U.S. Senator Tom Cotton Questions Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s Ties to China in Letter to Board Chair

Republican Senator Tom Cotton sent a letter on Wednesday to Intel’s board chair, Frank Yeary, raising concerns about new CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s connections to Chinese firms and a criminal case linked to Tan’s former company, Cadence Design. Cotton questioned Intel’s board about its awareness of subpoenas issued to Cadence during Tan’s leadership and asked what steps were taken to address potential security risks.

The letter probes whether Tan was required to divest from Chinese chip companies with ties to the Chinese military or Communist Party, given Intel’s involvement in the U.S. government’s Secure Enclave program — an initiative under the Biden administration to secure microelectronics supply for national defense. Cotton emphasized Intel’s responsibility to safeguard American taxpayer funding and questioned if Tan’s affiliations might compromise Intel’s national security obligations.

Intel responded by affirming its and Tan’s commitment to U.S. national security and pledged to address the senator’s concerns directly.

Earlier reporting revealed that between 2012 and 2024, Tan or venture funds he managed invested at least $200 million in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms, some linked to China’s military. While a source said Tan had divested some holdings, public databases still listed many investments as current.

In related news, Cadence Design agreed last week to plead guilty and pay over $140 million to settle charges for selling chip design software to a Chinese military university allegedly involved in nuclear blast simulation. These sales occurred under Tan’s tenure as CEO (2008–2021) and executive chairman until 2023.

Cotton’s letter cited the Reuters investigation into Tan’s Chinese ties and underscored the heightened scrutiny Intel faces due to its federal funding under the Secure Enclave program.