United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission

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United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Seal of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.png
Congressional commission overview
FormedOctober 2000; 22 years ago (2000-10)
JurisdictionUnited States federal government
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Congressional commission executive
Websitehttps://www.uscc.gov

The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (informally, the US-China Commission, USCC) is an independent agency of the United States government. It was established on October 30, 2000, through the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act.[1]

The USCC is responsible for providing recommendations based on their findings on bilateral trade with the People’s Republic of China, evaluating national security and trading risks in all industries and conducting research on China’s actions. All these findings are discussed in their hearings, and submitted as an annual report or specific research topics every year.[2]

In part due to its small size, the USCC directly reports to Congress and the president - it is not a part of any other department or agency in the federal government. The USCC consists of 12 commissioners who staff it and facilities that were absorbed from the former US Trade Deficit Review Commission. The commissioners are appointed to two-year terms by the Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. Senate, and by the Speaker and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.[3] The current head of the commission is Carolyn Bartholomew and the Vice Chairman is Robin Cleveland, who are responsible for organizing meetings with other commissioners. Each commissioner is entitled to one vote.[4]

History

The USCC staff and facilities are from former US Trade Deficit Review Commission by the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act of 2001. Since then, the USCC is responsible for overseeing trade deficit matters with China.[5]

The USCC was created as the US government believes some of the current trades with China were in need of urgent attentions and corrections based on analyses, considering China’s military modernizations, change of trade policy and media and information controls.[6]

Its first annual report in 2002 found that China is and will be a major competitor of the U.S. and also concluded that China as the third-largest trading partner had extremely unbalanced trade relationship.[7] In the following years between 2004 and 2009, the USCC stated that China’s undervalued currency, counterfeiting and piracy, export subsidies and lack of protection of US intellectual property right were continually contributed to a growing trade deficit.[8][9]

The main focus for the commission is constantly changing around the eight main areas. However, the focused area in the last decade (2010-2020) is national security.[10][11]

In the 2020 Annual report, the commission stated 10 keys recommendations but many of them are related to security versus purely economic-centered. The USCC argues the main direction of US-China relation will be "A combination of containment and engagement" [12]

Function and Value

Annual Report

The main part of the commission is to submit annual report every year.[13] The USCC fulfills its mission by holding regular meetings with commission members to discuss recent related matters include write full analysis of eight focused parts,[14] which are Energy, American Capital Market, Economic transfers, Regional Economics and Security impacts, US-China Bilateral Programs, Weapon proliferation, World Trade Organization Compliance and Implications of restrictions on speech and information access in China. And provide conclusions and recommendations for legislative and administrative actions.[15]

The public annual report can be download and access by general public, the private annual report is provided to congress and president. The USCC provided its first annual report to Congress in 2002 and did not provide report in 2003. However, 7 research papers were provided in 2003. 18 annual reports were submitted until 2020 so far.[16]

Hearing

Multiple hearings are held every year with commissioners and outside government parties to discuss relevant matters. The first hearing was "China Trade/Sectoral and WTO Issues" on June 14, 2001.[17] The latest hearing was held on April 15, 2021, the topic was "An Assessment of the CCP’s Economic Ambitions, Plans, and Metrics of Success".[18]

Research

Specific research topics are choosing according to the need of congress and popularity among general public, topics can be varying such as economics, trade, technology, military and security.[19]

The latest research is "China’s Health System" in 2021,[20] a few popular research papers are "China’s Corporate Social Credit System" in 2020 [21] and "China’s Internet of Things" in 2018.[22] Those research papers can be parts of the annual reports.[23]

The USCC also entitled to access any information from the United States Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency and any other Federal departments that the commission considers necessary to carry out its duties. Also, government staff including the speakers of Congress, senior federal members and people from military, security, industry and academia who are relevant to the hearings must cooperate with the USCC and attend to the hearings.[24]

