Arkansas Senator, Tom Cotton, has written to the chair of Intel’s board of directors to “express concern” about “deep ties to the Chinese Communists” he alleges the chipmaker’s CEO has and the “potential impact on US national security.”

In a letter to Intel's Frank D. Yeary, a copy of which Cotton posted to the social media platform X, the Republican Senator claimed Lip-Bu Tan “reportedly controls dozens of Chinese companies and has a stake in hundreds of Chinese advanced-manufacturing and chip firms.”

Cotton did not name any of these companies, but went on to claim “at least eight… reportedly have ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.” He then linked to a Reuters article published in April 2025, just over a month after Tan was appointed CEO, in which the news outlet reported the CEO has invested in more than 600 Chinese firms, “some linked to China’s military.”

The claim regarding at least eight of those companies having links to the People's Liberation Army also features in the article.

The letter also notes that Tan was CEO of Cadence Design Systems during the period the company illegally sold chip design software to a Chinese military university. In late July, Cadence pleaded guilty to the charges and paid a $140.6 million fine to settle the claims.

In a post on X accompanying letter read: “The new CEO of Intel reportedly has deep ties to the Chinese Communists. US companies that receive government grants should be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and adhere to strict security regulations. The board of Intel owes Congress an explanation.”

He went on list three questions he was requesting answers to by August 15: If the board was aware of Cadence’s subpoenas before hiring Tan; if the board required Tan to divest from his positions in chips firms linked to the Chinese government; and, given Intel’s contract under the Secure Enclave program, did Tan disclose to the US government any investments or other ties to Chinese companies.

Following the publication of Cotton’s letter online, US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Tan “is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem.”

Tan was appointed CEO of Intel in March 2025, following the sudden ‘retirement’ of the company’s former leader Pat Gelsinger in early December 2024.

DCD has reached out to Intel for comment.