Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official U.S. House headshot
This week, the House Select Committee on China conducted a hearing titled "United We Stand: Strategies to Counter PRC Economic Coercion Against Democracies." Key witnesses included Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia, and Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
Chairman Moolenaar opened the session with remarks emphasizing the shift in perception towards China's economic rise. “For too long, we treated China’s rise as an economic opportunity detached from the party’s geopolitical ambitions... But today it’s clear: as trade between the CCP and the free world has grown, so has its appetite for economic leverage and control,” he stated.
During their testimonies, both Morrison and Emanuel stressed the importance of alliances. Morrison noted, "Strengthening and deepening the networks of US alliances and partners is critical to resilience and deterrence." He emphasized that more would be required from U.S. allies in this new strategic environment. Emanuel highlighted a strategic competition between free nations and authoritarian states, asserting that a united coalition is essential against China's intimidation tactics.
Representative Gimenez compared China to a drug dealer due to global dependency on Chinese goods, advocating for decoupling from China. Representative LaHood critiqued China's strategy by stating that all paths ultimately benefit Beijing. Representative Moran expressed concern over China's limitless approach to economic coercion.
Alerts Sign-up