"The work that Google is doing in China is ... indirectly benefiting the Chinese military," Dunford told committee members during the defense budget hearing.
"Look, we’re the good guys. And the values that we represent, and the system that we represent is the one that will allow you, and has allowed you, to thrive," he said in a paraphrase of how he describes the situation to "industry partners."
Dunford characterized the work Google and other companies do in China as having "indirect benefit" before going even further.
We watch with great concern when industry partners work in China knowing that there is that indirect benefit. And frankly, ’indirect’ may be not a full characterization of the way it really is. It’s more of a direct benefit to the Chinese military.
Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a vocal opponent of some Big Tech practices, tweeted video of Dunford’s statement, calling it a "must watch video."