On the recordJanuary 10, 2023
There is broad recognition among Democrats and Republicans that Congress must adopt a whole-of-government approach in response to the intensifying great power competition between the United States and China. The formation of the select committee is the Republicans' response to the China question. However, I do remain skeptical of the true intentions behind the formation of this committee, and I hope my Republican colleagues can approach this topic from a position of strength, not weakness, xenophobia, or fear. A specific focus on strategic competition with China could be meaningful if the committee's work remains constructive, but I question why the work of this proposed select committee could not have been done through the current committees of jurisdiction. With that being said, to be constructive, the committee should consider perspectives beyond the military domain that include the political, economic, military, cultural, and diplomatic implications of a potential U.S. response. Republican leadership should also select Members to sit on this committee who are serious minded about the risks posed by China and not merely anti-China hawks yearning to isolate China through military might. Most importantly, it is my hope that the committee will consider meaningful ways that we can promote a rules-based international order that the United States has spent considerable time and resources building up in the post-World War II era.…
