National Security
Chinese Military-Civil Fusion and U.S. Critical Infrastructure
China's Military-Civil Fusion strategy directs that civilian technology development serve military modernization objectives. This index tracks the documented record of Chinese government-linked entities operating in U.S. critical infrastructure — ports, power grids, telecommunications networks, defense supply chains, and the federal procurement system.
Context
What Is Military-Civil Fusion?
Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) is a Chinese government strategy, elevated to national policy under Xi Jinping, that directs civilian enterprises, universities, and research institutions to support People's Liberation Army modernization. Under MCF, Chinese companies operating in commercial markets — including in the United States — may be required to share technology, data, and research with Chinese military and intelligence agencies.
The strategy has direct implications for U.S. national security assessments of Chinese-origin technology in critical infrastructure. Equipment, software, or services supplied by Chinese companies operating under MCF obligations cannot be evaluated solely on technical merit — the legal and institutional framework governing those companies creates potential vectors for data collection, remote access, and supply chain manipulation that are distinct from the commercial risk calculus applied to non-MCF suppliers.