Why China cares about data centers in Arkansas

Today, China is trying to slow the pace of data center development across the country, including in states across the nation like Georgia, Virginia and Arkansas. This is because the U.S. is locked in an AI arms race with China and the winner of this high-stakes AI competition may well dominate the global economy and enjoy military supremacy.

Raising awareness of this threat to our national security, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton recently urged the Department of Justice to investigate Beijing’s efforts to block data centers in America by working through U.S. nonprofits.

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These groups are notable given their high-profile work on a variety of energy issues in Arkansas that often conflict with data center construction. Notably, the AAEA helped to lead the opposition against legislation that was essential for the construction of data centers in Arkansas.

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Between 2019 and 2024, AAEF received grants of at least $1.3 million from a group called the U.S. Energy Foundation – that’s at least 69% of AAEF’s total grant funding during that period.

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Even more concerning is that EFC’s leadership still has ties to senior Communist Party officials, and it has been criticized for supporting energy policies in the U.S. that benefit China. Transparency groups have raised alarm bells and, last July, the Kansas Attorney General alleged that EFC plays a “central role” in “China’s ongoing asymmetric campaign against the United States…” and called on the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into EFC.

Finally, as someone who has closely studied China’s long-term goals to achieve global domination, I cannot stress enough that Beijing’s efforts to influence public policy in the U.S. are a legitimate threat. Therefore, it’s fair to point out China’s investment in AAEF and Arkansans and ask: “is this just a coincidence or does China have an agenda to thwart data center construction that puts our national security at risk?” In fact, residents of all states where China is funding anti-data center propaganda should be asking that same question.

(*) Full article: https://www.wnd.com/2026/10/why-china-cares-about-data-centers-arkansas/