Dear Speaker Pelosi:
We, the 28 undersigned groups, are writing to urge you to support efforts by House Democrats toadvance a more balanced and reasonable national security approach to competition with China than was passed by the Senate in the U.S. Innovationand Competition Act.
Even as our country takes steps to address challengesassociated with the rise of China, weshould seek to preserve policies in place since the1970s which have kept the peace between theUnited States and China. Division C of the Senatelegislation (also known as the StrategicCompetition Act or SCA) contains multiple provisionsthat would unnecessarily increaseregional tensions, endanger essential diplomatic flexibility,and could inadvertently contribute toa growing climate of anti-Asian racism in America.By provoking excessive escalation andconflict, many provisions would make it harder, not easier, to address the very real issues of concern in Chinese behavior and to address issuesof mutual concern ranging from climatechange to nuclear proliferation.
Elements of the SCA would sharply restrict the abilityof the State Department and other government agencies to maintain long standing American policies that have helped to keep the peace with China in the Taiwan Strait, including the U.S. “One China Policy.” By narrowing the scope for diplomacy and increasing tensions with Chinain this critical area, the legislation could endanger our allies by risking destructive escalation with China. The legislation would also forcethe executive branch to sustain U.N. Security Councilsanctions on North Korea until full denuclearization, cutting off opportunities for diplomatic negotiations and creating significant humanitarian costs for the North Korean people. As the Biden administration re-engages with the world, we should not tie its hands in conducting sensitivediplomacy and negotiations with othermajor powers, including China.
These are hardly the only objectionable elements ofthe Senate bill. Section 3310 of the Senatebill also undermines the State Department’s ability to conduct diplomacy. It restricts the abilityof U.S. diplomats to conduct sensitive negotiationswith other countries by mandating overbroadand premature public disclosure of steps taken onthe road to concluding a final treaty. Otherelements in the bill would unnecessarily chill peacefulcooperative exchanges with China and threaten the civil liberties of Asian-Americans. Insum, provisions in Division C of S. 1260 go well beyond what is called for in addressing the many legitimate areas of concern with China’sbehavior and its potential conflict with U.S. interests,and could ultimately be counterproductive.
In contrast, the EAGLE Act advanced by House Committeeon Foreign Affairs Chairman Gregory Meeks takes a more balanced and less extremeapproach, one that does not includemany of the most objectionable elements of the Senate bill. While the signers of this letter do not necessarily agree with all elements of the EAGLE Act, the contrast between this legislation andthe SCA shows the value of separate considerationof China policy by the House.
We urge you to ensure that China-related nationalsecurity legislation that you bring to the floorhas been considered through regular order in a mannerthat permits members to fully scrutinizethe legislation, debate crucial issues, and offeramendments. We believe the House ForeignAffairs Committee and the House of Representativesdeserve a say in this important policydebate and encourage you to support a meaningful debatebefore moving toward final passage.
Sincerely,
American Friends Service Committee
The Center for Conscience and War
Center for International Policy
Code Pink
China-US Solidarity Network
Coalition for Peace Action
Committee for a SANE U.S.-China Policy
Common Defense
Council for a Liveable World
Environmentalists Against War
Foreign Policy for America
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Just Foreign Policy
Justice is Global
Korea Peace Network
MADRE
MoveOn
National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA)
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
Peace Action
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Rethinking Foreign Policy
Roots Action
Union of Concerned Scientists
United Church of Christ
Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND)
Win Without War
Women Cross DMZ
