North Michigan News

State Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, has criticized Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent announcement regarding the establishment of the new Michigan Taiwan Office. In a statement released following Whitmer's announcement during a trade mission to Taiwan and South Korea, Rep. Friske expressed concerns about the governor's actions.

Friske pointed out the inconsistency in Whitmer's support for Taiwan while also providing substantial state incentives to a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Friske stated, “Someone needs to tell the governor that if she truly wants to help Taiwan, she can start by clawing back the more than $1.8 billion in state incentives she doled out to the proxy company run by the government trying to wipe them off the map. The governor cannot claim support for Taiwan while funding the Chinese Communist Party in the background.”

The company in question is Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), which is partnering with Ford to build an EV battery plant in Marshall. The project has received over $1.8 billion in state incentives. Robin Zeng, the founder and CEO of CATL, has ties to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, an advisory body to the Chinese Communist Party.

Rep. Friske's remarks highlight the complexities of balancing economic interests with geopolitical considerations, particularly in the context of U.S.-China relations and support for Taiwan. The criticism underscores the need for transparency and consistency in government actions regarding international relations and economic partnerships.