WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) this week signed on to a letter, alongside Democratic colleagues, urging President Trump to protect U.S. national security interests as he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. The Senators warned against trading away American long-term security interests for economic concessions.
“Ahead of your meeting with President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, we write to urge you not to negotiate away America and our allies’ national security,” the Senators wrote. “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses a fundamental threat to U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and global leadership… Across multiple administrations and congresses, there has been bipartisan support for tools that safeguard our national security, including export controls and investment screening mechanisms on critical technologies, as well as partnerships with trusted allies.”
In the letter, the Senators express concern over the Administration’s policy reversals that they say undermine bipartisan safeguards to protect U.S. technology and data, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining robust oversight through mechanisms like the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CIFIUS) and others to prevent U.S. technology from aiding our foreign adversaries.
In addition to Senator Slotkin, the letter is signed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Coons (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).
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