Where Did Walz Go? Pentagon’s Stubborn Silence on His China Escapades

lev radin / shutterstock.com
lev radin / shutterstock.com

It looks like the Biden-Harris Pentagon is the reigning champ of “Keep Away” when it comes to sharing Democrat VP nominee Governor Tim Walz’s travel itinerary to China with Congress and the media. Walz has racked up nearly 30 trips to China, but the Pentagon? They’re too busy perfecting their dodgeball skills to cough up any information.

Here’s the lowdown: U.S. military personnel, especially those with a security clearance, have to jump through hoops before they’re allowed to jaunt off to countries that aren’t exactly on our “BFFs” list—China, for instance. These rules are in place because military types are prime candidates for foreign espionage, and they’re usually briefed on potential risks before they leave and debriefed once they return. Yet, we’re still left in the dark about whether Walz followed these rules or had a security clearance during his trips.

Walz has spoken about his trips to China, many of which took place while he was with the Army National Guard. But here’s the kicker: no one seems to know if he actually reported these jaunts to his military command, bothered to get proper permission, or even had the necessary security clearance. And, of course, the Pentagon is keeping mum, leaving us all in the dark.

House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks, the brave soul who dared to poke the Pentagon bear, sent a letter on August 13 asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs for details on Walz’s trips and his compliance with the military regulations. And get this: the Pentagon responded to the South China Morning Post that Austin would respond to Banks “in due course.” Let’s be clear: they have refused to provide a clear timeline for when Austin would respond—it’s a classic government move.

Banks wasn’t thrilled with the radio silence. He slammed the Pentagon for allegedly prioritizing politics over national security, accusing Walz of being a “Chinese Communist Party” pawn. And to add more fuel to the fire, Breitbart reached out to the Minnesota National Guard for answers about Walz’s permission slips and security clearance status. Unsurprisingly, the Guard didn’t bother to reply, nor did Walz’s spokesperson, Teddy Tschann.

A retired senior non-commissioned officer from the Army National Guard spilled some tea, suggesting that Walz, who was at least a master sergeant by 2004, should have been required to report his trips to China. Walz, who was promoted to sergeant major (E-9) in 2004, would have needed to update his SF-86 form for a background check—if he was indeed attending the Sergeant Majors Academy. Rumor has it Walz began the academy but opted for an early retirement in 2005, possibly dodging the scrutiny of a security clearance.

Security experts are having a field day with this. Sean Bigley, a security clearance guru, pointed out that accepting Chinese funding for trips is a massive red flag. The Chinese government doesn’t hand out cash without expecting something in return, and that should have been a huge concern during any background check.

Former senior intelligence analyst John Schindler suggested that Walz’s frequent visits to China wouldn’t have been possible without the Ministry of State Security’s stamp of approval. Schindler even took a swipe at how Trump was treated over alleged foreign ties, questioning whether anyone would have thought Trump was fit for office if he’d visited Russia 30 times, especially on Russia’s dime.

Local news archives show Walz’s long-standing infatuation with China, including trips funded by the Chinese government and his admiration for Chinese culture, even after witnessing the Tiananmen Square massacre. Critics argue this made him a prime target for Chinese intelligence recruitment. Schindler points out that a young American with a penchant for China and a military background would be a tempting recruit for Chinese spies.

Despite the mounting pressure, the Biden-Harris administration and the Pentagon are keeping their lips sealed about Walz’s extensive travels and financial connections to China. As a result, Walz’s potential impact on U.S. national security remains shrouded in uncertainty. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has even asked the FBI to weigh in on Walz’s ties to Chinese entities.

In the meantime, the silence is deafening, and the questions about Walz’s travels and their implications for U.S. security keep piling up.