. What is the justification for the CCP to exist at all if it is going to manage a bunch of capitalist corporations? How come they haven't dissolved the Communist Party since it serves no purpose except to enrich the dictators and elites?

Anti-CCP rhetoric from white rural conservatives is just patent racism

That makes no sense since there is no bias against the Republic of China on Taiwan.

This link shows that the CCP has literally caused the deaths of tens if not hundreds of millions of Chinese. Why the fuck would anybody NOT be "anti-CCP"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_killings_under_communist_regimes

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Than that proves that China is extremely fucked up. What is the justification for the CCP to exist at all if it is going to manage a bunch of capitalist corporations? How come they haven't dissolved the Communist Party since it serves no purpose except to enrich the dictators and elites?

The exact same can be said about the US, Bozo

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago

The exact same can be said about the US, Bozo

No it can't, stupid person. The US doesn't have an anti-capitalist political party that owns all the capitalist corporations and doesn't allow the people to chose their own leaders from other parties or even the leader of the only party.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is not anti-CCP rhetoric, the CCP's influence on private businesses is a simple fact that isn't even denied by the CCP.

For example, the party's infiltration of the private sector gained momentum already after then-president Jiang Zemin called in the early 2000s for the CCP to represent "the advanced productive force" and welcome China's emerging private entrepreneurs.

Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2014, the CCP's influence on private businesses have intensified (with the disappearance of entrepreneur Jack Ma after he criticized the CCP supposedly being the most prominent case).

You'll find ample evidence for the the systematic ways in which the Chinese party-state has been interfering in the private sector. So called "CCP branches" within private firms -meant as a potential lever of control, alongside regulatory tools - are a key of that effort. In recent years, the number of these "party units" has increased dramatically, and the CCP branches have strengthened their role in private companies' management.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (2 children)

This is absolutely nationalist rhetoric from a conservative paper. Not only that, but the title is absolute nonsense. The CCP didn’t almost take over a town, and anyone who thinks they did is an idiot.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, they would love to control American towns, but they do not, nor have they come close to. You should be ashamed for even posting this tripe.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It's not 'nationalist rhetoric' to be wary of dictatorships. Nobody would care if this was a corporation from the Republic of China. That is the country and people that Americans were huge friends with during and before WWII.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Funny thing to say, considering Trump literally just put tarrifs on the Republic of China.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The propaganda on China is elsewhere. It seems unbiased information is not for you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/independent-journal-review/

The source you posted is not unbiased.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

What is a good source for China-related content?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Do you mean sources that are unbiased and focused on Asia, or unbiased sources that also cover Asia?

If you mean the former, then Asia Times is ranked as Least Biased, but there are some issues with stories being censored by the Chinese government since they are based in Hong Kong. Anything that embarrasses the CCP is not likely to show up here.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/asia-times/

For the latter, there's always Reuters, which is one of my favorites. They don't focus specifically on Asia, so you're going to miss out on some smaller regional news, but they are unbiased and highly factual in their reporting.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/reuters/

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

These 'rating' sites may give you a hint, but we shouldn't solely rely on them.

What is a reliable source in your view?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I just said, Reuters. You won't find any articles there with an America First, anti-China skew to them.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I just said, Reuters. You won't find any articles there with an America First, anti-China skew to them.

I strongly disagree. Reuters -along with Associated Press (AP) and a few others- have what they call a 'business relationship' with China's propaganda agency Xinhua (basically Reuters, AP & others appear to make some reporting concession in exchange for their allowance to run offices in China).

So they have rather a skew toward the CCP.

The Politics Of Pure Business -- (July 2024)

The deal between Xinhua and AP, which involved cooperation on the distribution of photos, videos and press releases, was finalized with a handshake and the exchange of signed copies. It was covered enthusiastically by Xinhua. For AP, meanwhile, the story was apparently not news — no reporting was available. The same pattern held for Reuters and PA Media Group: enthusiastic coverage from Xinhua, silence from its partners [...]

These partnerships are part of a broader effort by Xinhua to deepen its global media influence, curtailing criticism of the Chinese government and shaping international discourse that portrays the CCP in a positive ligh [...]

AP’s relationship with Xinhua, in place since 1972, is not commercial at all — not really. Instead, it is the political foundation on which AP and other major news agencies, including Reuters, are able to operate in China [...]

The whole story makes a good read. It is essentially about totalitarian regimes' greatest fear: a well-informed public. Agencies like Reuters and a some others must decide whether they stand on the side of free media or authoritarian propaganda.

[Edit typo.]

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Gotion High-Tech’s “Articles of Association” required the firm to establish a “Party organization and carry out Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China.”

