WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) addressed the growing threat to the United States’ national security from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the first House Armed Services Committee hearing of the 118th Congress.

Click here to watch the Congresswoman’s Remarks.
 
On China’s growing aggression under Xi Jinping
 
It’s fitting that our first hearing is about the threat that’s facing our country from the Chinese Communist Party. Under Xi Jinping, China’s seen a rapid military buildup, stolen valuable intellectual property, increased economic warfare, and increased aggression, including a surveillance balloon that we all saw drift across our nation last week.
 
On China’s worrisome expansion past the South China Sea
 
The CCP has demonstrated that it will continue to increase its influence and aggression far beyond the South China Sea… a recent report from the U.S. and China Economic and Security Review Commission stated that the Chinese Communist Party’s [People’s Liberation Army] is seeking sites for a military installation in West Africa, a location that would give the Chinese military direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
On the United States’ presence on the global stage
 
I’m… wondering the level of competence and trust that… all countries in the world have, but especially our allies out there have. We watched the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, we’ve seen our response to… Russia in the Ukraine, and we even watched the response of having a surveillance balloon drift across our country.

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