US congress initiates new moves to counter the Chinese challenges -

Washington: Senior US Senator Marco Rubio expressed strong support for the bill presented in the US Congress, against China saying, “For the first time in almost three decades, the United States is confronted with a near-peer competitor on the global stage in China. We must combat China’s predatory economic practices by working together with our like-minded partners and allies around the globe.” The bill being presented in Congress, at a time when the United States and China have been negotiating an agreement to end the trade war becomes significant.

Donald Trump, on taking over as US President in 2017 had announced the ‘National Security Strategy’ wherein it was clearly mentioned that China was the most significant military adversary of the United States. Trump had also accused China of conniving with Russia to act against the US interests and values. After that, in the last two years, President Trump has openly declared trade and economic war against China and has succeeded in leaving China behind, even on the military front.

However, despite this, the US Congressmen have been demanding a very aggressive and harsh stand against China from President Trump and the new bill is a part of the same strategy. The new law is named Global Economic Security Strategy Act. The main objective is to maintain the economic might of the United States, by identifying the threats to the US financial security and retaliating against the risks. The bill refers to the economic cooperation with other countries but mainly underlines the Chinese threat. The US Defence Department and CIA have already taken cognisance of the Chinese activities and have started preparations to retaliate against them. Last year, Gina Haspel, appointed as the Chief of CIA, had accused China, during the congressional hearing, of carrying out activities against the United States. At the same time, she had also asserted that the CIA would play a significant role in keeping a tab on the illegal activities of China, the new emerging superpower.

The US Defence department, taking cognisance of the Chinese challenges had given a significant impetus to the activities in the Indo-Pacific sector. The United States is building a front with Australia, Japan, South Korea and India to contain the Chinese activities in the region. Since the last few months, It is observed that this front is playing a vital role in keeping a watch on the Chinese activities, exerting pressure on China. The actions of the US Congress become critical given all these backgrounds.