How to Counter China’s Influence: U.S. House to Vote on Key Measures

As the U.S. House reconvenes after its summer break, the focus is on curbing and countering China’s growing influence through various sectors such as biotech companies, drones, and electric vehicles. The upcoming week will see lawmakers deliberating on a series of measures aimed at targeting Beijing.

Washington considers Beijing its primary geopolitical rival and views these legislative actions as crucial to ensuring American dominance in the global arena. This bipartisan effort underscores the consensus that congressional intervention is necessary to address the challenges posed by China.

According to Rep. John Moolenaar, the legislation aims to confront the military, economic, and ideological threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. There is a bipartisan determination to emerge victoriously in this competition.

While the proposed bills have garnered support from both sides of the aisle, advocacy groups have raised concerns about the potential impact, including the risk of stigmatizing Asian Americans and fostering divisiveness.

Reacting to the legislation, the Chinese Embassy in Washington labeled it as “new McCarthyism” designed to escalate tensions, particularly in an election year. The embassy warned of the detrimental effects on China-U.S. relations and mutual cooperation if the bills are passed.

Key Legislation on China:

Targeting Beijing-linked biotech:

A bill is in the works to restrict the collaboration of five biotech companies with Chinese affiliations that receive federal funding, citing national security concerns. This move aims to safeguard U.S. healthcare data and reduce dependency on China for medical supplies.

Banning Chinese drones:

Another bill proposes labeling drones manufactured by DJI, a Chinese company dominating the global market, as a threat to national security and prohibiting their use in U.S. communication networks due to data security risks.

Protecting intellectual property:

An initiative seeks to revive a program to counter Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft, drawing mixed reactions over concerns of racial profiling and the impact on U.S.-China collaboration in science and technology.

Restricting farm sales:

A bill aims to safeguard U.S. farmland from foreign adversaries, particularly Chinese interests, by enhancing oversight of land transactions involving citizens from certain countries. This measure underscores the importance of food security as a national security imperative.

As these bills are set for discussion and voting in the House, their fate in the Senate remains uncertain. The deliberations signify a concerted effort to address the multifaceted challenges posed by China and protect American interests in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

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