House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) said that communist China is using TikTok to make its way into U.S. data systems as calls grow for the federal government to ban the app.
Turner made the remarks during an interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC News’ “This Week” when asked about how his approach to China is different from President Joe Biden’s approach.
“I think what we heard clearly from the intelligence community is the emergence of China as a threat, both militarily and through espionage … through technology, quantum technology, computing, also certainly the ability for them to insert themselves through TikTok into our data systems,” he said. “We worked really hard to get them out of our telecommunication systems with – by getting rid of Huawei systems in our telecommunication, and then we’re handing over our phone systems by people downloading a TikTok app, which has no division between, you know, the Chinese company, the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party.”
“So I think that — the difference I think is that the Biden administration appears to be much too timid,” he continued. “They’ve been much timid in their approach to Russia, always having been pushed by Congress before they would fully support Ukraine. And I think even in China they’re afraid to provoke. And we believe, I think most, who have looked at the intelligence, that look at what’s happening with their military buildup, they’re tripling their side of their nuclear weapons pointed at the United States, they’re expanding their – their shipbuilding, they’re absolutely emerging as a military threat to the United States. I think we need to respond, and respond very strongly.”
WATCH:
GOP Rep. Mike Turner, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, tells @MarthaRaddatz that China is emerged as a threat “both militarily and through espionage.”
“Certainly the ability for them to insert themselves through TikTok into our data systems.” https://t.co/2jPydU5dKv pic.twitter.com/FfxckqbXkH
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 12, 2023
TRANSCRIPT:
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS HOST: Let’s bring in Republican Congressman Mike Turner, chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
And let’s start with China. You heard what Senator Warner said. How do you differ from President Biden in an approach to China?
REP. MIKE TURNER (R-OH): Well, good morning, Martha.
Well, first off, I think what we heard clearly from the intelligence community is the emergence of China as a threat, both militarily and through espionage, and as the senator was just saying, through technology, quantum technology, computing, also certainly the ability for them to insert themselves through TikTok into our data systems. We worked really hard to get them out of our telecommunication systems with – by getting rid of Huawei systems in our telecommunication, and then we’re handing over our phone systems by people downloading a TikTok app, which has no division between, you know, the Chinese company, the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party.
So I think that the difference I think is that the — the Biden administration appears to be much too timid. They’ve been much timid in their approach to Russia, always on the — having been pushed by Congress before they would fully support Ukraine. And I think even in China they’re afraid to provoke. And we – we believe, I think most, who have looked at the intelligence, that look at what’s happening with their military buildup, they’re tripling their side of their nuclear weapons pointed at the United States, they’re expanding their – their shipbuilding, they’re absolutely emerging as a military threat to the United States. I think we need to respond, and respond very strongly.
RADDATZ: But – but what do you mean by that? You said the administration has a fear of provoking. What do you mean? What do you think they should be doing?
TURNER: Well, in a number of areas, when the – when the administration came in, there were policies in place in the Trump administration which they rescinded, one of which was a ban on TikTok. The Trump administration, in August of 2020, had banned and required a disinvestment by China of TikTok. The administration reversed that in June of 2021.
They also had a — the Department of Justice, a program that was directed at Chinese espionage. They – they were concerned that it was too provocative and that it’s – that it might be targeting individuals and so – which, of course, we wanted to target China and so they disbanded that – that program, which had been set up under the Trump administration. So, there’s a number of things where they’ve – they’ve dismantled them where, right now, we’re having debates about putting them back.
RADDATZ: China did play a pivotal role in brokering this deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran in restoring relationships, a move that not only stunned Mideast watchers, but it also seemed to leave the U.S. on the sidelines.
TURNER: Absolutely. And I think that, of course, is a reflection on the Biden administration.
You know, when the president came in, he had very harsh words for Saudi Arabia. You know, at the same time that we were working with Saudi Arabia to try to strengthen their defenses against Iran, Iran actually attacked Saudi Arabia. Instead of the — this administration stepping forward and being a partner to Saudi Arabia, our ally, and working with them to defend themselves against attacks from Iran, they subjected Saudi Arabia to a significant amount of criticism and were slow to react and respond to the military needs of – of Saudi Arabia.
So, it’s not unexpected that they might look elsewhere for support. It certainly is very unexpected and certainly very troubling and disappointing that they would turn to Iran.