Likely US House speaker promotes China panel, naming an ardent hawk as its chair
- House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, expected to replace Nancy Pelosi in January, calls for committee to ‘fight against the Chinese Communist Party’
- For chairman, McCarthy picks Representative Mike Gallagher, who has introduced legislation to force tax-exempt groups to divest holdings in Chinese companies
US Representative Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican likely to become House speaker when the new Congress convenes next month, reiterated his pledge on Thursday to establish a select committee on China “to expose and fight against the Chinese Communist Party’s cyber, trade and military threats against America”.
McCarthy made his announcement a day after Representative Andy Biggs, a hard-right Arizona Republican, declared a challenge to McCarthy’s bid for speaker when the full House votes on January 3.
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However, McCarthy, the House Republican leader, is seen as the front runner to replace Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat who is stepping down after Republicans narrowly took control of the House in the midterm elections.
Characterising the Chinese Communist Party as the “greatest geopolitical threat of our lifetime”, McCarthy called for a “whole-of-government approach that will build on the efforts of a Republican-led China task force”.
Congress needed to ensure that “America is prepared to tackle the economic and security challenges posed by the CCP”, he added.
McCarthy said he would name Representative Mike Gallagher to lead the panel. A Republican from Wisconsin and an ardent China hawk, Gallagher was described by McCarthy as “exceptionally qualified” and “right person to serve as the chairman”.
