Bipartisan Lawmakers Propose Translation Bill to Address National Security Concerns Posed by China and Russia
Lawmakers and the public will receive accurate and accessible information about countries of interest from the Open Translation Center.
A bill introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate on April 11 aims to establish a federally funded translation and research agency. This agency would interpret open-source materials from countries like China and Russia related to U.S. strategic interests and make them accessible to the U.S. public.
Titled the “Open Translation Center Act,” the bill proposes the creation of the Open Translation Center (OTC), which will translate official speeches, announcements, documents, and semi-official materials. The OTC will also train analysts and linguists specialized in the countries of interest.
The bill was introduced by Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). It underlines the importance of translation in supporting U.S. foreign policy development and public understanding.
Along with news and commentary, the OTC will translate official and semi-official reports, speeches, and journals to enhance policymakers’ and the public’s understanding of the countries of interest.
The bill stresses the provision of contextual information to the public, including details about major leaders, political processes, military systems, government bodies, companies, and significant concepts and phrases.
Know Your Enemy
Mr. Castro, the bill’s sponsor, highlighted the necessity for understanding adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party to safeguard American national security. Mr. Gallagher emphasized training analysts and linguists specializing in target countries like China and Russia to combat threats effectively.
The bill must pass both the House and Senate by January to become law. It aims to counter misinformation and cognitive warfare spread by countries like China and Russia, enhancing public awareness and national security.
The establishment of such an agency by the United States is crucial in countering cognitive warfare tactics used by China and Russia, leading to a more informed public and strengthening democratic principles.
Great Translation Movement
Bilingual overseas Chinese have been translating the CCP’s official statements and academic speeches into English since 2022, exposing the regime’s agenda to the international community. The movement, known as “The Great Translation Movement,” has faced criticism and censorship attempts from the CCP.
Luo Ya contributed to this report.
