House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced on Thursday the creation of a “China Task Force,” while Democrats have refused to join the team.
New China Task Force To Tackle CCP Influence
The China Task Force announced by McCarthy would counter “the full stack of Chinese threats” that the US faces, including: their role in the spread of the coronavirus; Chinese influencing operations, like the control of think tanks, businesses, and media outlets; Chinese economic coercion of other governments and US businesses; Chinese efforts to gain control of international governing organisations.
Democrats were quick to slam the China Task Force as a partisan invention on Twitter.
“Instead of a GOP partisan task force designed to divert attention from President Trump’s coronavirus response failures, McCarthy could get serious about holding the Chinese government accountable by supporting bipartisan initiatives,” wrote Rep. Jim McGovern, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules.
Instead of a GOP partisan task force designed to divert attention from President Trump’s coronavirus response failures, @GOPLeader McCarthy could get serious about holding the Chinese government accountable by supporting bipartisan initiatives. https://t.co/cReztlKDHs
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) May 7, 2020
However, he was slapped down by the Washington Post’s Josh Rogin who broke the story.
“Dear [Rep. McGovern], the facts are that Dem leadership had agreed to be part of this China Task Force but then pulled out one day before the announcement in February,” Rogin tweeted. “Both parties have politicized the China issue, but this time your side walked away from bipartisanship.”
Dear @RepMcGovern, the facts are that Dem leadership had agreed to be part of this China Task Force but then pulled out one day before the announcement in February. Both parties have politicized the China issue, but this time your side walked away from bipartisanship. https://t.co/Wdc92vAKCw
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) May 7, 2020
McCarthy Realises The Benefit Of Bipartisanship
This was confirmed in a press conference held by McCarthy announcing the task force.
“For more than a year I have worked with the leadership of the Democratic Party to put together a bipartisan committee on China, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. We got to the point where we would actually name the individuals,” McCarthy recounted, but despite this progress, the Democrats “pulled back” a few months ago.
“We cannot wait any longer,” he continued, adding that “the stakes are too high to sit idly by, which is why today I’m announcing the Republican-led China Task Force, and I invite the Democrats to join with us.”
.@GOPLeader: "Today I'm announcing the Republican-led China Task Force, and I invite the Democrats to join with us." pic.twitter.com/0kY78qMqAv
— The Hill (@thehill) May 7, 2020
“There was one moment in time where they said yes, a few months ago they said no, I would say there is no more important time no than to join with us together, to work as one nation as we face these challenges,” McCarthy concluded.
This is the best attitude to have. The Republican leadership recognizes that China is an issue that all of us face, and we should be tackling it together. However, bipartisanship doesn’t seem to be in Nancy Pelosi’s dictionary, so if the Republicans have to do it alone, then they should.