Last week, Florida’s two U.S. senators–Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott–championed a proposal to “prevent any federally funded U.S. research from being shared or conducted jointly with Chinese entities that participate in the Chinese Communist Party’s Military Civil-Fusion strategy.”
Rubio introduced the “Preventing PLA Acquisition of United States Technology Act” with Scott and other Senate Republicans backing the proposal.
Rubio’s office weighed in on what the senators hoped to accomplish with this proposal.
“This national development strategy aims to mobilize non-military resources and expertise in China to increase the capabilities and lethality of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). As a result, international exchange with ostensibly civilian institutions in China is now highly vulnerable to PLA appropriation. Specifically, the legislation would prohibit U.S. research agencies, as well as universities, colleges, and private companies that receive federal funding, from engaging in STEM research or technical exchange with Chinese entities of concern in areas of cutting-edge technology that could improve the PLA’s ability to wage war against the United States and its allies,” Rubio’s office noted.
“The Chinese Communist Party is our number one threat. Beijing will lie, cheat, and steal to become more powerful than the United States,” Rubio said. “All too often, our nation’s scientists and experts partner with their Chinese counterparts without understanding how their research will be weaponized by the Chinese military. My bill will prevent this type of collaboration and protect federally funded research from falling into the hands of the People’s Liberation Army.”
“We know Communist China steals American technology and intellectual property and will stop at nothing in its quest for world domination,” Scott said. “The Preventing PLA Acquisition of United States Technology Act of 2022 will address the serious threat Communist China poses to our technology, national security, and the private information of American citizens.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. House.
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