21st Century Peace Through Strength Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, be it through technology transfers or monetary investments, we must stop funding our own destruction through tacit support of the PLA's technological advancement.

This amendment requires the annual China Military Power Report to provide an assessment of the PRC's development in critical and emerging technologies, relevant to any advancement of the PLA capabilities, any involvement in the CCP's Military-Civil Fusion program, or any involvement in the development of the CCP's state surveillance initiatives.

This amendment also calls on the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and other interagency partners to list all Chinese companies involved in the development of this critical technology and determine if any U.S. technology components are used by these companies or if any U.S. capital is invested in these companies.

This is critical information to have. American dollars and ingenuity should not be building the CCP's techno-totalitarian surveillance state and should not be funding its gross human rights abuses. We must recognize the risk of support for entities involved in Xi's Military- Civil Fusion program and understand any technological development made in China on the civil side instantly goes to support military advancements.

Right now, Americans--usually unwittingly--are funding the People's Liberation Army, paying for things like aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and artillery shells, and facilitating a mass surveillance and oppression of the Chinese people.

I think the bottom line, from my perspective, is that the CCP is an adversary, and you don't defeat an adversary or deter an adversary by shoveling billions of dollars into their military and technology programs. Every time we allow this to happen, we are closing the capability gap between our military and the PLA, giving the upper hand to our greatest adversary, the only country with the intent, will, and capability to reshape the international order, and that is China.

Madam Chair, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi), the ranking member of the Select Committee on the CCP.

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Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

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Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Chair, in closing, the PRC is the only competitor with the intent, the will, and the capability to reshape the international order. We must stop fueling our own demise.

Madam Chair, I urge support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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