House panel investigates China’s threats to US, sparks bipartisan unity.

Tensions Between US and China: A Direct Threat to American Sovereignty

With tensions between the United States and China at their worst since diplomatic ties were established in 1979, the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition has been hard at work studying the situation. In its first six months, the committee has had no shortage of study material.

In February, tensions escalated when a Chinese surveillance balloon crossed the continental United States and was ultimately shot down by the US government. This incident, along with US-led restrictions on China’s access to advanced computer chips and diplomatic disputes over Taiwan, has highlighted the immediate and direct threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the United States.

“You have a bipartisan group of members saying that the Chinese Communist Party presents not just a distant ‘over there’ threat, but a ‘right here at home’ threat,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), the committee’s chairman. “That’s a direct threat to American sovereignty, and then, we’re not moving quickly enough to address that fact.”

Bipartisan Committee Approach Prevails

The House Select Committee on the CCP consists of 13 Republican and 11 Democratic members. The panel was formed early in the 118th Congress by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as a select committee, with members appointed by both Republican and Democratic leaders.

Initially, not all lawmakers were in favor of creating a special panel to study China’s threats to the US. However, once the committee was established, it quickly moved forward with its work. After six months, lawmakers from both parties agree that decisive and strategic actions are needed to address the China threat and safeguard America’s global standing.

The committee has covered a wide range of topics, including China’s desire for unification with Taiwan, the economic relationship between Beijing and the Western world, the CCP’s harassment of dissidents outside of China, and human rights violations. The committee’s bipartisan approach has been crucial in expressing concerns about economic dependence on China and raising awareness about the coercive leverage exerted by the Chinese Communist Party.

Threats on Multiple Fronts

The committee has conducted prime-time hearings, including one featuring testimony from Uyghurs who detailed alleged human rights abuses by the Chinese government. They have also traveled within the US to meet with industry leaders and foreign officials, gaining insights into various aspects of the China threat.

One notable exercise conducted by the committee was a war game scenario focused on the US response if China were to attempt to seize Taiwan by force. This scenario informed the committee’s first major policy report, “10 For Taiwan,” which outlines bipartisan steps to enhance near-term deterrence and prevent a war with China over Taiwan.

The committee has adopted 10 bipartisan policy recommendations for Congress to pass regarding US support to Taiwan, with seven of them included in the initial draft of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. These recommendations cover areas such as reviewing the implementation of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, engaging with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, and enhancing the ability to counter PLA ships.

To convey the urgency of their work, committee members have traveled to relevant locations, including Manhattan, where they learned about Chinese police operations targeting dissidents, and Detroit, where they met with automobile companies and retail brands with factories in China.

Continued Work and Chairman’s Focus

The committee’s work is ongoing, with Chairman Gallagher at the forefront. Gallagher, a Marine Corps intelligence officer and a Princeton graduate, has dedicated himself to the question of how to deter a hot war in the near term and win the long-term competition with China. He sees the window of maximum danger with respect to Taiwan and believes that the committee’s efforts can contribute to achieving peace in the near term and securing America’s position in the long term.

As the committee continues its work, it remains crucial to address the immediate and direct threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party to American sovereignty. Through bipartisan collaboration and strategic actions, the United States can navigate this challenging landscape and protect its interests on the global stage.

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