WASHINGTON D.C. -- Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have sent a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, requesting an assessment of information that Russia has shared with the People's Republic of China (PRC) regarding U.S. weapons capabilities and those of its partners and allies.
In their letter, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi state, “As you stated on July 9, we should not expect that foreign adversaries, such as the PRC, ‘are supporting Russia for free.’ Rather, we should anticipate and indeed operate under the assumption that Russia is passing information about vulnerabilities or counters to American and allied weapons systems to the PRC in support of its ‘no limits’ partnership.”
The lawmakers are seeking details from the Administration at an appropriate classification level on current determinations regarding what information the PRC has shared with Russia. They also seek to understand plans for holding both nations accountable.
This request follows a statement released by Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi last week in response to the Washington Summit Declaration issued by NATO allies condemning CCP support for Russia's actions in Ukraine.
The full text of their letter includes several points of inquiry:
1. An assessment of Russia’s ability to counter U.S. weapons systems in Ukraine;
2. The extent to which Russia has shared battlefield innovations with the PRC;
3. Any efforts by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to adopt these innovations;
4. Plans to ensure future effectiveness of American weapons systems against both Russia and the PRC;
5. Steps to hold the PRC accountable for its support for Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The legislators emphasize that understanding these dynamics is crucial as recent reports indicate significant Russian adaptations have undermined several U.S. weapons systems' effectiveness in Ukraine.
They conclude by expressing their commitment to working together with Sullivan's office "to protect our nation's security while countering our authoritarian adversaries."
