Sanctioning Tyrannical and Oppressive People Within the Chinese Communist Party Act

Floor Speech

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

Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation.

We all recognize the challenges posed by the People's Republic of China. The Biden-Harris administration and this body are clear-eyed that the PRC is our foremost geopolitical challenge, but how we manage this relationship will have consequences not just for us but for the entire world. This requires sober policies and shrewd diplomacy, not fear or partisan grandstanding.

It is for that reason I oppose H.R. 3334. If signed into law, this bill would sabotage high-level diplomacy with Beijing. Why else would we sanction all of the PRC's top leaders, including the President, the Premier, the senior ministers in one fell swoop, an action that would immediately rupture the U.S.-China relationship? Such a unilateral action would undermine the United States' interests, divide us from our partners and allies, and endanger our national security by making a conflict more likely in the Indo-Pacific.

Over the last few years, the Biden-Harris administration has competed vigorously with China. They have sanctioned Chinese officials and companies for human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. They have provided Taiwan with the weapons that it needs to enhance its self- defense. They have imposed unprecedented export controls against China to ensure our technology isn't bolstering China's military or its human rights abuses. They have done so while revitalizing our alliances and partnerships in the region and stabilizing relations with Beijing so that our competition does not slide into conflict. All of this is endangered by this bill before us.

The State Department has warned that this bill will bluntly curtail the United States' ability to engage with Beijing at senior levels of our civilian and military leadership to advance our national interests.

For example, earlier this month, the head of U.S. forces in the Indo- Pacific spoke to his Chinese counterpart for the first time in years. During the call, Admiral Paparo underscored the importance of sustained lines of communication between the United States military and the PLA, noting that ``such discussions between senior leaders serve to clarify intent and reduce the risk of misperception or miscalculation.''

If we want to keep the American people safe and lower the chance of an accidental crisis in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea, we have to talk to China. We already know that sanctioning its leaders is counterproductive. Beijing's last defense minister refused to meet with Secretary Lloyd Austin because of U.S. sanctions.

Engagement is necessary. Through senior-level, including engagements between President Biden and President Xi, the Biden-Harris administration has restored open channels of communication with Beijing.

Remember, even during the Cuban Missile Crisis, we were talking with Russia at the time. There was always dialogue and conversation. That probably prevented a nuclear war back then. That is something that we should take knowledge of. Conversation, diplomacy, preventing an accidental war, that is why this bill is not the right bill.

I thank the Biden-Harris administration. For the first time in years, Beijing has agreed to take action to crack down on fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill-presses that are killing 100,000 Americans a year. We still have to deal with issues that most people believe in, that there is a climate crisis. We cannot solve problems like that unless we are talking with each other and Beijing takes action.

Just this month, the Biden-Harris administration's diplomatic efforts led to the release of an American citizen, David Lin, who was unlawfully detained in China for over 18 years. Let me assure you, if this bill becomes law, it will be next to impossible to secure the return of the two remaining wrongfully detained Americans in China.

Sanctioning the top 200-plus CCP officials all at once would limit the United States' future leverage if China engages in more problematic policies and behaviors.

The legislation does not include basic exceptions that are standard in all bipartisan sanctions legislation. While the waiver in this legislation sunsets after just 2 years, the authority to impose sanctions does not. This is poor policymaking, plain and simple.

I oppose this dangerous and counterproductive bill, which will do nothing to help the Uyghurs, the Hong Kongers, and the people of Taiwan, while making it incredibly difficult to engage China to advance any U.S. interests, whether it is fentanyl, regional security, Taiwan, human rights, or IT theft.

Madam Chair, I must oppose this measure and urge all of my colleagues, all Members, to do the same.

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Mr. MEEKS. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, if you think that unilateral sanctions on 200 members in China is going to work, I got a bridge to sell you. Nothing is going to work--unilateral, none of it. All it will do is drive us against some of our Indo-Pacific friends, colleagues, and allies.

H.R. 3334 is a deliberate effort to undermine all of what we are trying to do. It would rupture the U.S.-China relationship. It would create collateral damage that would impact American workers, families, and companies. It would make America look like the instigator and divide us from our partners. It would make a conflict more likely by undermining the ability to have open lines of communication with the PRC civilian and military leaders about Taiwan or the South China Sea.

Shutting down communication channels is not what diplomacy is about. That is not what this committee is about. Shutting down communication channels, specifically with the PRC, is not a strategy for success.

American officials, diplomats, and military leaders must be able to engage directly with their PRC counterparts in Washington and elsewhere to address concerns and reduce tensions.

Ambassador Burns, who was recently here, urges communications even between Members of Congress and members of the PRC, not to back down from them but to make sure they understand what we say and what our positions are.

Dialogue and conversation, that is diplomacy. That is how we get things done, and that is how we can prevent a misunderstanding or a miscalculation that could lead to devastation.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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