The U.S. Senate will take up two China-related bills on the same day next week in a comprehensive effort to counter China’s aggressive actions in multiple areas. The Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss a cross-party proposal on the 14th to improve the U.S. ability to counter China’s growing global influence, and the bill calls for a stronger partnership with Taiwan and no restrictions on interactions between U.S. and Taiwanese officials; the Commerce Committee will also hold a hearing on the “Endless Frontier Act” to counter China’s rise in technology on the same day. The same day the Commerce Committee will also hold a hearing on the Endless Frontier Act to counter the rise of China in the technology sector.
“Reuters reported on the 8th that the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss the draft Strategic Competition Act of 2021 on the 14th, which authorizes a series of diplomatic and strategic initiatives aimed at countering Beijing. The draft Strategic Competition Act of 2021, which will be discussed by the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on the 14th, authorizes a series of diplomatic and strategic initiatives aimed at countering Beijing, reflecting the hard-line atmosphere of the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress in dealing with China.
The bill is intended to address economic competition with China, but also touches on humanitarian and democratic values, such as the situation of the Uighur people in Xinjiang, the oppression of dissent in Hong Kong, and aggression in the South China Sea. The bill emphasizes the need to “prioritize military investments necessary to achieve U.S. political objectives in the Indo-Pacific region,” and Congress must ensure that federal budget spending in this area is consistent with the strategic need to compete with China.
The bill also calls for a strengthened partnership with Taiwan, saying that Taiwan is “a key part of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy” and that there should be no restrictions on interaction between U.S. and Taiwan officials. Another article sets limits on aid to countries where Chinese military facilities are located, saying Beijing is using the so-called “Belt and Road Initiative” to advance its security interests and facilitate greater military access.
The bill states that Washington must encourage allies to strengthen their efforts to deter Beijing’s “aggressive and assertive behavior” and requires that each U.S. federal government department designate a senior official to coordinate policies related to strategic competition with China. The draft states that “the United States must ensure that all federal departments and agencies reflect that strategic competition with China is a top U.S. foreign policy priority.
The “Strategic Competition Act of 2021” is co-sponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.Y.) and Ranking Republican Jim Risch (R-Ohio). This is part of a series of anti-China bills announced by Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-N.Y.) in February.
The Senate Commerce Committee also announced the day before that it would hold a hearing on the Endless Frontier Act on the 14th, which aims to invest $110 billion over five years to strengthen U.S. science and technology research and development to counter the rise of China in key technologies.
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