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This June 4th marks the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The anniversary is yet another reminder of the brutality and control exerted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Beyond the oppression of their own people, we are also reminded of the threat posed by the CCPs infiltration into American institutions.
The strategies employed by the CCP to exert influence are subtle and varied. Through tactics such as pressure, propaganda dissemination and espionage activities, they aim to manipulate governments and entities. In the United States we have observed instances of this infiltration firsthand ranging from attempts to influence college campuses to large scale theft of intellectual property.
An alarming manifestation of the CCP’s manipulation is its exploitation of research establishments. By forming partnerships and providing funding, they have gained access to our systems often without due consideration for intellectual property rights or national security implications. China is known to be an egregious violator of U.S. intellectual property theft.
Additionally, the CCPs influence extends into our media and entertainment sectors where censorship practices and self-censorship have become prevalent to access the market. This compromises the integrity of our press. Suppresses dissenting voices in favor of accommodating an authoritarian regime.
They are also trying to influence our policy. Whether it’s through influencing policymakers with lobbying efforts or other mechanisms, they aim to sway decision makers to support their interests. It's crucial that we don't allow foreign entities to control our policies or disrupt our processes. This was seen recently as Congress debated banning Chinese ownership of TikTok, which overwhelmingly passed Congress despite the CCP’s lobbying efforts.
Here in Iowa, the CCP is a threat as well. According to a 2020 U.S. Department of Agriculture report, Chinese owners possessed 192,000 agricultural acres in the U.S. That is why I joined legislation to prohibit the purchase of public or private agricultural land in the United States by foreign nationals associated with the CCP. It is no secret that they are working to undermine critical American resources like our food supply. Ensuring our domestic food supply is secure is key to our national security.
The 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protest is a reminder of the nature of the CCP regime and their willingness to suppress dissent and maintain authority by any means necessary. As Americans it's important for us to stand resolute against their goals and protect our institutions from meddling.
The CCP poses a threat to the United States and the principles we cherish. We must stay watchful in combating their influence and safeguarding our independence from their globalist ambitions. The events at Tiananmen Square should inspire people who value freedom worldwide to resist tyranny wherever it emerges.
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