A ProPublica investigation revealed that investors with Chinese military ties secretly acquired stakes in SpaceX. These pre-IPO investments occurred between 2018 and 2021. A middleman firm facilitated the transactions.
The report highlights national security risks for the company, which launches spy satellites as a major Pentagon contractor. SpaceX officially barred investors from China and Hong Kong due to regulatory and compliance concerns.
U.S. officials previously warned that China uses sensitive industry investments for technology theft and espionage. The disclosure stems from a leaked private investor list.