Details of sweeping effort to counter China emerge in U.S. Senate

Chinese and U.S. flags flutter outside the building of an American company in Beijing, China January 21, 2021. [REUTERS/Tingshu Wang]

Leaders of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee introduced legislation on Thursday to boost the country’s ability to push back against China’s expanding global influence by promoting human rights, providing security aid and investing to combat disinformation.

The draft measure, titled the “Strategic Competition Act of 2021,” mandates diplomatic and strategic initiatives to counteract Beijing, reflecting hard-line sentiment on dealings with China from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.