Structure

The USCC consists of 12 commission members and 19 staff. Members have the same responsibility as the Trade Deficit Review Commission. Each commission members are appointed to a two-year term by the Speaker of the House, after consulting with majority of US Senate’s leaders.[25] Members are not later than 30 days after the date on which each new Congress convenes, and may be reappointed for other additional terms. Each member entitled to one vote for decision-making and voting matters.[26] Members must be US citizens and have expertise in national security and US-China relations.[27]

A chairman and vice chairman are selected from among twelve members by equal voting.[citation needed] An annual report is needed to submit to congress in both classified and unclassified form on a date that not late than 1 December every year. Recommendations also consider trade and transfer through third countries if necessary.[citation needed]

Commission members and staff

USCC members comprise a commission chairman, vice chairman and ten other members. The commission leaders are Chairman Alex Wong and Vice chairman Kim Glas. The other members are Jeffrey Fiedler, Carolyn Bartholomew, Derek Scissors, Michael R. Wessel, Aaron Friedberg, James Mann, Carte P. Goodwin, Randall Schriver, Robin Cleveland, and Bob Borochoff.[28]

Past members include Andreas Borgeas, Roy D. Kamphausen, Thea Mei Lee, Senator Fred Thompson, Pat Mulloy, Former Ambassador James Lilley, Kenneth Lewis, Larry Wortzel, and James M. Talent.

See also

References

  1. ^ § 1238 of Title XII of H.R. 5408, the "Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001", enacted by reference by Pub.L. 106–398 (text) (PDF), H.R. 4205, 114 Stat. 1654, enacted October 30, 2000, codified at 22 U.S.C. § 7002
  2. ^ United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, "United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission".
  3. ^ United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission Fact Sheet
  4. ^ "Charter". USCC.
  5. ^ § 1238 of Title XII of H.R. 5408, the "Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001", enacted by reference by Pub.L. 106–398 (text) (PDF), H.R. 4205, 114 Stat. 1654, enacted October 30, 2000, codified at 22 U.S.C. § 7002
  6. ^ "US–China relations and the liberal world order: contending elites, colliding visions?". academic.oup. Oxford Academic.
  7. ^ Report to Congress to US-China Security Review Commission. USCC. pp. 15–37.
  8. ^ 2004 Report to Congress of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. USCC. p. 231.
  9. ^ 2009 Report to Congress of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. USCC. p. 254.
  10. ^ Same Bed, Different Dreams. ucpress.edu. University of California Press. May 2002. ISBN 9780520234628.
  11. ^ zhang, Shengtong. The Perception of the U.S.-China Economic And Security Review Commission toward China and its Influence on Sino-U.S. Relations (PDF). University of Dezhou. p. 155.
  12. ^ 2020 Report to Congress of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (PDF). USCC. pp. 329–364.
  13. ^ zhang, Shengtong. The Perception of the U.S.-China Economic And Security Review Commission toward China and its Influence on Sino-U.S. Relations (PDF). University of Dezhou. p. 155.
  14. ^ "Charter". USCC.
  15. ^ "Job Opportunities". USCC.
  16. ^ "Charter". USCC.
  17. ^ "Hearing: China Trade/Sectoral and WTO Issues". USCC.gov. USCC.
  18. ^ "An Assessment of the CCP's Economic Ambitions, Plans, and Metrics of Success". USCC.gov. USCC.
  19. ^ zhang, Shengtong. The Perception of the U.S.-China Economic And Security Review Commission toward China and its Influence on Sino-U.S. Relations (PDF). University of Dezhou. p. 155.
  20. ^ "China's Healthcare System: Addressing Capacity Shortfalls before and after COVID-19". USS.gov. USCC.
  21. ^ "China's Corporate Social Credit System: Context, Competition, Technology and Geopolitics". USCC.gov. USCC.gov.
  22. ^ "U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION". USCC.gov. USCC.
  23. ^ zhang, Shengtong. The Perception of the U.S.-China Economic And Security Review Commission toward China and its Influence on Sino-U.S. Relations (PDF). University of Dezhou. p. 155.
  24. ^ "Charter". USCC.
  25. ^ United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, "United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission".
  26. ^ "Charter". USCC.
  27. ^ "USCC qualification".
  28. ^ United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission Commission Members

External links

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