Mark Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona, has had a varied career before entering politics. He was an astronaut and also co-founded a company called World View, which initially focused on space tourism using stratospheric balloons. However, the company’s vision shifted over time, and it now primarily provides remote sensing services to the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA, and other organizations, using stratospheric balloons for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. World View received venture capital from Tencent, a Chinese corporation, in 2013 and 2016, which has raised concerns due to Tencent’s close ties to the Chinese government.
Tencent, founded in 1998 and led by CEO “Pony” Ma Huateng, has been criticized for collecting data through its popular social media platform WeChat, making it a powerful surveillance tool for the Chinese government. Despite Tencent’s ties to the Chinese government, World View has stated that Tencent has no access, input, or control over the company. New leadership at World View, which Kelly stepped away from in 2019 to prepare for his Senate run, has taken steps to ensure the company is protected from any involvement from Chinese investors. However, Kelly’s early connections with Tencent could still raise questions, especially in light of China’s surveillance balloon incident over the U.S. in February 2023.
The tension between the U.S. and China following the surveillance balloon incident has heightened concerns about potential espionage activities by the Chinese government. While Kelly has distanced himself from World View and put his financial interest in the company in a blind trust, questions remain about his past involvement with Tencent. Kelly reportedly had a brief conversation with a Tencent executive in the past but has not commented on the matter. The New York Times highlighted Kelly’s achievements in politics but also pointed out potential political liabilities, such as his association with a company that received Chinese venture capital.
World View not only provides surveillance services but also offers remote sensing services to various industries, including oil and gas companies, utility companies, mining and shipping companies, and insurance companies. The company has stated that Kelly no longer has access, interest, or control over World View since he left in 2019. As Kelly’s political career continues to develop, his past connections to Tencent and World View may come under further scrutiny, especially if he is considered as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris. The evolving implications of Kelly’s previous involvement in the tech industry and his ties to a Chinese venture capitalist will likely remain a topic of interest in the political landscape.
