Overview
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Establishment:
The Commission was created on October 30, 2000 by the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for 2001 § 1238, Pub. L. No. 106-398, 114 STAT. 1654A-334 (2000) (codified at 22 U.S.C.§ 7002 (2001), as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (regarding changing the annual report due date from June to December), the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for 2002 § 645 (regarding employment status of staff) & § 648 Pub.L. No. 107-67, 115 STAT. 514 (Nov. 12, 2001); as amended by Division P of the "Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003," Pub L. No. 108-7 (Feb. 20, 2003) (regarding Commission name change, terms of Commissioners, and responsibilities of Commission); as amended by Pub.L. No. 109-108 (enacted Nov. 22, 2005) (regarding responsibilities of Commission and applicability of FACA).
Purpose:
To monitor, investigate, and submit to congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and to provide recommendations, where appropriate, to Congress for legislative and administrative action.
Public Law 109-108 directs the Commission to focus its work and study on the following eight areas: proliferation practices, economic transfers, energy, U.S. capital markets, regional economic and security impacts, U.S.-China bilateral programs, WTO compliance, and the implications of restrictions on speech and access to information in the People’s Republic of China.
Composition:
The Commission is composed of 12 members, three of whom are selected by each of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House. The Commissioners serve two-year terms.
Commissioners:
Larry M. Wortzel, Chairman, Carolyn Bartholomew, Vice Chairman, Daniel A. Blumenthal, Peter T.R. Brookes, Mark T. Esper, Jeffrey L. Fiedler, Hon. Patrick A. Mulloy, Hon. William A. Reinsch, Hon. Dennis C. Shea, Daniel M. Slane, Michael R. Wessel, Peter Videnieks.
Staff:
The Commissioners are supported by a professional and administrative staff with extensive backgrounds in trade, economics, weapons proliferation, foreign policy, and U.S.-PRC relations. Some are fluent or proficient in Chinese (Mandarin), and most have significant prior working and traveling experience in China and Taiwan. The staff is headed by T. Scott Bunton, Commission Executive Director.
Mandated areas of focus and responsibilities US- China Economic and Security Review Commission
Pursuant to Amendments made in Public Law 109-108 (H.R. 2862) , November 22, 2005
SEC. 635. (a) Modification of Responsibilities.—Not withstanding any provision of section 1238 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (22 U.S.C. 7002), or any other provision of law, the United Sates-China Economic and Security Review Commission established by subsection (b) of that section shall investigate and report exclusively on each of the following areas:
(1) P ROLIFERATION PRACTICES .—The role of the People’s Republic of China in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other weapons (including dual use technologies), including actions , the United States might take to encourage the People’s Republic of China to cease such practices.
(2) E CONOMICTRANSFERS .—The qualitative and quantitative nature of the transfer of United States production activities to the People’s Republic of China , including the relocation of high technology, manufacturing, and research and development facilities, the impact of such transfers on United States national security, the adequacy of United States export control laws, and the effect of such transfers on United States economic security and employment.
(3) E NERGY .—The effect of the large and growing economy of the People’s Republic of China on world energy supplies and the role the United States can play (including joint research and development efforts and technological assistance), in influencing the energy policy of the People’s Republic of China..
(4) U NITED STATES CAPITAL MARKETS .—The extent of access to and use of United States capital markets by the People’s Republic of China, including whether or not existing disclosure and transparency rules are adequate to identify People’s Republic of China companies engaged in harmful activities.
(5) R EGIONAL ECONOMIC AND SECURITY IMPACTS .—The triangular economic and security relationship among the United States, Taipei and the People’s Republic of China (including the military modernization and force deployments of the People’s Republic of China aimed at Taipei), the national budget of the People’s Republic of China, and the fiscal strength of the People’s Republic of China in relation to internal instability in the People’s Republic of China and the likelihood of the externalization of problems arising from such internal instability.
(6) U NITED STATES - CHINA BILATERAL PROGRAMS .— Science and technology programs, the degree of non-compliance by the People’s Republic of China with agreements between the United States and the People’s Republic of China on prison labor imports and intellectual property rights, and United States enforcement policies with respect to such agreements.
(7) WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COMPLIANCE .—The compliance of the People’s Republic of China with its accession agreement to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
(8) FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.—The implications of restrictions on speech and access to information in the People’s Republic of China for its relations with the United States in the areas of economic and security policy.