Microsoft Stops Using Chinese Engineers To Support US Military, Defense Minister Hegseth Intervenes Orders Investigation!

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Ophoto: x @SecDef)

JAKARTA Microsoft announced a surprising decision: they will no longer use Chinese-based engineers to provide technical support to the United States military. This drastic step was taken after investigative reports from ProPublica sparked national security concerns. In fact, this report prompted US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to order a two-week full audit of the entire Department of Defense's cloud contracts.

The ProPublica report reveals that Microsoft is using engineers from China to manage US military cloud computing systems. Although their work is overseen by "digital assistants" from the US who have security clearances, many of them do not have adequate technical expertise to detect cyber threats that may be compromised.

This practice immediately raised great concerns, considering Microsoft itself was hacked by hacker groups from China and Russia. Although Microsoft claims to have revealed this practice to the government during the authorization process, it was not enough to quell the controversy that exploded this week.

Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw said via platform X (formerly Twitter) that the company had immediately changed its technical support policy for US government customers.

"In response to concerns this week, we ensure that no more Chinese-based engineering teams provide technical support for services used by the Department of Defense," Shaw stressed.

One of the harshest reactions came from Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican politician from Arkansas as well as chairman of the Intelligence Committee and member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. He immediately sent an official letter to Defense Minister Hegseth, demanding full clarification on contractors employing Chinese personnel.

"The US government realizes that China's cyber capabilities are one of the most aggressive and dangerous threats," Cotton wrote. Militer we must protect its supply chain from all potential infiltration, including from third parties such as subcontractors.

Cotton also requested a list of contractors who use workers from China as well as explanations of how US "digital assistants" are trained to detect suspicious activity.

US Defense Minister Takes Firm Action: China Out!

Responding to the escalation of this issue, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth uploaded a firm statement via video on platform X.

"From now on, China will no longer be involved in any cloud services for the Department of Defense," Hegseth said. We will continue to monitor and ward off any threats to our military infrastructure and digital networks.

He also started a thorough two-week audit to ensure China's no involvement in other cloud contracts.

Microsoft's move adds to the long list of tensions between US national security and the involvement of foreign workers, especially from China. This issue is not only about technology, but also geopoliticals and trust. One thing is now certain: China's involvement in the US military project has been officially decided and the world is watching.