WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Select Committee on China convened a session focused on strategies to address economic pressure tactics employed by the People’s Republic of China against democratic nations. Key participants included Scott Morrison, former Australian Prime Minister, and Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
Chairman Moolenaar emphasized that China’s economic growth has increasingly been leveraged for geopolitical influence, stating, “Trade between the CCP and the free world has grown, so has its appetite for economic leverage and control.”
Morrison highlighted the importance of strengthening international alliances, noting, “Strengthening and deepening the networks of US alliances and partners is critical to resilience and deterrence. This applies equally to economic and security matters.”
Emanuel described the current global dynamic as a competition between innovative democracies and an authoritarian regime that imitates, adding, “United, coordinated, and committed, an anti-coercion coalition is the best offense and the best defense against China’s campaign of intimidation.”
Representative Gimenez compared China’s economic influence to that of a drug dealer, advocating for economic decoupling. Representative LaHood questioned Emanuel about the inherent advantages China seeks in international agreements, while Representative Moran expressed concern over the extent of China’s economic coercion tactics.
— news from (Select Committee on the CCP | (.gov))
— News Original —
MEDIA PACKAGE: Select Committee Holds Hearing “United We Stand: Strategies to Counter PRC Economic Coercion Against Democracies”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House Select Committee on China held a hearing titled “United We Stand: Strategies to Counter PRC Economic Coercion Against Democracies.” Witnesses included The Honorable Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, and The Honorable Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
Watch the hearing or continue below for highlights:
Chairman Moolenaar ‘s opening remarks:
“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.”
Listen to more here.
During the hearing, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Ambassador Rahm Emanuel delivered their testimonies.
“Strengthening and deepening the networks of US alliances and partners is critical to resilience and deterrence. This is as true in the economic sphere as it is in the security sphere. In this new era of post-globalisation strategic rivalry, it is critical that these tracks of national policy are aligned and integrated,” testified Morrison. “It is also true that US allies and partners must understand that in this new environment more will be required of them in these relationships, both individually and collectively, including Australia, in the years ahead.”
“We are in a strategic competition between free nations that innovate and a surveillance state that imitates; between democratic resilience and authoritarian reliance. United, coordinated, and committed, an anti-coercion coalition is the best offense and the best defense against China’s campaign of intimidation,” testified Emanuel.
Morrison ‘s testimony is available here. Emanuel ‘s testimony is available here.
Representative Gimenez (R-FL) ‘s remarks:
“I consider China to be basically a drug dealer. And the world is addicted to Chinese goods… We must decouple from China.”
Listen to more here.
Representative LaHood (R-IL) ‘s questioning of witness Rahm Emanuel:
“They always say it’s win-win. But all roads lead to one destiny: Beijing’s advantage.”
Listen to more here.
Representative Moran (R-TX) ‘s remarks:
“There seems really to be no limit on the actions the PRC will take to engage in economic coercion.”
Listen to more here.
###