China’s Greatest Heist: How Beijing Stole America’s Technology with Andrew Badger

China didn’t just compete with the United States — it harvested America’s innovation. In this episode of “Intel at the Edge” Andrew Badger joins Chip Usher to discuss The Great Heist — the story of how China used industrial espionage, talent recruitment, and a whole-of-society strategy to leapfrog the U.S. in critical technologies.  From AI and hypersonic missiles to semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicles, this conversation explores:  • How China turned WTO entry into a collection apparatus  • The rise of the Ministry of State Security’s global network  • The Tesla “billion-dollar thumb drive” case  • Hypersonic and the Los Alamos connection  • Why economic security is national security  • What the U.S. intelligence community must do differently  If the 20th century was about military dominance, the 21st century is about technological power. The question is not whether China is competing — it’s whether America is prepared.  00:00 Intro – The Great Heist  02:20 From DIA to Industrial Espionage  03:15 WTO 2000: The Turning Point  06:25 The “Kaspersky Doctrine” Strategy  08:10 The Most Consequential Economic Heist in History  10:30 China’s Whole-of-Society Intelligence Model  13:20 Sun Tzu & The Cultural Mindset Behind Espionage  17:40 The Cost: $600–800 Billion a Year  21:05 The Tesla “Billion-Dollar Thumb Drive”  22:45 Hypersonic & The Los Alamos Connection  25:15 “We Let Them Do It” – Strategic Distraction  29:20 The China Initiative & Political Hesitation  31:35 AI, Quantum & Emerging Tech Theft  34:20 The Wave Energy Case Study  36:40 Semiconductor War & ASML  38:15 Economic Security = National Security  40:20 Time to Stop Playing Defense  43:30 OPSEC Mindset & Intelligence Reform  46:50 Final Thoughts Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.