In a shocking turn of events, a prominent Republican lawmaker has raised serious questions about a Chinese private equity firm’s acquisition of a crucial U.S. educational website. The website in question, Tutor.com, is widely used by American service members and students across the country, making this acquisition a matter of grave concern.
Representative Stephanie Bice, the Vice Chair of the Main Street Caucus and a Republican from Oklahoma penned a letter to President Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen demanding answers.
She expressed deep worry over the fact that an entity based in the People’s Republic of China, Primavera Capital Group, was allowed to purchase Tutor.com, which provides essential tutoring services to active duty and reserve service members, as well as civilian Defense Department personnel.
The acquisition has sparked alarm among Republicans due to the well-known Chinese government’s practice of compelling organizations based in China to share their data.
This raises significant concerns about the privacy and security of Tutor.com users and tutors, as their personal information could potentially be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party.
The growing influence of China on American academia and its impact on young Americans have been subjects of increasing concern in recent years. The acquisition of Tutor.com by the Hong Kong-based equity firm, along with its parent company Princeton Review, only adds fuel to the fire.
It is worth noting that the United States has previously taken steps to counter China’s influence on educational platforms. Confucius Institutes, a network of language and cultural education centers, were shuttered in 2020 after being deemed as advancing Beijing’s global propaganda and malign influence campaign on U.S. campuses and K-12 classrooms.
However, a report by the National Association of Scholars indicated that similar CCP-backed educational centers have resurfaced under different names, sometimes funded by the same entities that subsidized the Confucius Institutes.
In light of these concerns, discussions about reevaluating the presence of TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by China-backed company Bytedance, have gained momentum in Washington. The potential risks associated with Beijing’s influence capabilities on young Americans cannot be overlooked.
Representative Bice’s letter highlights the role of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is responsible for reviewing foreign acquisitions and notifying the president of any potential national security risks.
She rightly questions why this acquisition was permitted to proceed, considering the potential compromise of personal data belonging to service members and Defense Department personnel.
It is clear that Republican lawmakers are deeply troubled by the Biden administration’s handling of this situation. Representative Bice emphasizes the urgent need for President Biden to stand up to China and put an end to their increasingly aggressive actions, which even include violations of sovereign American airspace.
This alarming incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding American interests and protecting the privacy and security of our citizens. Republicans are calling for a robust response to ensure that such compromises do not occur in the future.
The ball is now in President Biden’s court to address these concerns and take decisive action to protect our nation’s security.
Source Fox News