Tackling the Chinese Threat: U.S. States Take Action
States within the U.S. enact at least 240 measures aimed at restricting technology and interactions with China.
State houses across the nation have unleashed over 240 anti-China bills this year, with the goal of keeping American dollars away from Chinese tech, souvenirs, and more. From police forces shunning Chinese drones to government agencies avoiding Chinese-made apps and software, states are drawing a line in the sand.
Legislation spans from sectors such as artificial intelligence and medical equipment in states like Kansas, to sister-city and promotional item contracts in Arkansas. Tennessee goes a step further, outlawing health insurance coverage for organ transplants carried out in China or using Chinese organs.
Arkansas' Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders put it bluntly: "The United States or China is going to shape the world in the forthcoming years. For me, it needs to be the US."
While the anti-China push surged well before Donald Trump slapped 145% tariffs on China, his stance emboldens state officials, particularly Republican counterparts. The bills have been tabled in at least 41 states, mainly in Republican-held legislatures[4].
Trump's rhetoric was the catalyst, says Kyle Jaros, an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame's global affairs department. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated sentiment, with the Obama administration previously promoting closer ties with China at the state and local levels[4].
Many American voters resonate with the "patriotism card" against China, notes David Adkins, a former Kansas legislator now heading the Council on State Governments. "Politicians of both parties, at all levels, suffer no consequences for demonizing China," Adkins stated[4].
According to China academic John David Minnich from the London School of Economics, the drive for these measures is mainly the result of "strategic lobbying," not popular demand[4]. critics see China as increasingly hostile and authoritarian under President Xi Jinping, and claim China fosters a booming hacking industry to pilfer overseas intelligence[4].
Paranoia around a 2023 Chinese balloon flyover added fuel to the fire, as concerns emerged that Chinese investment would harm individual privacy or food security[4]. Kansas House Representatives Majority Leader Chris Croft, a former U.S. Army colonel, champions restricting property ownership near military installations by foreign adversaries, including China, to strengthen national security[5].
Critics argue that these restrictions resemble trying to sell snow shovels to Miami residents, as Chinese, Iranian, North Korean, and Cuban interests hold minuscule agricultural land in the U.S[5]. According to a 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture report, Chinese interests owned only about two-hundredths of 1% of the nation's total agricultural land[5].
Minnich suggests that if Trump's tariffs sway China to realign its relationship with the U.S, it would diminish what states have enacted, but if Trump pursues "sustained decoupling," states' measures would have little immediate impact on China compared to federal policies[4].
Still, states show no signs of slowing down. The reasons for their wariness are valid, says Jaros, as states face potential cyberattacks and fear critical infrastructure relies overly on Chinese equipment[4].
"The lion's share of China's threats to the U.S. is centered in cyberspace," Jaros remarks[4]. "While some defenses are solid, others are still found wanting."
Enrichment Data:Overall:The surge in anti-China proposals by state lawmakers in the U.S. is driven by concerns over national security, economic competition, and geopolitical influence, primarily with China. The key factors include:
- National Security Concerns: States aim to preclude the use of Chinese technology in government operations due to fears of espionage, data breaches, and cyberattacks[4][5].
- Economic Competition and Trade Policy: The drive is encouraged by prior federal actions, such as tariffs imposed by former President Trump, indicating a shift towards protectionist trade policies[4].
- Geopolitical Influence: The objective is to limit China's influence through measures like terminating sister-city relationships and preventing investments in Chinese companies by public pension systems[4].
Implementation across States:
- Kansas: Legislation targets artificial intelligence, medical equipment, and property ownership near military installations[5].
- Arkansas: The focus is on sister-city ties, state/local contracts for promotional items, and health insurance coverage for organ transplants[2].
- Tennessee: The state is cracking down on health insurance coverage for organ transplants performed in China or using Chinese organs[3].
These developments reflect a larger trend of anti-China sentiments in at least 41 states, particularly in Republican-controlled legislatures[3].
- In response to perceived threats from China, states across the nation have introduced over 240 anti-China bills in their legislatures this year.
- These bills encompass various sectors, with Kansas focusing on artificial intelligence and medical equipment, Arkansas on sister-city contracts and promotional items, and Tennessee on health insurance coverage for organ transplants that involve Chinese resources.
- The drive for these measures is attributed to strategic lobbying, not necessarily popular demand, according to John David Minnich from the London School of Economics.
- Critics view China as increasingly hostile and authoritarian under President Xi Jinping, highlighting concerns about cyberattacks, espionage, and potential damage to national security.
- In a statement, Arkansas' Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed her belief that the US, not China, should shape the world in the coming years.
- Despite concerns about the impact of these measures on China, states show no signs of slowing down, with many worried about cyberattacks, potential damage to critical infrastructure, and the effects of war-and-conflicts on their ecosystems.
