Staff Reports
Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kelly is now the unexpected center of attention as speculation mounts about his potential nomination as Vice President on the 2024 Democratic ticket. Kelly has ascended to the dizzying heights of the shortlist for a running mate to none other than Kamala Harris, leaving behind other heavyweights like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. While the left may be giddy about this prospect, many are raising eyebrows—especially regarding Kelly’s connections to China.
The scrutiny stems from Kelly’s history with World View, a company he co-founded that originally pitched the idea of space tourism via balloons. Sounds fun, right? Well, here’s the catch. One of World View’s earliest backers was Tencent, a massive Chinese conglomerate with a reputation for playing nice with the Communist Party. For the uninitiated, Tencent is the powerhouse behind WeChat, a social media app that offers an all-access pass for the Chinese government to surveil its citizenry and gather personal data like a kid in a candy store.
Funny how these politicians resign from these boards but still keep their fingers in the till, 🤔Chinese spy balloons, heard of that one?
Democratic VP Front-Runner Started a Spy Technology Company Partially Funded by China via @WestJournalism https://t.co/ZCkcyOKrOy
— KimL. (@kimberlya6111) July 30, 2024
What began as a lofty dream of sending customers to the stratosphere has morphed into a business that now provides surveillance and remote sensing services. The irony is richer than a triple chocolate cake: while Kelly and his supporters may tout space innovation, the reality is that the balloons are now catering to industries like oil, mining, and insurance. It’s almost as if the line between space exploration and espionage is becoming increasingly fuzzy.
Not to be overlooked, the former astronaut possibly held a chat with the head of Tencent USA, David Wallerstein, back in 2014. According to reports, this meeting was more than just a casual exchange about the weather; it centered around World View’s “space tourism technology.” Kelly has since shrugged off this encounter, labeling it as little more than a mundane conversation. An innocent exchange? Or a strategic networking play with an entity closely connected to the Chinese government?
Although Kelly has reportedly divested from World View to run for Senate, he still holds investments in the company through a blind trust. With China’s balloon surveillance tactics grabbing headlines after sending their own high-altitude balloons over the U.S., it begs the question: does Kelly’s past raise red flags? At the very least, combining the administration’s willingness to look the other way on potential Chinese encroachments with Mark Kelly’s connections could serve as fodder for a campaign that claims to prioritize American security.
As Democrats continue to rally behind their candidates, the spotlight on Kelly introduces a layer of complexity to the Harris ticket. The battle for 2024 is heating up, and the implications of Kelly’s ties to a company with murky relationships may just leave voters questioning whether the next VP should come with a side of espionage or whether a good ol’ American candidate is what’s needed to truly make the country soar.
