Today, Representative John Curtis (R-UT), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,  released the following statement after being named to the newly-formed China Task Force. The Task Force will bring together select members from key committees to help reinforce Congressional efforts to counter current and emerging cross-jurisdictional threats from China. The Task Force was originally designed to be a joint effort with Democratic colleagues, but after delaying for more than a year, House Democratic leadership never launched the initiative.

“I am honored to be selected by Leader McCarthy to join the newly-formed China Task Force. The Task Force will study a wide range of issues such as disinformation campaigns, influence operations, economic threats, and competition for the development of advanced technology, ultimately creating policy recommendations for Congress. My time in the region has given me a unique understanding of the history, culture, and language which I will use as the China Task Force tackles these issues head-on,” said Curtis.“There is a need for a unified and bipartisan voice on these issues; I hope my Democratic colleagues will soon join us.”

Background

The Republican-led China Task Force will be chaired by Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX).  House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy also selected the following members to serve on the Task Force: Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN), Andy Barr (R-KY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), John Joyce (R-PA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Denver Riggleman (R-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Michael Waltz (R-FL).

The task force will focus on issues such as:

• Operations targeting U.S. and foreign governments and civil society, including think tanks, business, and media outlets.
• Export control regimes and foreign investment screening mechanisms in the United States, and efforts to coordinate and harmonize these regimes with partners.
• Chinese Communist Party efforts to attain leadership positions and change norms at international organizations and standard-setting bodies.
• Economic coercion of governments and businesses in the United States and partner countries, including through the monopolization of critical supply chains.
• China’s role in the origin and spread of COVID-19.
• Efforts to gain the technological advantage (in areas including 5G, AI, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies that may or may not have military applications).

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