Yah, because they're based in China. They have to follow the Chinese constitution. The same way American companies can't violate the American constitution. 'Party activities' just means 'doing business' because that is how communism works. Smh my head.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

The AXIS OF EVIL (2025 edition)

Traitorapist Trump - War Criminal Putin - Comrade Xi - Caligula Jong Un

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago

They missed out on an improvement in government.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Did they also eat the dogs or did they import fentanyl?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Lmao what a shit conservative title. Practically seethes with nationalist zeal.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Its not about nationalism. Nobody would care if this was a Taiwan company. Communist China is a dictatorship that has killed tens if not hundreds of millions of Chinese. The current dictator was supposed to step down after 10 years but he didn't do that.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Its not about nationalism.

Says the party that can't stop squealing American First every chance they get. Cut the bullshit, nobody with half a brain cell left is falling for it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Says the party that can’t stop squealing American First every chance they get.

I'm not in that party. I am Dem. And it is not about nationalism. The Chinese dictatorship has killed tens of millions of Chinese. Why is a dictator okay for Chinese but not for Americans? To be thinking that sounds racist to me.

Cut the bullshit, nobody with half a brain cell left is falling for it.

LMFAO. Nobody with half a brain cell left thinks it is okay for China to have a dictator who has killed millions of Chinese. It also sounds racist to be thinking it was okay that someone killed tens of millions of Chinese as if their lives aren't important.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

First of all, you can't be racist against Chinese, because Chinese is a nationality, not a race. It's like saying you're racist against Americans, it makes no sense because just like the United States, the Chinese are a very racially diverse group of people with dozens of ethnicities. Second, the implication is without merit because nobody who is arguing in good faith is going to read what I wrote and come to that conclusion. If your argument is so bad you need to try to paint me as a racist to feel better, then perhaps you should just stop while you're not too far behind.

Third, we're not talking about China being a dictatorship, stop trying to change the conversation to something you feel you have a better chance of arguing against. We're talking about whether or not the source that was posted was propaganda or not. And as far as sources go, the one that was posted was very right-wing biased.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/independent-journal-review/

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

The House Select Committee on the CCP investigated Gotion High-Tech in 2024 and “found their supply chains are reliant on forced labor as part of the CCP’s ongoing genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang Province,” Mooleenaar told the DCNF.

Reminder that the US has more people in its prison system than China, despite having a much smaller population.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Reminder, that we know of. China doesn't really publish the numbers in any verifiable form. Nor are there any third parties really able to audit it.

Further even if what you say is true it doesn't make what China is doing right.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago (3 children)

It's just not very credible. US police also kill and hospitalize more people than Chinese police. US politicians have no room to criticize any other country's law enforcement.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works. They absolutely have every right to and often are right to. That doesn't mean they're not hypocritical at times. But just because someone is hypocritical doesn't mean they're wrong.

Unless they are a campist trying to deflect critique with a but somebody else might be worse claim.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

You need to actually assess the motivations and credibility of the accusor, not just blindly accept the things they claim. This isn't just a hypocrite, this is a politician with an agenda.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

China exerts extreme control over businesses that operate from there. That's a simple fact. This individuals motivations aren't extremely relevant.

Might their motivations be alarmist? Perhaps. Might they be protectionist? There's a very good chance. Xenophobic and bigoted. Knowing human nature the odds are good. How does any of that change the fact that the Chinese government has tight controls over all businesses within their border? Again that is a simple fact. And makes this concern not unwarranted. Let's phrase it this way. Would you be defending a US state-controlled organization from doing similar in China? I doubt it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago

Okay, if you look back up at my original comment, I'm only criticizing their accusations of China doing genocide in the Xiajiang region as the reason to stop this project. If they wanted to protect US industry from foreign state-controlled industry that's just strategic. They don't need to dress it up in humanitarianism when they clearly are just acting in economic self interest.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Well, what about regular people? Do we have room to criticize China, or is that not allowed either?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

What do you mean "not allowed"? It's clearly allowed, just as I'm allowed to criticize it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

. US police also kill and hospitalize more people than Chinese police.

LMFAO you aren't the slightest bit credible. Just in this one region alone the Chinese dictatorship threw in jail 1 million people none of whom were criminals.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037

[China has been accused of committing crimes against humanity and possibly genocide against the Uyghur population and other mostly-Muslim ethnic groups in the north-western region of Xinjiang.

Human rights groups believe China has detained more than one million Uyghurs against their will over the past few years in a large network of what the state calls "re-education camps", and sentenced hundreds of thousands to prison terms.

A series of police files obtained by the BBC in 2022 has revealed details of China's use of these camps and described the routine use of armed officers and the existence of a shoot-to-kill policy for those trying to escape.

The US is among several countries to have previously accused China of committing genocide in Xinjiang. The leading human rights groups Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have published reports accusing China of crimes against humanity.]

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

The so-called Xinjiang Police Files are kind of overblown imo

They took files from a single county of Xinjiang province and then extrapolated them to the entire region. Surely you can see how that would result in errors? Imagine if we took the numbers from a single county in the US and extrapolated them lol