[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 197 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHINA
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, a brief word on China. I have spent the
better part of the last two decades encouraging administrations to be
tougher on China, which has risen to challenge the United States
economically, not through fair trade and fair competition but by
shielding its market from U.S. competition, flouting international
trade rules against dumping currency manipulation, relentlessly
stealing our intellectual property and know-how. China has not played
by the rules. They are the outlaw of trade, and they have cost the
United States millions of jobs and probably trillions, if not hundreds
of billions, of dollars.
The recent arrest of the CFO of Huawei, a tech giant in China with
close ties to its government and military, is a reminder of the
predatory and rapacious behavior of Chinese companies. Huawei is
charged by U.S. officials with intentionally violating U.S. sanctions
with Iran.
Beyond these specific charges, however, Huawei has raised serious
concerns among U.S. officials for a potential role in cyber espionage,
given their reported links to China's state security services, and now
news reports have confirmed that the massive cyber attack on the
Marriott hotel chain a few weeks ago was conducted by none other than
Chinese intelligence.
This administration has been tougher on China than previous
administrations. They deserve credit for that, but this administration
has also shown an eagerness to quickly bargain away tough enforcement
of Chinese abuses for mild and sometimes meaningless concessions so
President Trump can get a quick news hit, particularly on a bad day.
That is what happened with ZTE. No one wants to see a repeat of that
movie.
We had ZTE dead to rights. They were hurting America, and President
Trump, at the last minute--still unexplained--let them off the hook. I
hope that doesn't happen again because this administration has set us
up for a potential victory for the first time--better than Bush's
administration, better than Obama's administration--against China
rapaciousness.
I am urging the President to be tough on Huawei and direct U.S.
officials to prosecute these charges and have the Huawei CFO stand on
trial in the United States, as she deserves.
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