Intel's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, faces scrutiny over his investments in Chinese tech firms, some linked to the PLA, raising concerns about conflicts of interest amid Intel's contracts with the US Department of Defense. Tan's extensive ties to over 600 Chinese companies reflect a broader trend of increasing scrutiny on US-China tech investments, particularly as the Pentagon blacklists firms with military connections. As Intel struggles in the competitive semiconductor landscape, particularly against TSMC, the evolving market dynamics present both challenges and opportunities, especially in the burgeoning AI chip sector.