Congress must take action to prevent US dependence on Chinese companies

The United States is committed to thwarting Beijing’s attempts to achieve victory in three critical areas: military, intelligence, and diplomatic.

However, the most significant threat to US national security arises from Beijing’s success in weakening the resilience and independence of our industrial base.

China is pursuing victory in this “fourth path” because the US government is not structured to respond effectively to a security threat that masquerades as normal business competition.

President Biden recently imposed tariffs on Chinese goods such as electric vehicles and solar panels, not for national-security reasons but due to perceived “unfair” competition.

As a former executive in global telecommunications, I witnessed Beijing’s efforts to elevate Chinese telecom equipment makers like ZTE and Huawei to dominance.

Initially, I assumed that Beijing was supporting these companies for economic success, but I soon realized their objectives were more strategic.

Through interventions in the telecom sector, China not only destroyed Western companies like Nortel and Lucent but also advanced the goals of the Chinese Communist Party.

The CCP invested heavily in these companies’ success, ultimately causing substantial damage to Western competitors.

While the ban on Huawei prevented its deployment in the US, the industry’s destruction forced reliance on vendors from other countries for critical infrastructure.

China has also established dominance in other key markets like electric car batteries, solar panels, and generic inputs for antibiotics. This dependence poses a significant risk to US national security.

The Commerce Department is expected to lead the government’s response to Beijing’s actions, but its focus on economic competitiveness may not be sufficient to address the security threat.

Congress must intervene and create a new entity specifically dedicated to countering China’s commercial offensive. This entity would draw expertise from various government departments to effectively combat the threat.

Recognizing the battlefield where the war is being fought is crucial in effectively countering China’s ambitions and protecting American interests.

Jon Pelson is the author of “Wireless Wars, China’s Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We’re Fighting Back” and an adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.