US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to lead delegation to China, Japan and South Korea
- The top Democrat lawmaker, who has repeatedly urged a harder US line on China, is expected to make the high-profile trip as early as October
- Schumer in May launched a renewed bid to address competition from China, planning legislation on issues from technology to security and threats to Taiwan
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to China, Japan and South Korea soon, an aide to Schumer said on Tuesday.
The China visit would be a high-profile trip by Schumer, a Democrat who has repeatedly urged the United States to take a harder line on China and would follow visits by a series of Biden administration officials including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in August.
Republican Mike Crapo is the lead Republican on the trip, his office confirmed.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately comment on the planned trip.
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US Senate passes Chips and Science Act to compete with China’s semiconductor industry
The Biden administration has sought to strengthen communications with China, particularly on economy and defence, amid concerns that friction between the two superpowers could spiral out of control.
US President Joe Biden last month signed an executive order that will prohibit some American investments in China in sensitive technologies such as computer chips and require government notification in other tech sectors.
Punchbowl News reported the trip earlier on Tuesday and said it could take place in October.
Schumer in May launched a renewed effort to address competition from China, planning legislation to boost the US ability to address China on issues from technology to security, and threats to Taiwan.
US business trust in China is wearing thin, warns Raimondo
After passing a sweeping bill last year to boost competition with Beijing in semiconductors and other technology, Schumer and Democratic committee leaders said in May they would write legislation to limit the flow of technology to China, deter China from initiating a conflict with Taiwan and tighten rules to block US capital from going to Chinese companies.
Schumer in May said the bill – dubbed “China Competition 2.0” – would broaden last year’s “Chips and Science” act. A rare major foray into US industrial policy, the Chips bill signed into law by Biden last year approved US$52 billion for semiconductor research and manufacturing subsidies.
The desire for a hard line on China is one of the few truly bipartisan sentiments in the perennially divided US Congress, and last year’s legislation passed with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans.
This year’s planned legislation would also seek funding for additional domestic investments in key technology areas and provide a better US alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative – China’s plan to grow global trade – in an effort to counter Beijing’s international influence.
