AXIS Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7314, the Assessing Xi's Interference and Subversion Act or AXIS Act.

The AXIS Act requires the Department of State to report to Congress on how China's government is directly or indirectly supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The report will include evidence of the Chinese government helping Russian entities circumvent U.S. sanctions, inhibiting the U.S. government's investigations, or assisting Russia with any technology, propaganda efforts, and financial arrangements.

The bill notes that Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping met with Russian leader Putin on February 4, 2022, less than three weeks prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the two released a joint statement outlining a strategic partnership with ``no limits'' and no ``forbidden'' areas for cooperation.

Additionally, it notes that China abstained from UN votes condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 25th and March 2nd; and that China has not publicly condemned Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion.

The Chinese government has demonstrated its support of Russia and Putin through compliancy.

China opposed U.S. military support for Ukraine, and abstained when the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution blaming Russia for the humanitarian consequences of illegal aggression against Ukraine.

Russian propaganda is spreading through China, subjecting the Chinese people to the delusion that the invasion of Ukraine is only a ``special military operation''.

Russia has claimed that their invasion is partly backed by Ukrainians attempting to free Ukraine from its Soviet Legacy.

The Chinese Communist Party has traditionally supported and encouraged Russia, as they are both rooted in communist ideology.

When Xi and President Joe Biden spoke on March 18th, President Biden communicated that there would be ``implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians.''

As a result of China's disinformation efforts related to Russia's war against Ukraine, China must be held accountable for suppressing Russia's war crimes, as well.

Russian war crimes include the indiscriminate killing of countless civilians. In light of this, if China is found to be materially supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, there should be swift and rigorous consequences for China.

Specifically, this bill would include a discussion of China's support for Russia in terms of:

Helping Russia or Russian entities evade U.S. sanctions or multilateral sanctions and export controls;

Inhibiting U.S. export control end-use checks, including interviews and investigations in China;

Providing Russia with any technology that supports Russian intelligence or military capabilities, including certain classifications of semiconductors (EAR99);

Establishing economic or financial agreements that will have the effect of alleviating the impact of U.S. sanctions or multilateral sanctions;

Furthering Russia's disinformation and propaganda efforts;

Coordinating to hinder the efforts of multilateral organizations, including the UN, to provide aid to the people or government of Ukraine, to condemn Russia's war, to hold Russia accountable for the invasion and its prosecution of the war, or to hold those complicit accountable; and

Providing any material, technical, or logistical support, including to the Russian military or intelligence agencies and state-owned or state-linked enterprises.

We must ensure that, if China is aiding Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, then such actions do not go unpunished.

This bill allows Congress to monitor the Chinese government's activity and assistance, and act accordingly. The report required by the bill would specific efforts relating to U.S. action and sanctions, recommending ways for our steps against Russia to be as effective as possible.

This alliance between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kremlin is a serious threat to the U.S. and our allies.

The world should know how China is aiding and abetting Russia in evading the effects of international sanctions.

I urge all members to join me in voting for H.R. 7314, the AXIS Act because as my colleague Congressman Gregory Meeks said, ``if China is complicit in the bloodshed of the Ukrainian people, the world should know that too''.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7314) to require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on the People's Republic of China's support to the Russian Federation with respect to its unprovoked invasion of and full- scale war against Ukraine, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7314, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7314, the AXIS Act, authored by our committee colleague, Representative Andy Barr.

The world watched in horror as Russia launched its latest invasion of Ukraine, marking an egregious violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and a disdain for the rules-based international order. Russia has mercilessly killed thousands of innocent civilians. Graphic images of death and destruction from Bucha and Mariupol lay bare: There is no defense for Putin's barbarity.

Amid this carnage, the international community has overwhelmingly come together to condemn Russia's brutal, unprovoked aggression against Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for the gross atrocities being committed.

While China has tried to distance itself from Russia's war of choice against Ukraine, it has, at best, remained neutral in the face of this violence, demonstrating a woeful abdication of its self-proclaimed role as a responsible stakeholder. Worse, growing signs indicate China is aligning itself more closely with Russia.

Just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Putin and Chairman Xi released a joint statement calling for closer strategic cooperation. While China has publicly denied any foreknowledge of the invasion, it discounted and ignored American intelligence showing Russian buildup around Ukraine. At no point since the invasion began has China condemned Russia for its invasion nor for its subsequent human rights atrocities.

The PRC has chosen to employ a disinformation campaign to spread harmful narratives about Russia's assault on Ukraine. Both within China and abroad, the PRC is promoting Russian propaganda about the war and echoing Russian's absurd justifications for the invasion, going so far as accusing the United States for Russia's one-sided aggression.

President Biden has warned China that there will be consequences if it decides to materially support Russia's war or helps it skirt U.S. export controls and sanctions. H.R. 7314 would require the Secretary of State to report on any efforts made by the PRC to support Russia's unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

This bipartisan measure is vital to ensure Congress and the American people stay informed about how, if at all, China might be supporting Russia in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I support swift passage of this timely and urgent bill, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to China and Russia, I do not trust empty words; I verify.

