Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Assessing Xi’s Interference and Subversion Act

AXIS Act

Findings and sense of Congress

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)On February 4, 2022, weeks ahead of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia and the People’s Republic of China released a joint statement following a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, which outlined a strategic partnership with “no limits” and no “forbidden” areas for cooperation. (2)On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an unprovoked and unjustified act of war.(3)China abstained from voting on the February 25, 2022, United Nations Security Council resolution and the March 2, 2022, United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (4)As of April 1, 2022, China has not publicly condemned Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine. (5)In his call with Xi Jinping on March 18, 2022, President Joe Biden communicated that there would be implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians.(b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—(1)the People’s Republic of China’s disinformation efforts relating to the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine make it culpable in whitewashing Russia’s war crimes, which include the indiscriminate killing of countless Ukrainian men, women, and children; and(2)if China is found to be materially supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, there should be swift and stringent consequences for China.

Report

(a)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce as appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on whether and how the People’s Republic of China, including the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, any Chinese state-owned enterprise, and any other Chinese entity, has provided support to the Russian Federation with respect to its unprovoked invasion of and full-scale war against Ukraine.(b)

Matters To be included

The report required by subsection (a) shall include a discussion of the People’s Republic of China support to the Russian Federation with respect to—(1)helping the Government of Russia or Russian entities evade or circumvent United States sanctions or multilateral sanctions and export controls;(2)deliberately inhibiting onsite United States Government export control end-use checks, including interviews and investigations, in China;(3)providing Russia with any technology, including semiconductors classified as EAR99, that supports Russian intelligence or military capabilities; (4)establishing economic or financial arrangements that will have the effect of alleviating the impact of United States sanctions or multilateral sanctions;(5)furthering Russia’s disinformation and propaganda efforts;(6)coordinating to hinder the response of multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, to provide assistance to the people or Government of Ukraine, to condemn Russia’s war, to hold Russia accountable for the invasion and its prosecution of the war, or to hold those complicit accountable; and(7)providing any material, technical, or logistical support, including to Russian military or intelligence agencies and state-owned or state-linked enterprises.(c)

Form

The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form and published on the Department of State’s publicly available website.(d)

Sunset

The requirement to submit the report required by subsection (a) shall terminate on the earlier of—(1)the date on which the Secretary of State determines the conflict in Ukraine has ended; or(2)the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.(e)

Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—(1)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and(2)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.