‘The Chinese Communist Party has made it clear that it will use every tool available to spy on Americans and steal our data,’ Sen. Rick Scott said.
Republican senators have introduced a bill that would ban a Chinese digital payment platform in the United States, citing national security concerns.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who serves on the Committee of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, led the legislative effort to introduce the No Alipay Act, his office announced on Oct. 28. The bill aims to ban Alipay, a mobile payment app operated by China’s Ant Group, a company founded by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma.
“The Chinese Communist Party has made it clear that it will use every tool available to spy on Americans and steal our data, and apps like Alipay are no exception,” Scott said.
“Americans don’t want their personal and financial information being funneled straight into the hands of the Communist Chinese regime to use against us—it’s a threat to their lives and national security.”
Scott said the legislation “will close another door that could allow a CCP-controlled entity to access our financial systems and spy on U.S. citizens.”
Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) cosponsored the legislation.
“We know China’s playbook—they want to spy on every single American and steal as much information as they can. There’s no reason why we should be using CCP-backed banking services in the United States,” Tuberville said.
Tuberville added that the legislation will ensure that China “doesn’t have a foothold” in the U.S. banking sector.
In January 2021, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transactions with eight Chinese connected software applications, including Alipay, citing national security concerns.
President Joe Biden revoked Trump’s executive order in June 2021. In a new executive order, Biden directed the Commerce Department to review apps and software controlled by “foreign adversaries,” naming Chinese apps such as WeChat and TikTok but not Alipay.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), who serves on the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the House version of the legislation (H.R.1730) in February.
In a statement on Oct. 28, Ogles said he was “proud to step up” following Biden’s decision to overturn Trump’s 2021 decision on Alipay.
“Alipay is Chinese spyware and presents a huge risk to national security. It should not be in our stores, and it is unacceptable that American payment kiosks are facilitating the totalitarian surveillance of tourists from China,” Ogles said.
By Frank Fang
