‘We must treat the CCP like the threat they are,’ Republican Study Committee chairman tells Fox News Digital
House Republicans are set to introduce what they claim to be the most robust anti-Chinese government legislation in American history on Thursday.
If approved, the bill would significantly reduce trade with China in key national security sectors like telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and military technology.
Furthermore, it aims to create channels for promoting ideals supported by the United States and offering critiques of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) within China itself.
Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Kevin Hern, representing Oklahoma, is spearheading the proposal known as the Countering Communist China Act. His 175-member group endorses this legislation.
“We need to recognize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the threat it poses and take decisive action to counter its influence in our educational institutions and government,” Hern stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.
He added, “This bill takes a comprehensive and robust approach to targeting the CCP, prioritizing American safety and economic security. It is the most stringent legislation ever introduced in Congress against the CCP, and rightfully so.”
Rep. Joe Wilson, representing South Carolina and serving as the chairman of the RSC’s National Security and Foreign Policy Task Force, emphasized to Fox News Digital, “The authoritarian rule of the Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping poses a threat to global security, jeopardizes the safety of our allies, and undermines the future of the Chinese people.”
The proposed bill includes measures to limit investments in Chinese technology firms and impose trade restrictions on companies supported by Beijing involved in military technology and surveillance.
Additionally, it advocates for increasing domestic production in supply chains related to pharmaceuticals and critical minerals, sectors where China currently holds significant dominance.
The bill does not intend to cut off trade between the U.S. and China completely. Sectors outside of national security concerns, like agricultural products and toys, would remain unaffected by the proposed restrictions.
Hern’s extensive legislation also targets the fentanyl crisis by imposing sanctions on Chinese officials and entities involved in the global distribution of this deadly drug into the U.S. Furthermore, it proposes empowering U.S. citizens to pursue legal action against Chinese government officials following the death of a loved one due to fentanyl overdose.
In addition to imposing restrictions, the bill aims to advance pro-democracy perspectives among both individuals in China and the Chinese-speaking diaspora.
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According to a summary of the bill obtained by Fox News Digital, it proposes the establishment of new Mandarin Chinese language social media accounts, radio stations, videos, and similar platforms to amplify the voices of Chinese individuals as they expose human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and advocate for democracy.
This initiative would be highly impactful given China’s strict control over information flow within its borders, including internet censorship targeting content critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Relations between the U.S. and China, particularly concerning trade, have been strained due to escalating geopolitical tensions. These tensions largely arise from Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, the complex relationship between both countries and Taiwan and persistent accusations of intellectual property theft by entities supported by the CCP.