Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Action to Back Up Hawkish China Rhetoric: Can’t Just Be ‘Cranky’

Rep. Abigail Spanberger( D-Va. ), asserting that Congress cannot simply be” cranky” about the geopolitical threat, called for action to support hawkish rhetoric on China from members of Congress.

Spanberger provided an illustration of how China poses a problem to the United States at an event on April 17 held at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

She thought back to her April 11 Farm Billsummit in Virginia’s’s 7th Congressional District, where she represents, and spoke with a farmer who bemoaned the fact that much of his produce is exported to China.

The farmer reportedly said,” On TV, everyone is looking at all these challenges we face with China ,” according to the lawmaker. What are we doing, then, to ensure that we have some markets? What is going on, for example? Why is China such a major consumer of the item I grow?

According to Spanberger, consumer diversity is crucial.

She continued by saying that” we may recognize that China is investing in and expanding in many places throughout the world” and that the United States” may take a good stance with regard to China.”

The legislator cited China’s’s projects in Central and South America as well as Africa.

And occasionally, it seems as though some policymakers want to discuss those issues and declare,” That’s’s a problem ,”” Those are the problems ,” etc., she remarked.

What are we doing, then, in terms of our aid funds, our economic investments, the Foreign Commercial Office, various departments — State, Commerce, etc. — helping other American companies either diversify where they make investments or, more importantly, where American products are going?

Spanberger continued by saying that Congress needs to develop a