RELEASE: Three Gottheimer-Led Amendments Pass, Strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship and Targeting CCP Economic Espionage

Above: Gottheimer advocates for public-private coordination in the fight against Chinese economic espionage.

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) led three amendments, focused on strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and targeting the CCP’s economic espionage. These amendments passed under H.R. 1516, DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act, and H.R. 1398, America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024.

Gottheimer’s amendments include:

• An amendment to H.R. 1516 that designates Chinese universities that “purposefully undermine the U.S.-Taiwan relationship” as entities of concern.
• An amendment to H.R. 1398 that requires the Department of Justice to study public-private sector coordination in the fight against Chinese economic espionage.
• 8An amendment to H.R. 1398 that requires the Department of Justice to study the CCP’s financial intelligence capabilities and the role of China’s intelligence ecosystem in economic espionage.

Video of Gottheimer’s remarks, leading an amendment on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, can be found here.

Video of Gottheimer’s remarks, leading an amendment studying public-private sector coordination in response to economic espionage, can be found here.

Video of Gottheimer’s remarks, leading an amendment studying the CCP’s financial intelligence capabilities, can be found here.

“I’m glad to have passed three of my amendments, focused on safeguarding the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and fending off CCP-driven economic espionage. With my amendments, we’re making it clear that protecting American innovation is a team effort. We need everyone — industry leaders, the intelligence community, lawmakers, and researchers — working together to stop economic espionage, maintain America’s economic leadership, and guarantee our national security,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I will always stand for America’s security, stand by our democratic partners like Taiwan, and stand against anti-democratic threats like the CCP that aim to undermine the United States of America, the greatest country in the world.”

In April, Gottheimer helped pass the bipartisan Security Supplemental Aid Package, including $8.12 billion in aid for Taiwan to confront Chinese aggression and strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Gottheimer’s remarks in support of his amendment on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, as prepared for delivery: 

I rise in support of my amendment, which would designate Chinese universities that “purposefully undermine the United States’ relationship with Taiwan” as entities of concern under H.R. 1516. We cannot condone partnerships with academic institutions that undercut the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.

As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I understand just how vital the U.S.-Taiwan relationship is for both America and Taiwan’s national security. Taiwan is a democratic firewall, a valued economic partner, and a global leader on semiconductors, one of the most critical technologies to American industry. The United States Congress must stand firmly with Taiwan and resolutely against the Chinese Communist Party who aims to delegitimize our longstanding, bipartisan partnership.

Chinese universities have played an instrumental role in the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy to intimidate Taiwan and interfere in its governing. Let me offer just one of the many examples. Earlier this year, the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that researchers at Xiamen University suggested that Beijing develop plans for a “shadow government” that could take over Taipei in case of a “reunification,” the code word for invasion. They’re essentially writing the day-after-invasion playbook for the CCP.

That’s disgraceful and deeply disconcerting. The United States supports a free, democratic Taiwan. American universities and research affiliates should never support or legitimize this propaganda, masked behind the guise of research. We would never, ever condone an American researcher working with Moscow to develop battle plans for Kiev. Why should Taiwan be any different?

My amendment will hold American universities accountable for their collaboration with Chinese universities who delegitimize the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. We will not stand for the schoolyard bullying tactics of the CCP, which are a threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty and a challenge to America’s global leadership. 

I was glad to see that such an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the House came together to support the Indo-Pacific Security Aid Package in April. That bill made critical investments in our hard power and military assets. The Confucius Institutes are soft power for China. By passing this amendment, we will help shore up the U.S.-Taiwan relationship on both fronts. As I said earlier, Taiwan is not — and should not — be a partisan issue. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to prioritize our national security and support this amendment. 

I reserve the balance of my time.

Gottheimer’s remarks in support of his amendment to study public-private coordination regarding economic espionage, as prepared for delivery: 

I rise in support of my amendment, which would require the Department of Justice’s report, as mandated under this bill, to examine public-private sector coordination regarding economic espionage threats.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, there have been 224 documented cases of Chinese espionage directed at the United States since 2000. And, that doesn’t even count the more than 1200 cases of intellectual property theft lawsuits brought by American companies against Chinese stakeholders. These tactics cost Americans billions, yes billions with a “b,” each year. 

Individuals tied to the Chinese government have been caught spying on companies that are producing our nation’s critical infrastructure. In 2022, a Chinese national was convicted of spying while working as an engineer at General Electric. Back in 2014, the Department of Justice charged five Chinese military hackers for spying on U.S. Steel, Westinghouse Electric, and more. From energy to consumer electronics to advanced technologies, CCP-backed individuals aim to steal secrets that give Chinese industry a leg up over American industry and undermine our country.

This espionage is as much a national security issue as it is an economic issue. And, as a member of both the Intelligence and Financial Service Committees, I believe it’s critical that the public and private sectors work together to detect, coordinate, and develop responses to espionage. Private sector companies are the hardest hit by this espionage, and they’ve been on the frontlines of responding to breaches and hackers. We in the federal government have much to gain by coordinating with industry.

With this amendment, we’re making it clear that protecting American innovation is a team effort. We need everyone — industry leaders, the intelligence community, lawmakers, and researchers — working together to stop economic espionage, maintain America’s economic leadership, and guarantee our national security. I implore my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense amendment. 

I reserve the balance of my time.

Gottheimer’s remarks in support of his amendment to study the CCP’s financial intelligence capabilities, as prepared for delivery: 

I rise in support of my amendment, which would require the Department of Justice’s report, as mandated under this bill, to examine the Chinese Community Party’s financial intelligence capabilities — and more broadly, the role of China’s intelligence agencies in economic espionage.

Let me start by outlining the scope of the problem. China is the main source of economic espionage against the United States. About eighty percent of the economic espionage cases that the Department of Justice prosecutes involve China and its affiliates. Anything that we can do to monitor the Chinese intelligence ecosystem will help in our fight to stop economic espionage here at home.

As a member of the House Financial Services and Intelligence Committees, I am keenly aware of the public-private sector fusion in China. Because of its 2017 Intelligence Law, the CCP and Chinese intelligence agencies have disproportionate power over the country’s industry. As we’ve seen with TikTok, industry and government are working in concert, at the direction and funding of the CCP. 

Chinese intelligence agencies are the linch pin to understand the coordinated campaign to steal and profit from American trade secrets. That’s precisely why I’ve offered my amendment. We need the United States federal government to monitor these agencies’ role in economic espionage.

Maintaining America’s economic competitiveness is something that we can all agree on. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment, so we can get a fuller picture of Chinese intelligence agencies’ roles in economic espionage and actually stop them in the process.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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