A U.S. defense contractor producing fighter jet and missile components has come under scrutiny following reports that its CEO has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Jerry Wang, head of S&L Aerospace Metals LLC, has been linked to multiple CCP-affiliated groups, raising concerns about national security risks within the American defense supply chain.
S&L Aerospace supplies key parts for the Pentagon, including components used in Lockheed Martin and Boeing aircraft. Despite its central role in military production, Wang has been identified in Chinese government records as holding positions in organizations tied to the CCP’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), which operates to extend Beijing’s influence abroad.
Photographs and state media reports place Wang at numerous CCP events, including functions alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In one 2019 event, Wang was seen applauding Xi at a conference, while other images from 2006 show him presenting a gift to the future Chinese president. Wang’s legal team has denied political ties but has not disputed the authenticity of these images.
The company’s involvement in U.S. military contracts has raised alarm among security experts and lawmakers. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP, called for immediate action, warning that “no entity or individual affiliated with the CCP United Front should have access to U.S. defense supply chains.”
Beyond military contracts, S&L Aerospace holds a position on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) council responsible for overseeing critical manufacturing security. While the company denies any foreign influence, it has not explained Wang’s presence at high-level CCP events.
Neither DHS nor the Department of Defense has responded to inquiries about the risks posed by Wang’s associations. With concerns mounting, lawmakers are urging a full review of S&L Aerospace’s role in U.S. military manufacturing.
