How China Uses Economic Coercion to Silence Critics and Achieve its Political Aims Globally

Chair MERKLEY. Good morning. Today’s hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China entitled ‘‘How China Uses Economic Coercion to Silence Critics and Achieve Its Political Aims Globally’’ will come to order.

As the second-largest economy in the world and the largest trading partner to many countries, China leverages the attraction of its market and the global economy’s deep ties to supply chains in China to punish critics and reward self-censorship. This hearing will examine the ways the Chinese government and Communist Party attempt to use economic coercion for political aims, such as quashing critical commentary on China’s policies and conduct regarding Taiwan, regarding Hong Kong, regarding Xinjiang, or anything else China deems sensitive, or intimidating U.S. and other businesses into toeing the Communist Party line if they want access to China’s market.