Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking a stand against potential foreign interference in the state's critical infrastructure. Paxton has announced an investigation into the use of products by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. ("CATL"), a firm with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, in a Texas power facility. This inquiry is probing whether CATL's involvement violates recent state laws designed to protect vital Texan resources from foreign control, according to the Texas Attorney General's Office.
The focal point of the concern is a power storage station near Mabank, Texas, which reportedly features critical components sourced from CATL. These parts are not only linked to an entity aligned with the CCP but have also reportedly failed to pass specific tests. "Texas must not allow foreign communists to infiltrate, interfere, or otherwise undermine our power grid or other parts of our state infrastructure," Paxton stated, as reported by the Texas Attorney General's Office. His comments reflect the state's hardline stance on safeguarding security against potential exploitation by Chinese-controlled businesses.
Recent legislation underlines this sentiment. Since September 2025, the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act has been in effect, barring business engagements that might grant such entities direct or indirect access to crucial Texan infrastructure. The probe by the Texas Attorney General's Office seeks to confirm whether the employment of CATL's technology may grant access to Texas's power grid to those currently prohibited under state law.
Attorney General Paxton has a record of confronting CCP-aligned companies over issues such as consumer exploitation and data privacy violations in Texas. Texas Attorney General's Office has already targeted networking equipment giant TP-Link and investigated Lorex Technology for selling products that allegedly transmit data back to the CCP. "If you mess with Texas, I will come after you," Paxton solemnly warned, emphasizing his commitment to safeguarding the state's interests—an assertion that mirrors his office's aggressive oversight role in these matters.
