Webster Pushes Effort to Counter Chinese Expansion

Washington, DC – Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, recently joined Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) along with Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Ken Buck (R-CO), Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) in requesting Secretary of State Antony Blinken to implement existing federal authorities to counter Chinese expansion in the Indo-Pacific.

“In recent years, China has used coercion and intimidation to demand policy changes, assert illegal maritime claims, and threaten countries that work with the United States or our allies,” the members wrote. “If left unchecked, the United States and our allies will be unprepared and unable to respond to China’s presence in the region.”

The members continued, “As the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser, you must undertake all necessary measures to strengthen existing and foster new relationships in the strategic Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s growing influence.”

Read the full letter below and here.

Secretary Blinken:

China’s rapid expansion and militarization of the Indo-Pacific region is a significant threat to the United States and our allies across the globe. In recent years, China has used coercion and intimidation to demand policy changes, assert illegal maritime claims, and threaten countries that work with the United States or our allies. Beijing reaffirmed its intent to maintain high levels of defense spending to transform the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a powerful force operating in and beyond the Indo-Pacific region. If left unchecked, the United States and our allies will be unprepared and unable to respond to China’s presence in the region.

In recent weeks, the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Wang Yi, visited several Indo-Pacific countries to expand China’s military presence in the region. One example is the Solomon Islands, which recently signed a security agreement with China allowing the PRC to send military personnel and Chinese warships to utilize their ports for “logistical replenishment.” This agreement establishes a concerning precedent and could begin a domino effect destabilizing the entire region.

As the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser, you must undertake all necessary measures to strengthen existing and foster new relationships in the strategic Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s growing influence. As you know, the United States has maintained a treaty with the Republic of Kiribati (Kiribati) since 1979 that prohibits Kiribati from making facilities for military purposes available to third parties except with the agreement of the United States. Despite this treaty, the PRC has previously had a military operation under the guise of a space tracking station on Kiribati’s South Tarawa Island. Due to China’s growing influence in the region, there are concerns that this facility may re-open in direct violation of our agreement with the Republic of Kiribati.

We request the Department of State (DoS) review existing agreements and treaties in the Indo-Pacific region and prepare to utilize any existing authorities or privileges we may have in the region to counter China. Additionally, we urge you to reiterate to our regional partners that agreements with China will undermine our relationship and impact our ability to provide foreign and military aid in the region. Finally, we request you begin negotiations with the Republic of Kiribati regarding creating a military outpost on the island to aid with logistical replenishments of the Pacific Fleet and counter the expansion of China’s influence in the region.

We ask that you provide strategic clarity by making it clear to our allies and the world that the United States will honor our commitments to our allies in the Indo-Pacific region and counter China’s aggression and expansion.

Sincerely,

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