Microsoft announced this week that it will halt the deployment of its computer engineering teams in China to work on Pentagon cloud systems and other classified systems, following revelations that top-level national security concerns had been raised regarding a program used since 2016.

On Tuesday, ProPublica reported that Microsoft had allowed Chinese engineers to support the Department of Defense's cloud systems without proper safeguards as the company sought to expand its government contracting business.

This involved employing Chinese nationals who could be compelled by the Chinese Communist Party to collect data, despite Defense Department guidelines stating that individuals handling sensitive data must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

ProPublica's report drew the attention of Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration, prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegsesh to announce on Friday that "foreign engineers from any nation should never be allowed to maintain or access the Department of Defense's systems," and that the department would "investigate this matter as quickly as possible."

Hegsesh has ordered a full, two-week review of the Department of Defense's cloud contracts.

Following Hegsesh's announcement, Microsoft stated that it would cease having computer engineers in China provide support for the Defense Department's sensitive cloud "and related" services.

In a statement, Frank Shaw, Microsoft's chief communications officer, said, "In response to concerns raised earlier this week about foreign engineers working under U.S. oversight, Microsoft has modified its support for U.S. government customers so that engineering teams in China will not provide technical support for the Department of Defense cloud and related services."

He added, "We are committed to providing the U.S. government with the most secure services possible, and we are evaluating and adjusting our security protocols in collaboration with our national security partners as needed."

Conservative journalist Laura Loomer claimed on X that "Shaw's statement did not deny that Microsoft was allowing Chinese nationals residing in China to provide technical support to the Department of Defense," asserting, "This is unacceptable. Microsoft should be criminally investigated."

Loomer pointed out, "Schiller exposed that Microsoft allowed Chinese nationals residing in China to provide technical support for Pentagon cyber systems on Microsoft's government Azure platform through its contracts with the U.S. government, allowing China to have full access to the Pentagon's classified information." She stated, "This has been going on for 10 years! This was approved by Obama."

Secretary Hegsesh added, "Going forward, China will not be involved in any way with Department of Defense systems," and vowed to "continue to monitor and respond to all threats to our military infrastructure and online networks."

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to Secretary Hegsesh inquiring about a list of contractors employing Chinese personnel.

U.S. NNP = Chief Editor Hong Seong-gu info@newsandpost.com