From left, Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing; human rights advocate Tong Yi; H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to president Donald Trump; and Matt Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser, testified at the U.S.-China committee hearing on Tuesday. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Alex Brandon/AP
From left, Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing; human rights advocate Tong Yi; H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to president Donald Trump; and Matt Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser, testified at the U.S.-China committee hearing on Tuesday.
Alex Brandon/AP
A new House panel on U.S.-China relations held its first hearing in prime time on Tuesday night, exploring threats posed by the Chinese government and possible bipartisan solutions.
Four witnesses — including H.R. McMaster, former president Donald Trump's national security adviser, and Tong Yi, a former secretary to prominent Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng — spoke about issues involving national security, economic competition and human rights.
Over the course of three hours, they made a case for how the Chinese Communist Party has gained power over global markets and endangered American interests.
Politics
Congress zeroes in on China — as economic and security threats loom
In a moment of rare bipartisan unity, lawmakers pledged to do more to reduce those threats and boost U.S. competitiveness.
"We may call this a strategic competition, but it's not a polite tennis match," said Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher, the committee chair. "This is an existential struggle over what life will look like in the 21st century."
Lawmakers characterized the U.S.-China dynamic as one that is complicated and needs immediate attention. Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the committee's ranking Democrat, said the U.S. doesn't want a war — hot or cold — with China, but must work to deter aggression.
World
Ahead of China hearing, lawmakers share 'next steps' the U.S. can take for Uyghurs
As they did in a Tuesday interview with Morning Edition, Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi were careful to distinguish between the Chinese government and its people, whom they see as victims of an oppressive regime.
They also stressed the need to avoid xenophobia and "anti-Chinese or Asian stereotyping at all costs." (Notably, the opening statements were disrupted by antiwar protesters holding signs including "China is not our enemy" and "stop Asian hate.")
"The CCP is counting on us being divided," Krishnamoorthi said. "We must rise to the occasion and prove them wrong."
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., questions witnesses at the House's U.S.-China hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Alex Brandon/AP
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., questions witnesses at the House's U.S.-China hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
Alex Brandon/AP
One area of concern: Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland
Chinese entities slowly are buying up more U.S. farmland. Some members of Congress see that as a threat to national security.
One of them is South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, a member of the new China-focused committee. He told Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep on Wednesday that while China is by no means a major player in U.S. agriculture, its growing holdings abroad are cause for concern.
World
China's Xi heralds 'unbreakable' friendship with Belarus, an ally of Russia
"Food security is national security," he said. "And I think we've seen that Russia was able to exercise undue influence over Europe because they supplied them [with] so much natural gas. And similarly, if China has control over food supplies in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, even in North America, that can give them more power, more coercive power, over the globe."
China actually owns a very small percentage — just about 0.9% — of all foreign-owned U.S. agricultural land as of 2021, according to the USDA. But it also says China's agricultural investment abroad grew more than tenfold between 2009 and 2016 alone, to the concern of many in those countries.
"This is no small amount of food we're talking about," Johnson says. "In recent years the Chinese Communist Party has increased their holdings of foreign farmland ... by 1000%. They own 1,300 agricultural processing facilities outside of China, and that number is growing rapidly."
Politics
Black farmers worry new approach on 'race neutral' lending leaves them in the shadows
The National Family Farm Coalition and other advocacy groups argue that the bigger threat to U.S. food security is the purchase of land by corporations, whether U.S. or foreign-owned, the Center for Strategic and International Studies notes.
Federal law doesn't restrict how much private U.S. agricultural land can be foreign-owned, though it does require foreign entities to disclose such information to the USDA. State level restrictions on foreign land ownership vary.
Rep. Johnson is among the bipartisan group of lawmakers who support the PASS Act, which would create a federal ban on China, Iran, North Korea or Russia buying U.S. agricultural land or processing facilities.
Politics
Congress gears up for another farm bill. Here's what's on the menu
Recent purchases — including a Chinese company's 2022 acquisition of farmland near a North Dakota air base — have fueled concerns and support for such legislation.
Johnson, a co-sponsor of the bill, says Chinese holdings are a very small portion of total farmland in the U.S. right now, but the issue may become a larger focus for the new House committee. The panel is planning future field hearings, which could include traveling to a state to highlight the issue of China's investment in land or agricultural businesses.
"One thing we heard from our witnesses last night is that we cannot give the Chinese Communist Party coercive power over our economy," he says, whether that's in renewable technologies, rare Earth minerals, steel or other industries. "Food is one area where we continue to maintain a competitive advantage; we certainly should not let that slip away."
Congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh contributed to this story.
Ally Schweitzer edited the audio interview.
I am an expert with a deep understanding of international relations, geopolitics, and the economic dynamics between nations. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive knowledge of historical and contemporary events, global security issues, and the intricate relationships that shape the world we live in. I've closely followed developments in U.S.-China relations, and my insights are informed by a nuanced understanding of the intricate web of factors that influence diplomatic, economic, and security dynamics between these two major players on the global stage.
In the provided article, the focus is on a U.S.-China committee hearing, which sheds light on the multifaceted challenges posed by the Chinese government. Notably, the hearing explores threats related to national security, economic competition, and human rights. The witnesses, including H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, and Tong Yi, a former secretary to Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, provide valuable perspectives on these critical issues.
The hearing emphasizes the growing influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over global markets and its impact on American interests. The bipartisan nature of the committee reflects a rare unity among lawmakers in acknowledging the complexity of the U.S.-China dynamic. The article highlights the need for immediate attention to address the challenges posed by China, characterizing it as an "existential struggle" for the 21st century.
One significant area of concern discussed in the article is the foreign ownership of U.S. farmland by Chinese entities. The article quotes South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, a member of the new China-focused committee, expressing worry about the potential threat to national security posed by China's increasing holdings of U.S. agricultural land. Johnson emphasizes the importance of food security, drawing parallels to Russia's influence over Europe through natural gas supplies.
Despite China currently owning a relatively small percentage of foreign-owned U.S. agricultural land, concerns are raised about the rapid growth of China's agricultural investments abroad. The article mentions legislative efforts, such as the PASS Act, which proposes a federal ban on China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia buying U.S. agricultural land or processing facilities.
In summary, the article provides insights into the complex challenges posed by the Chinese government in areas such as national security, economic competition, and foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. The bipartisan commitment to addressing these issues reflects a recognition of the gravity of the situation and the need for strategic responses to safeguard American interests.
