Kean, Pascrell Support Select Committee to Investigate Chinese Communist Party

There appears to be some bipartisan support for investigating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) among New Jersey representatives.

Rep. Bill Pascrell and Rep. Tom Kean both issued support for the creation of a House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

Pascrell argued the CCP was “the number one patron of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jung-un and other ruthless dictators,” and that it represented one of the greatest threats to the worlds’ democracies.

Pascrell’s View

Pascrell said the CCP remained a threat to American workers and the U.S. economy, despite the fact that it “climbed America’s back to economic power.”

“Its leaders abuse that power to commit genocide, crush individual freedom, bully our allies, steal intellectual property, and undermine workers. As Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has recently named himself dictator for life, this challenge will not abate but continue to grow. We must be serious about meeting that challenge,” he said.

Fighting Xenophobia, Conspiracy Theories

The legislation would provide policy recommendations to restore U.S. supply chains and end critical economic dependencies on China and the CPP. Additionally, it would aim to strengthen the U.S. military and the theft of personal data and intellectual property.

Pascrell said the committee was necessary, but it was essential that it not be co-opted to become a soapbox for unfounded conspiracy theories, xenophobia, or racism.

“Too often this bigotry has resulted in physical violence and emotional harm against Asian Americans across our country. If it goes down these paths, the select committee will fail all Americans,” he said.

Fighting Since 2000

Pascrell is a noted critic of the CCP, and loudly opposed and voted against allowing the country to be admitted to the World Trade Organization in 2000. He has also pushed against the CCP’s forced labor abuses by limiting imports of products made with it.

“Its leaders abuse that power to commit genocide, crush individual freedom, bully our allies, steal intellectual property, and undermine workers. As Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has recently named himself dictator for life, this challenge will not abate but continue to grow. We must be serious about meeting that challenge,” he noted.

Kean Sees a Threat in CPP

Pascrell was not alone in seeing the CCP as a threat, with Rep. Kean arguing the country was a rising issue for the U.S.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s influence is the single greatest threat to our country today, and the U.S. needs to implement tough policies to protect our citizens, our military, and our IP from their aggression,” said Kean.

“The work of this bipartisan select committee will lay important groundwork to ensure our county prevails in the face of our global adversaries today, and for years to come.”