Nesbitt urges Legislature to stop Gotion project in wake of federal Chinese spying charges at Camp Grayling

Nesbitt urges Legislature to stop Gotion project in wake of federal Chinese spying charges at Camp Grayling

LANSING, Mich. — Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt on Thursday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks urging the Legislature to take action to stop funding of the Gotion project in light of recent federal spying charges of five Chinese nationals.

The Detroit News on Wednesday reported that federal prosecutors have charged five Chinese nationals with several crimes related to spying on the Camp Grayling training facility in 2023, while the U.S. National Guard conducted a training operation with members of the Taiwanese military. The five, who happened to be University of Michigan students at the time, were found with cameras taking pictures near military equipment and vehicles, as well as subsequently lying to federal investigators about why and how they found themselves there.

“Camp Grayling is 88 miles from the proposed battery plant being built by Gotion, a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. With more and more evidence of Gotion’s relationship with the CCP coming to light, and this most recent counterintelligence probe with the five Chinese nationals, the time is now to pause the state’s subsidizing of the Gotion project,” said Nesbitt, R-Porter Township.

In his letter, Nesbitt requested the Legislature take action as soon as possible to:

  • Immediately cease payments to the Gotion project and pursue any clawback provisions to salvage the taxpayer dollars already expended.
  • Request that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) halt all interactions and financial arrangements with Gotion until a thorough investigation can ensure that the actions of the state do not compromise national security or the interests of local residents.
  • Ensure that the MEDC is transparent and held accountable.

“The MEDC has failed to provide clear, detailed answers on how these funds will be spent, how they benefit Michigan’s economy directly, or how the involvement of a foreign entity, explicitly linked to the CCP, serves Michigan’s interests over those of China. This lack of transparency is unacceptable and undermines the trust of the very taxpayers we serve,” Nesbitt said. “The implications are clear: this is not just another corporate handout to a business entity; the taxpayers of this state, thanks to this Legislature, are potentially financing an arm of the CCP, whose interests are not aligned with ours, especially in sectors as sensitive as technology and national defense.”

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