US Senate Democrats launch renewed effort to counter China

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer holds up his notes at the beginning of a press conference announcing that he will unveil a new package of legislation to address competition with China on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 3, 2023. [Reuters]

U.S. Senate Democrats launched a renewed effort to stave off competition from China on Wednesday, planning legislation to boost the country's ability to face up to the Asian powerhouse on issues from technology to security and threats to Taiwan.

After passing a sweeping bill last year to boost competition with Beijing in semiconductors and other technology, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic committee leaders said they would write legislation they hoped to introduce in the next several months to limit the flow of technology to China, deter China from initiating a conflict with Taiwan and tighten rules to block U.S. capital from going to Chinese companies.