Sen. Angus King (I-ME) supports forming a China Grand Strategy Commission to address the growing threats from China, which would lay out a comprehensive approach to how to deal with those threats while avoiding a war.
“The world is undergoing a period of significant change: Economies are shifting, alliances are changing and national security threats are rapidly evolving. At almost every turn, the United States is facing new challenges from an increasingly aggressive China. If we want to maintain our global status, we must be able to answer the question I’ve been asking witnesses in the Armed Services Committee for years: 'What does China want?'” King, a co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, said, according to a press release. “Much like the successful Cyberspace Solarium Commission, it would harness the smartest public and private sector minds to study, and evaluate on how our nations interact – striking the balance between avoiding conflict and fully pursuing our national interest. Most vitally, this commission isn’t putting a report on a shelf to collect dust; it will make actionable recommendations to develop a grand strategy across the entire government; this commission is to not admire the problem but make recommendations to address the needs of our national interests. There is too much at stake to face this threat shortsightedly – we simply cannot afford an ad hoc China policy that lacks a long-term strategy without accounting for all the instruments of power.”
King, along with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, have introduced legislation that would create a China Grand Strategy Commission, the release reported. The goal of the commission would be to lay out a comprehensive plan detailing how Washington can handle economic, security and diplomatic threats posed by Beijing. The commission would have two years to formulate its strategy. It is modeled after the recent Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as President Dwight Eisenhower’s Solarium Commission.
Cornyn said the Chinese Community Party’s ambitions paint an alarming picture for economic and national security, the release reported.
“Confronting threats from China is the greatest security imperative of our generation and a strategic, whole-of-government approach is the only way forward,” he said, according to the release.
The commission will guide a long-term approach toward China by proving invaluable recommendations, Cornyn said, the release reported
NORTHCOM/NORAD Commander Gen. Glen VanHerck was among military leaders expressing their support for its creation, a release of their remarks reported. He said Project Solarium was created by Eisenhower because of the wide division his cabinet had on how to deal with the Soviet Union. The commission’s greatest benefit could be a clear-eyed assessment of the current state of the world and the position of the United States in it.
The commission would be comprised of 18 members: Two co-chairs appointed by Congress and the president, six people from the Executive Branch, two U.S. Senators, two U.S. Representatives and eight private sector leaders, according to the release.
