CATO Institute discusses using US military to counter flow of fentanyl
By Bob Pepalis | Aug 22, 2023
Framing the war on drugs as an actual war and passing legislation to authorize the use of military force proposed by Florida Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Mike Waltz make it more likely that a future president will use that authority, a CATO Institute policy forum panelist said. The CATO Institute hosted a discussion on Aug. 18 about using the U.S. military to counter fentanyl.
Gallagher: 'Why is the Chinese Communist Party after our seeds and our agricultural technology?'
By Bob Pepalis | Aug 4, 2023
The U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held an "Iowa Roundtable on Chinese Communist Party Agricultural Technology Theft" and of U.S. lands, according to a press advisory. Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, and members Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ashley Hinson led the discussion with farmers and stakeholders on the issue’s impacts on American farming.
Watchdog commends Biden Administration's halting US funding to Wuhan Institute
By Bob Pepalis | Aug 2, 2023
The Functional Government Initiative (FGI) recently praised the Biden Administration for halting US funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). In a press release from July 26, FGI referenced a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) memo and said they hope the suspension will lead to ultimately shutting down funding from the US government to the Wuhan lab.
Kaine: 'Security needs to be reestablished first alongside a Haitian-led solution of a political crisis'
By Bob Pepalis | Jul 27, 2023
Sen. Tim Kaine said he and Sen. Marco Rubio introduced the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act and they cosponsored the Haitian Criminal Collusion and Transparency Act to strengthen regional security cooperation during a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on July 27. Kaine, the chairman of the committee, said the legislation also will sanction political and business elites who empower gangs in Haiti.
Raimondo on IPEF: 'We need a framework to have a strong integrated economic strategy with these countries'
By Bob Pepalis | Jul 25, 2023
President Biden said the United States needs to be present when he proposed the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said during a fireside chat at the Woodrow Wilson Center on July 25. This framework gives the U.S. a strong, integrated economic strategy with those countries, she said.
Drake: 'China has shown no willingness to seriously reform its non-market state-led mercantilist policies'
By Bob Pepalis | Jul 20, 2023
The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party hosted a debate on trade relations between the U.S. and China, moderated by Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill.
Rep. Clay Higgins: Criminal organizations 'undermine our public safety and flood our streets with drugs'
By Bob Pepalis | Jul 14, 2023
Members of the House Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement asked witnesses from federal agencies at a July 12 hearing what they need to do to help stem the flow of drugs. They heard from officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at the hearing, titled “Protecting the U.S. Homeland: Fighting the Flow of Fentanyl from the Southwest Border.
Carnegie panel: China benefited from years of dialogue in Middle East conflict mediation
By Bob Pepalis | Jun 8, 2023
A panel of experts on China gathered virtually to discuss whether China is shifting its focus from economic ties to conflict mediation in the Middle East.
CSIS report: 'Semiconductor industry supply chain is increasingly at the center of the story'
By Bob Pepalis | Jun 3, 2023
A report on the semiconductor industry by Akhil Thadani and Gregory Allen, fellows at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), highlights the industry’s growth and emergence as a top global industry with critical roles in the Indo-Pacific region.
Cha: 'Reestablishing those bilateral relationships was quite important'
By Bob Pepalis | May 8, 2023
Participants in the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) panel, “Allies and Geopolitical Competition in the Indo-Pacific Region” on May 4, stressed the participation of allies in the region.
Bush: U.S.-Taiwan-China status quo imperfect, 'but it’s a hell of a lot better than any of the other options'
By Bob Pepalis | May 2, 2023
Authors of a book on U.S.-Taiwan-China relations participated in a Brookings Institution panel May 1 to discuss growing concerns about China’s intentions and plans for Taiwan.
Congressional witnesses propose methods for oversight of spot market regulation
By Bob Pepalis | May 1, 2023
Witnesses in a Congressional hearing on April 27 on “The Future of Digital Assets: Identifying the Regulatory Gaps in Spot Market Regulation,” suggested giving the CFTC or a self-regulatory organization oversight authority.
Brown: 'We have literally hundreds of churches and thousands of people' supporting Chinese Christian group
By Bob Pepalis | Apr 25, 2023
Members of the Mayflower Church have been granted humanitarian parole status in the United States and arrived in Texas on April 7 after fleeing persecution in China three years ago.
China's military exercises show it considers 'the whole Taiwan Strait is under their jurisdiction'
By Bob Pepalis | Apr 21, 2023
Though military exercises by China this month were less dramatic than last year, they underscored that China can militarize the waters around Taiwan whenever it chooses, a former CIA intelligence officer told a CSIS China Power Project virtual panel on April 20.
Kennedy: U.S., China 'need much more dialogue between the two governments'
By Bob Pepalis | Apr 18, 2023
Peking University professor Wang Jisi joined Scott Kennedy, trustee chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on April 17 to discuss their report, “Breaking the Ice: The Role of Scholarly Exchange in Stabilizing U.S.-China Relations.”
'We are still committed to standing for the persecuted': Mayflower Church members arrive in Texas on Good Friday after CCP persecution
By Bob Pepalis | Apr 12, 2023
The 64 members of the Shenzen Holy Reformed Church arrived in the United States on April 7 to escape persecution from China, making the journey with international help.
Retired Navy admiral on defense agreement with U.K., Australia: 'Those relationships will strengthen stability'
By Bob Pepalis | Apr 3, 2023
A former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command recently discussed how the AUKUS defense agreement between the U.S., U.K. and Australia will affect relations in the Indo-Pacific region during a panel hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) International Security Program and the U.S. Naval Institute.
Cole: Lower energy prices ensure no one has to choose between 'food on the table or fuel in the car'
By Bob Pepalis | Mar 28, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he recently designated legislation introduced by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) as H.R. 1 to signal it is a top legislative priority.
Congress told 'we don't have the guardrails in place' for an AI tech revolution: Hickok
By Bob Pepalis | Mar 10, 2023
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) set the tone for a hearing on “Advances in AI: Are We Ready For a Tech Revolution” with an opening statement that no human wrote.
Grothman: Subcommittee gets chance 'to examine the technology and resources that work to keep our nation safe at the border'
By Bob Pepalis | Mar 9, 2023
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs, announced in advance of the March 8 hearing on “Force Multipliers: Examining the Need for Additional Resources to Disrupt Transnational Crime at the Border and Beyond” would analyze the Department of Homeland Security’s methods for addressing crime, drugs, and human trafficking at the southern border.
