The United States is in a New Cold War with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), led and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP merges civilian and military power into a comprehensive weapon to know, influence, exploit, and defeat an enemy. China would like to see a world without America, openly admitting it is America’s adversary.
China believes that state and local governments will be the weak links by which it can infiltrate and undercut the US political system. State lawmakers should take decisive action to protect their citizens.
HERE’S WHAT STATES CAN DO:
Prohibit Receiving Compensation For Lobbying on Behalf of a Foreign Adversary: Putting an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s influence peddling schemes is the first step for state legislatures in tackling the many threats it poses and a crucial measure to protect state capitols from other foreign threats. States should prohibit individuals or entities from receiving compensation for lobbying on behalf of foreign adversaries in their state.
Keep Chinese Communist Party Technology Out of State Government: Chinese law requires companies to aid state intelligence, blurring the line between business and government. State and local governments that contract with CCP-linked firms risk exposing data from state government, courts, police, elections, and infrastructure to Chinese surveillance and are placing Americans’ data and security in direct jeopardy.
Research by China Tech Threat found 46 states have recently purchased technology products made by Chinese government-owned technology manufacturers that have been restricted by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to their connection to the Chinese government and military. States should restrict Chinese tech firms from being eligible to bid on or enter into public contracts for IT goods or services.
Protect America’s Land: China, along with other hostile regimes, is exploiting gaps in U.S. state laws to acquire American land – especially near critical infrastructure such as military bases, energy grids, and water systems. This poses a grave threat to national and state security. China does not allow Americans to buy land near their sensitive infrastructure. We must hold China to the same standard. States should restrict real estate purchases by foreign adversaries to protect sensitive military assets, safeguard key infrastructure, and ensure key food supplies remain under American control.
Stop Funding Forced Labor: Many Electric Vehicles (EV) sold today are made with components created through forced labor and oppressive child labor. Uyghur Muslims and other persecuted minorities in Xinjiang are forced to mine and manufacture key parts of EV batteries. Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also exploited to mine cobalt, which is later exported to China for battery production. These vehicles, often produced by Chinese companies linked to the PRC government, are also increasingly embedded with advanced surveillance technology like LiDAR. These dual-use tools can map American infrastructure and potentially compromise national security.
American taxpayers are unknowingly funding these human rights abuses and security threats because public entities in many states are buying EVs from these very companies. States should prohibit public agencies from contracting with any company based in or owned by the People’s Republic of China—or from purchasing electric vehicles or EV components linked to forced or child labor.
Keep Foreign Adversaries Out of the Classroom: The PRC’s interference and operations in institutions of higher education institutions and K-12 classrooms in the U.S. pose a long-term economic and national security threat. Confucius Institutes and similar initiatives, ostensibly used to promote Chinese language education and cultural exchange, give CCP agents a foothold on U.S. campuses and classrooms, which they use to compromise faculty research, steal intellectual property, surveil overseas Chinese students, and spread pro-CCP propaganda. States should restrict U.S. educational institutions from engaging in academic partnerships, using materials, or forming cooperative relationships with entities from designated foreign adversary countries.