U.S. States Address PRC Engagement: Assessing Security Concerns and Legislative Trends
Overview
Numerous U.S. subnational governments have taken steps to address perceived risks from the People's Republic of China (PRC), resulting in an unprecedented volume of legislation targeting China. This analysis presents key trends identified through an examination of datasets covering state of the state addresses, state legislative measures, and campaign rhetoric, using 12 variables for systematic data analysis.
Top States for China-Related Measures
In 2023, the following states introduced the highest number of China-related measures: - Texas (33) - Michigan (20) - Missouri (16) - Mississippi (15) - New Jersey (15)
* 19 out of 20 measures sponsored solely by Republicans * 10 pending bills aim to restrict foreign land purchases and other engagements with various countries, including China * Creation of the Michigan Legislature Working Group for National Security
Hawaii
* Measures included both economic cooperation and security concerns * Enactment of HB 1200, which prohibits unmanned aircraft systems from "covered foreign entities" * Adoption of resolutions supporting Ukraine and referencing China's territorial ambitions towards Taiwan * Initiation of a sister-state relationship with Fujian Province
Florida
* 4 bills enacted, restricting foreign government contracts, educational agreements, and social media apps from China and other countries
Missouri
* Tension between local engagement and state-level security concerns * Introduction of several bills in 2023 and 2024 targeting PRC-related threats, including foreign ownership bans
Campaign Rhetoric
Candidates in various gubernatorial races have used China-related issues in their campaigns, using phrases such as "Kung Pao Kehoe" to attack opponents.
Expert Quotes
* "States are on the front lines of our New Cold War with the Chinese Communist Party." - Congressman Mike Gallagher (D-Wisconsin) * "States need to do more to counter the China threat." - Joseph Cella, Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Templeton Fellowship. Special thanks to various professors and researchers for their feedback and guidance.
