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Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Bart jensen

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is facing growing political pressure over his decades long investment history in China, drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who has publicly called for Tan’s resignation, labeling him “highly conflicted.”

Tan, who became CEO of Intel in March 2025, built a formidable reputation in the tech and venture capital world through Walden International, a firm he founded in San Francisco in the 1980s. Over more than three decades, Walden invested over $5 billion in 600+ companies, with more than 100 of those investments based in China including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), where Tan served on the board for 15 years.

As U.S.-China tech tensions deepen, scrutiny of Tan’s past ties has intensified. In a recent social media post, Trump accused Tan of being “highly conflicted” and urged him to step down, citing concerns over national security and past board roles at Chinese companies. U.S. lawmakers have echoed similar sentiments, including Senator Tom Cotton, who raised questions about Tan’s suitability to lead Intel in a letter to the company’s chairman.

In response, Intel reaffirmed its commitment to U.S. national and economic security. “Tan and the board are deeply committed to advancing U.S. interests,” the company said in a statement. Tan also responded directly in a letter to Intel employees, asserting that he has “the full backing of the company’s board” and that he is “engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts.”

Tan, a Malaysia-born Mandarin speaker, led Walden’s aggressive push into East Asia's chip industry when most VCs avoided it. Under his leadership, Walden became one of the earliest backers of SMIC, now China's top chipmaker and a key player aligned with tech giant Huawei.

In 2020, SMIC was added to the U.S. Commerce Department's entity list for its alleged ties to the Chinese military, effectively restricting its access to U.S. technologies.

Tan has since divested from Chinese holdings following his appointment at Intel, according to sources familiar with the matter. He no longer serves on the boards of Chinese firms and has shifted investment focus toward the U.S., Europe, and Israel through new ventures like Walden Catalyst Ventures and Celesta Global Capital.

Tan’s past leadership at Cadence Design Systems, where he was CEO from 2009 to 2021, also drew scrutiny. In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice fined Cadence over $100 million after its China unit was found to have supplied blacklisted entities, including a Chinese university engaged in nuclear simulations.

While Tan was not personally named in the DOJ findings, Senator Cotton cited the case as part of his broader criticism of Tan’s leadership history.

Despite the backlash, public records indicate that neither Tan nor Walden Catalyst Ventures holds significant active stakes in Chinese firms. According to PitchBook, Walden’s China presence has “significantly diminished,” reflecting an industry-wide shift as geopolitical tensions reshape global tech investment.

Intel’s board continues to support Tan as CEO, emphasizing his leadership during a critical time for the U.S. semiconductor industry, as Washington pushes to reduce reliance on foreign chipmakers and rebuild domestic manufacturing.