The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has issued a press release highlighting concerns over China's influence in the advanced battery market, which it claims poses a significant threat to U.S. national security.
According to the FDD, China's industrial strategy in the battery sector is heavily reliant on state-supported companies like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL). The organization describes CATL as benefiting from government subsidies, policy support, and export controls to expand its global market presence. The report suggests that these firms are part of broader national objectives that integrate economic development with geopolitical influence through control of supply chains.
The FDD reports that China, through companies including CATL, accounts for over 80% of the global supply of critical battery materials such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite. CATL is identified as a leading manufacturer in the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery market and supplies both civilian and defense sectors worldwide. The report outlines how this dominant market position could impact logistics and material access for sectors dependent on advanced battery technology.
A summary by the Daily Caller of the FDD report indicates that CATL provides batteries used in approximately one-third of the world’s electric vehicles and systems utilized in U.S. energy storage and infrastructure projects, including installations at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base. The FDD raises concerns about potential espionage or cybersecurity risks, such as malware embedded in charging networks or energy storage systems that could enable vehicle tracking or grid disruption. The report draws parallels between CATL’s strategic positioning and Huawei's role in telecommunications.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan research institute established after the September 11, 2001 attacks. It specializes in national security and foreign policy, providing open-source research and policy analysis to U.S. government officials, media outlets, and the public. The organization comprises experts from fields such as intelligence, law, finance, and technology and operates centers focused on military power, economic security, and cyber innovation.
