‘I think one of our great strengths, relative to the Chinese Communist Party, is the network of allies and partners that we’ve built up throughout the years.’
SAN FRANCISCO—House Select Committee on China Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) assured U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific that Congress has their back in the face of coercive and aggressive behaviors by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
On Nov. 11, Mr. Gallagher took part in a pro-democracy event in San Francisco, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is being held. The focal point will be a face-to-face meeting between President Joe Biden and CCP leader Xi Jinping on Nov. 15.
Five APEC members and U.S. allies, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan, have dealt with China’s pressure tactics. On Saturday, Mr. Gallagher was asked what would be his message to them.
“My message is that at least in Congress, we have your back,” Mr. Gallagher said. “I think one of our great strengths, relative to the Chinese Communist Party, is the network of allies and partners that we’ve built up throughout the years. That’s a key source of our strength.”
Japan is the latest victim of China’s economic coercion, as Beijing has imposed a ban on Japanese seafood citing “safety” concerns after Japan started releasing treated wastewater from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in August. To counter China’s ban, the U.S. military stationed in Japan has been buying Japanese seafood in bulk to feed its soldiers.
Mr. Gallagher called China’s ban an “economic warfare” against Japan, and added that Beijing’s concerns about the quality of the fish were “absolutely ridiculous.”
South Korea has been dealing with China’s influence campaign for years, and now Seoul’s two major theaters are refusing to feature New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which is known for its mission of reviving traditional Chinese culture. An Epoch Times investigation has found that the CCP uses its embassy in Seoul to pressure the theaters from hosting the performance.
By Frank Fang and Eva Fu
