Source: Global Times
[Global Times Report by Jiang Ailing] The Wall Street Journal reported on April 25, citing sources, that last month, senior Pentagon aides planned to prepare a briefing for American entrepreneur and head of the government efficiency department, Elon Musk, which included information about more than twenty highly classified weapons projects, mainly used for "countering China". However, this briefing plan was soon halted by Charles Yang, acting chief legal counsel of the Pentagon. The reason was partly due to unresolved concerns and doubts about the source of the instruction.
Similar news was first disclosed by The New York Times on March 22. This US media outlet then reported that the Department of Defense was scheduled to brief Musk on March 21, including military plans made by the United States in case of potential conflict with China. However, at that time, both officials from the Department of Defense and President Trump publicly denied it, and Musk even hinted at pursuing responsibility from the "malicious leakers".
Elon Musk (left) and Pete Hegseth. Photo source: foreign media reports.
According to the latest report from The Wall Street Journal on April 25, sources revealed that last month, Charles Yang learned that the draft memorandum intended to be shown to Musk contained information about 29 "special access programs" related to China — this security level is specifically used to identify the highest military secrets of the military, usually referring to highly secret technical programs, mostly related to weapon systems, with strict limitations on the scope of knowledge, limited only to a few specific individuals with need-to-know clearance.
The report said that at the time, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was visiting Japan. Yang contacted one of his senior staff members and asked whether Hegseth approved the disclosure of plans related to China to Musk. The Wall Street Journal continued, stating that according to the text they saw, Yang wrote, "The memo (briefing) is temporarily suspended until you return for further discussion."
Some officials believed that Hegseth instructed the staff to compile this briefing for Musk, but others said that the staff misunderstood one of Hegseth's instructions and had been preparing this briefing until Yang actually stopped it.
Another source familiar with Hegseth's working style said that Hegseth has been trying to establish a close relationship with Musk because he knows that Musk can directly advise Trump.
The Wall Street Journal mentioned that Musk never received this briefing. Pentagon officials have always raised concerns about introducing such information to Trump's allies. The report commented that the issue of whether to disclose sensitive information to Musk further highlights the chaotic state of high-level management at the Pentagon during Hegseth's early tenure.
So far, neither the Pentagon nor Musk's side has responded to the latest related revelations from The Wall Street Journal.
Last month, The New York Times quoted two U.S. officials as saying that the Department of Defense planned to brief Musk on March 21 regarding military plans made by the United States in case of potential conflict with China. The top-secret briefing on China war plans was made up of approximately 20 to 30 slides. Due to the confidentiality of the plans and the complexity of Musk's identity, this news immediately attracted attention.
However, Trump denied this news late on March 20 on his social platform. "How ridiculous! It won't even be mentioned or discussed about China." Trump commented on The New York Times' report, stating, "It is so disgraceful that this discredited media can fabricate such lies. Anyway, this story is completely false!!!" Hegseth also stated on X platform that this was an informal meeting about innovation, efficiency, and smarter production. Musk posted a screenshot of Trump's post on X platform and said, "I look forward to suing those at the Pentagon who maliciously leaked the message to The New York Times," "They will be found."
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497500153922798118/
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