May 29th, 2025: How GNC Is Giving China A Foothold on U.S. Military Bases & Russia’s Troop Build-Up
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What is the shocking breach on U.S. military bases?
Now, a popular supplements chain with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP, is operating inside the wire, raising fears of possible espionage and collection of information on military personnel. Later in the show, Ukraine's president says Russia is massing 50,000 troops near the northeastern border, suggesting that Moscow is preparing for a summer offensive. I mean, nothing says I'm interested in having a ceasefire like putting 50,000 of your troops on the invaded country's border. We'll provide the available details. Plus, Germany's leader says he'll help Ukraine build its own long-range missiles. I mean, not personally, but with German know-how and resources. It's a major shift that could take the war deep into Russian territory.
And in today's Back of the Brief, Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveils new visa restrictions targeting foreign officials who help to censor Americans online. But first, today's PDB Spotlight.
How is GNC linked to the Chinese Communist Party?
It's a topic that we've covered here on the PDB at length, the threat to national security posed by Chinese institutions and business entities beholden to the Chinese Communist Party that operate in the United States. And today, I want to bring you a story about a Chinese-owned company that's actually already operating inside U.S. military bases, and most service members probably have no idea that the CCP is involved. Now, many of you know the store GNC, right? They've got literally thousands of locations located all over the country. You've probably got one in your local strip mall. Do they still have strip malls? I don't know. They sell supplements and vitamins and protein powders and a variety of other potions and stuff promoting, or at least promising, a healthy lifestyle. What you might not know is that GNC operates 85 stores on American military installations across the country.
For example, it's got multiple locations at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, home to over 50,000 troops and the heart of Army Special Operations, might I add, and a store at Fort Drum in New York. That's the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division. But behind the shelves of protein powder and vitamins is something more troubling. GNC, you see, is owned by Harbin Pharmaceuticals. That's a partially state owned Chinese firm with direct links to the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. In China, the line between the private sector and the state is virtually, what's the word I'm looking for, non-existent. Companies like Harbin Pharmaceuticals aren't independent actors in the Western sense. They operate under the oversight of the CCP, which maintains the legal authority to compel corporate cooperation with intelligence efforts. Under China's 2017 National Intelligence Law, all organizations and citizens are required to, quote, support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence work.
In other words, when a Chinese company operates abroad, especially in sensitive environments, it's not just a business transaction, it's a potential extension of the Chinese regime. Now, this is not a hypothetical threat. It's a reality currently embedded into the daily lives of American troops. GNC stores on base aren't just licensed storefronts.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the shocking breach on U.S. military bases?
1:08–2:06
2
How is GNC linked to the Chinese Communist Party?
2:06–5:01
3
What are the implications of GNC operating on military bases?
5:01–15:04
4
What is Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine?
15:04–16:41
5
How is Germany assisting Ukraine's defense?
16:41
6
What are the new visa restrictions announced by Marco Rubio?
4:38–21:06
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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