California's Partnership with China Constitutes Illegal Economic Warfare Against US Energy Independence
Source: Hannah Bates. "California Partners With The CCP To Undermine American Energy." June 9, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that California is illegally helping China weaken America's energy independence by partnering with Chinese universities to promote green energy policies. Since China controls the materials needed for green energy, these policies force America to buy from China instead of using our own oil and gas.
Conclusion
California's partnership with Chinese institutions through the California-China Climate Institute represents an illegal form of economic warfare that undermines American energy independence and may violate constitutional prohibitions on state treaties with foreign nations
Premises
- China controls supply chains for green energy components (rare earth elements, EVs, batteries, solar panels) and uses this to gain economic leverage over nations transitioning to alternative energy
- California partnered with Tsinghua University (a Chinese military-linked institution) through the California-China Climate Institute, which receives CCP funding
- Assembly Bill 39 legally codified this partnership and requires it to shape climate policy and advance Paris Agreement goals
- The partnership has resulted in restrictive environmental policies in California that increase demand for Chinese-controlled green energy products
- California's policies influence other states nationally, making it a 'backdoor into energy policy' across America
- The partnership may violate Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution, which prohibits states from making treaties with foreign nations
- Organizations involved in the partnership have ties to Chinese intelligence services and former Chinese government officials
Assumptions
- China's climate policy influence constitutes deliberate economic warfare rather than legitimate environmental cooperation
- Green energy transitions inherently benefit China at America's expense
- University partnerships with foreign institutions can constitute treaty-making by states
- California's environmental policies are primarily driven by Chinese influence rather than domestic environmental concerns
- The Department of Justice has authority and obligation to investigate such partnerships