* Republican Moolenaar heads House Select Committee on

China

* He says Safran's activities may be aiding Chinese

military

* Lawmaker cites work on helicopters and joint ventures

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - A congressional

committee chair has asked the Pentagon to review Safran's

joint ventures in China, saying the French aerospace

company's commercial ties with Chinese companies raise concerns

in light of its U.S. defense contracts.

In a letter to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Republican

Representative John Moolenaar said the French company's

activities in China may be aiding the Chinese military, and

cited Safran's work with the Aviation Industry Corporation of

China, or AVIC, among other issues. Moolenaar heads

the House of Representatives Select Committee on China.

"While Safran's ventures in China are commercial in nature,

its work with these AVIC subsidiaries may directly support

entities that help advance the CCP's military capabilities,"

Moolenaar, referring to the Chinese Communist Party, wrote in

the letter sent late on Thursday, first reported by Reuters.

Safran develops quantum-sensing technology and maintains

engines for the U.S. Army's UH-72A Lakota helicopter as well as

landing systems for various U.S. military aircraft, Moolenaar

wrote.

Asked to comment on the letter, the Pentagon said it would

respond directly to Moolenaar. Safran and the Chinese embassy in

Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Moolenaar's committee for months has been reviewing the

activities of American and Western aerospace companies in China,

also including Airbus.

Moolenaar said he wants to work with the Pentagon "to ensure

that American defense contractors do not support the Chinese

military."

"We expect Western companies who do business with the U.S.

government to work with us in good faith to unwind relationships

that undermine U.S. national security," Moolenaar added. "We are

concerned about Western aerospace companies supporting PRC

(People's Republic of China) military capabilities."

Moolenaar sent a similar letter to the Pentagon in December

raising concerns about Airbus and its ties to Chinese companies

including Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group, or XAC.

His letter concerning Safran raised concerns about the

company establishing a joint venture with the Shanghai Aircraft

Manufacturing Corporation, or SAM, in 2012 to manufacture an

electrical wiring connection system for Chinese C919 commercial

aircraft. Moolenaar wrote that SAM has been involved in the

manufacturing and repair of Chinese military aircraft.

The letter also said Safran established a joint venture with

AVIC subsidiary XAC in 2011 to produce components called

nacelles for jet engines. The letter said the joint venture

produced thrust reverser doors that have military applications,

and that XAC has worked on Chinese military aircraft.

Safran and GE are partners in the French-U.S. jet

engine maker CFM.

Moolenaar's letter raised concern that Safran's development

work on Chinese helicopters has accelerated Chinese military

efforts, including work with Aero Engine Corporation of China

.

"We noticed a pattern where French companies work with China

to develop a civilian helicopter, then the (Chinese military)

absorbs that civilian helicopter technology into its military

platforms," Moolenaar wrote.