Sec. 277. Strategy to counter Chinese influence in, and access to, the Middle East and North Africa
271 words·~1 min read·
/bill/116/s/4629/is/section-277·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the economic influence of the People’s Republic of China through its oil and gas imports from the Middle East provides influence and leverage that runs counter to United States interests in the region; and the export of certain communications infrastructure from the People’s Republic of China furthers the efforts of the Government of China to promote its digital authoritarianism through surveillance tools and policies. Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall jointly develop and submit a strategy to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives for countering and limiting Chinese influence in, and access to, the Middle East and North Africa.
The strategy required under paragraph
(1)shall include— efforts to improve regional cooperation with United States allies and partners to promote maritime security in the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean; increased support for government-to-government engagement on critical infrastructure development projects including ports and water infrastructure; efforts to encourage United States private sector and public-private partnerships in healthcare technology; specific steps to counter increased Chinese investment in telecommunications infrastructure and diplomatic efforts to stress the political, economic, and social benefits of a free and open internet; efforts to promote United States private sector engagement in and public-private partnerships on renewable energy development; and the expansion of public-private partnership efforts on water, desalination, and irrigation projects.