H.R. 7314, the AXIS Act, will help Congress and the American people stay informed about how, if at all, China might be supporting Russia in its unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

It is of the utmost importance for this body and the world to understand whether China is complicit in the gross atrocities and war crimes being committed against the Ukrainian people. Doing so will allow us to adjust our strategies and policies as necessary to further isolate Russia and deepen support for the Ukrainian people.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee, his leadership in the Congress, and his advocacy for the free people of Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, as the United States, our NATO allies, and other allies respond to Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and brutal attack on the free, sovereign, and independent nation of Ukraine, we must assess the many ways in which Russia is seeking to evade sanctions. That includes the extent to which Russia is turning to China to enable its aggression.

Mr. Speaker, the unholy alliance between the Chinese Communist Party and the authoritarian oligarchs running the Kremlin is a serious threat to the United States and our allies. It is enabling this illegal aggression against Ukraine.

On February 4, Russia and the CCP released a joint statement following a meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping outlining a strategic partnership with ``no limits.''

Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, China refused to condemn Russia's gross violation of international law. China has continued to be silent while Russia targets and kills innocent women, children, and civilians in Ukraine.

Instead of condemning Putin's war crimes, the CCP is rewarding them. On February 28, after the invasion, the CCP struck a massive deal with the Russian energy company Gazprom. Gazprom will deliver 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to the CCP under the agreement.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the United States to confront this new axis of evil

head-on. My legislation, the Assessing Xi's Interference and Subversion Act, or the AXIS Act, requires the U.S. State Department to submit an ongoing report to Congress detailing the CCP's support for Russia before and since the invasion of Ukraine. This includes troubling reports about CCP efforts to assist Russia in evading the effects of international sanctions.

The AXIS Act also requires the State Department to submit its first report to Congress within 30 days of the bill being enacted and 90 days thereafter. I plan on receiving a commitment from Secretary Blinken at tomorrow's Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that he will comply with this deadline.

I thank my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul, for their support. I thank my friend from Minnesota for his support of this legislation, and I thank my friend from South Carolina, as well, for helping us unanimously pass this bill out of committee.

The threat that this new axis of evil poses to the United States is not a Republican one or a Democratic one. It is an American one. This full report on the Russia-CCP alliance will inform the American public and enable lawmakers to begin positioning the United States to overcome this geopolitical challenge.

As a member of the House China Task Force, and with my strong belief that freedom must be defended from the aggression of authoritarians, like this invasion that we have seen, we must confront it; we must repel it; and we must call it out when we see it. That is why I urge all of my colleagues in the House to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the AXIS Act, A-X-I-S, a bill that is to require the Department of State to report on China's support of Putin's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party is complicit in Russia's crimes against the people of Ukraine.

Xi and Putin established a no-limits partnership with their joint statement that foolishly cast NATO as an aggressor. They coordinated the timing of the invasion to avoid disturbing the CCP's genocide Olympics. The Chinese state media has regurgitated Russian propaganda, and instead of joining the world in sanctioning Putin, the CCP is working with Putin to avoid sanctions.

We are already seeing the results of this unholy alliance between the two dictators, and it is essential that CCP support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine become a matter of public record.

I thank our colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) for introducing the AXIS Act. This bill requires an unclassified report on the full scope of CCP support of the Putin invasion, from sanctions violations, to disinformation, to the sale of controlled technology.

If the United States is going to counter the national security threat of this new axis of autocrats working together, we must understand how they are working together in the conflict between autocrats, which are ruled by gun, against democracy, which is ruled by law.

Mr. Barr's bill fills this need. I thank the gentleman for introducing the AXIS Act, and I urge our colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I especially appreciate the people of China. My father served in 1944 as a member of the Flying Tigers, the 14th Air Force of the Army Air Corps of the United States, to defend the people of China in World War II. He served in Kunming, Chengdu, and Xi'an, and he had a deep affection for the people of China. We want the best for the people of China.

Sadly, at every step of Russia's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the CCP has chosen to reject the free world and embrace Putin's mass murder. Just last week, one of the CCP's top Foreign Ministry officials promised to increase strategic coordination with Russia, regardless of Russia's war crimes. But we know that Ukraine will win with the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

They need to be held accountable at the CCP, and Congressman Andy Barr's legislation does just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Wilson for yielding and for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the AXIS Act. We must take strong steps to investigate if and how the Chinese Government and affiliated entities are helping Russia evade sanctions after Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

While the United States, our NATO allies, and countries around the world have strongly condemned and taken action during Vladimir Putin's invasion, the silence and deference from Chinese Government officials is deafening.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi continues to say Russia is China's most important strategic partner. We know that as Russia continues to invade Ukraine, China is eyeing Taiwan. We must show dictators that they cannot invade a free country and ally unprovoked without consequences.

I am proud to cosponsor the AXIS Act, and I thank my friend, Congressman Andy Barr, for leading this bill.