The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party convened for a hearing this morning, titled "All Roads Lead to Beijing? The CCP's Global Development Offensive." The panel of witnesses included Mr. David Trulio, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Mr. Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, and Dr. Brad Parks, Executive Director of AidData at William & Mary's Global Research Institute.
Chairman John Moolenaar opened the proceedings with strong words against the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Belt and Road Initiative. He stated, “Any suggestion that [the CCP’s Belt and Road Initiative] is altruistic investment is a lie. The Chinese Communist Party is not interested in building infrastructure to be a friendly neighbor. It wants strategic control. It wants it at the expense of the U.S.”
Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi echoed these sentiments by highlighting the CCP's expanding global footprint: “Today, [the CCP] has a military base in Africa,… in Argentina, and they have a suspected base in Cuba… It’s also now building deep-water ports across Latin America and the Caribbean through the BRI.”
Mr. David Trulio offered his perspective on China's international influence via its Belt and Road Initiative: "Through the Belt and Road Initiative, the PRC is developing China-centric global infrastructure… and commercial networks in over 100 countries… & expose host countries’ sensitive infrastructure to PRC control.”
Mr. Daniel Runde proposed an alternative approach for dealing with China's growing influence: "The U.S. needs an alternative solution, rather than demand developing countries cease working with the CCP. The CCP is the go-to financier and builder of infrastructure in the developing world… we must be a better infrastructure development partner.”
Dr. Brad Parks warned about underestimating China’s ambitions: “Beijing is several steps ahead of its competitors. The US and its G7 allies have underestimated the ambition of China’s efforts to overhaul Belt and Road.”
The hearing was a significant opportunity for lawmakers and experts to discuss and assess the implications of China's global development strategy.
