Speaking with One Voice on China by DARIN LAHOOD & RICK LARSEN
Addressing the unique challenges presented by China can China also poses a challenge to national security. As the and should be a bipartisan issue. As co-chairs of the bipartisan People’s Liberation Army (PLA) modernizes and grows more U.S.-China Working Group, we have worked together over capable, China has ramped up its pressure and assertiveness several terms in Congress to elevate dialogue among Members towards its neighbors, particularly India and Taiwan. China has and staff around the U.S.-China relationship. We have also also invested in shipbuilding, space operations, nuclear weapons both recently published detailed outlines of policies to compete and delivery systems, and emerging technology. Further, with China and support American workers: the GOP Task China’s Civil-Military fusion strategy and organization of a Force Report and Rep. Larsen’s China White Paper. Though Strategic Support Force shows the PLA correctly understands our proposals have similarities and differences, we agree that the centrality of technology and information operations in any Congress must work in a bipartisan fashion to address the future military conflict with the United States. This challenge challenges presented by China. will require Congress to make prudent choices about posture, There are investments, and several lenses through oversight. And, as which to view U.S.with the economic China policy and challenge, the United how Congress can States will be better craft a pragmatic and positioned when proactive approach coordinating and to ensure the United cooperating with States has a leadership like-minded partners. voice in the IndoMembers will Pacific. From an be better able to economic and national develop and evaluate security standpoint, policies to respond China is a strategic to these challenges competitor of the with a common LaHood and Larsen spoke to a meeting of The Ripon Society in United States. For understanding of January 2020. far too long, China the history of the has sought to skirt bilateral relationship. As co-chairs of the bipartisan U.S.-China international rules and As co-chairs of the standards to gain a U.S.-China Working Working Group, we will ensure competitive advantage Group, we provide a Congressional attention continues to focus over the United States forum for Members and our like-minded of Congress and on China’s manipulation of the global partners in the global staff to learn about free market, threats against its neighbors economy. this history and have and ongoing human rights abuses. For example, frank discussions China is now the about U.S. policy world’s second-largest with outside economy, but it maintains “developing country” status with the experts and each other. Over the years, we have led bipartisan World Trade Organization to retain preferential trade benefits delegation trips to China — meeting with Chinese leaders and intended to lift countries out of poverty. In addition, China discussing issues on the economy, trade, intellectual property, continues to restrict market access, steal intellectual property, military, energy, and the environment. We’ve also traveled to mandate joint ventures, and provide distortionary support to Hong Kong to meet with American businesses, government state-owned enterprises. Because these policies harm American officials, and protest leaders to discuss the importance of this workers and workers in other nations that compete with China, unique relationship — particularly as China continues to further it is critical that U.S. policymakers develop responses that are undermine freedom of speech, judicial independence, rule of targeted and coordinated with our world partners. law, and human rights. 14
RIPON FORUM February 2022
