Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan under fire over allegations of his ties to China. Former President Donald Trump has demanded that he resign at once. Appointed in March to lead the tech giant as it struggles to keep pace with competitors in chip development, Tan’s background as a venture capitalist has sparked controversy. These critics, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton, are alleging national security implications related to Tan’s investment history.
Lip-Bu Tan, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Malaysia and raised in Singapore. He has established a fierce reputation for his expert knowledge in the cutthroat semiconductor industry. He was the former chief executive of Cadence Design Systems. That same tech firm was the one facing a lawsuit in July. Cadence Design Systems has avoided U.S. charges by pleading guilty. These criminal charges resulted from its subsidiary’s commercial activities with China’s National University of Defense Technology, which violated U.S. export controls. This incident has added more wood to the fire to speculation about Tan’s fitness to be at the helm of Intel.
From 2012 through December 2024, Tan has deposited a minimum of $200 million into thousands of Chinese companies. Quite a few of these companies have links to the Chinese military. Known for focusing on cutting-edge technologies, these early-stage investments were made personally or through his investment firm, Walden International, headquartered in San Francisco. Indeed, a recent congressional report has sounded the alarm on the growing links between U.S. capital markets and Chinese firms. This discovery further increased the firestorm of criticism surrounding Tan’s holdings and his leadership.
Senator Tom Cotton sounded the alarm on Tan’s hiring in an open letter to Intel’s board. Most notably, he pointed to Tan’s ties to China. He emphasized the importance of assessing the “security and integrity of Intel’s operations and its potential impact on U.S. national security.”
In response to these mounting pressures, Trump branded Tan as “highly CONFLICTED” and insisted that he “must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem.” The CLI might be raised by the former president’s own long-standing fears that China is stealing our technology. He raised these concerns time and again during his tenure in office.
Yet despite these criticisms, Intel has defended Tan’s stance. The company argues that neither he personally nor the company pose a national security threat. In a statement, Intel emphasized its commitment to the integrity of its operations and the national defense ecosystem: “We are deeply committed to the national security of the U.S. and the integrity of our role in the U.S. defense ecosystem.”
Additionally, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno criticized Intel for delays in its plans for chip manufacturing within the U.S., further complicating the situation surrounding Tan’s leadership. The iconic carrier has been on a implausible multiyear mendacious in a rich nonetheless brutal industry. These controversies are a huge blow for Tan and Intel.
The White House got into the act too, underscoring President Trump’s promise to protect national and economic security. “This includes ensuring that iconic American companies in cutting-edge sectors are led by men and women who Americans can trust,” a spokesperson stated.
The insurrection against Lip-Bu Tan’s leadership continues. At the same time, Intel needs to address challenges tied to its public perception and continue to address pointed concerns raised by lawmakers and former government officials.