FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE


Proposed Agenda Item (I)

'Identifying Threats - China's Rising Economic and Military Power

The U.S. relations to China suffer from strategic ambiguities, to say the least. Although their economies are closely tied, Washington and Beijing see each other as arch rivals. As the economic, technological, and military gap between them is shrinking, geopolitical interests shift accordingly. Should the U.S. brace for confrontation or rather try to deepen cooperation with China?

When forming the policy recommendation documents, the Committee should take into account that there are other nations or entities posing potential threats, such as Russia, Iran, North Korea, international terrorist groups, or Mexico (which is 'bigly' dangerous according to the current U.S. President).

This is intertwined with the agenda of the Budget Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, both focusing on the expansion of America's potential in the future.

(Briefing Papers Available Soon)

Proposed Agenda Item (II)

'Capturing Opportunities - Booming Africa'

Africa is now called the youngest continent. It has the fastest growing population in the world and also some of the most rapidly developing economies. But with many African countries off the democratic track, suffering from massive humanitarian crises as well as violent conflicts, this may create opportunities for terrorism rather than trade.

Moreover, China seems to be on the largest investment spree in history. Should the U.S. significantly scale up its presence on the continent and create a viable alternative to the Belt & Road Initiative?

This is obviously linked with the agenda of the Joint Economic Committee and the Budget Committee, especially when assessing the importance of international trade in improving the American economy.

(Briefing Papers Available Soon)

RULES & RESOURCES

Visit our Rules and Resources sites to find out more about the Rules of Procedure and General Research Resources.
Recommended Committee Specific Research Materials follow:

U.S. House of Representatives

Foreign Affairs Committee

The Economist - America v China: A new kind of cold war

Hearing - Smart Competition: Adapting U.S. Strategy Toward China at 40 Years

Hearing - Democracy, Development, and Defense: Rebalancing U.S.-Africa Policy

Hearing - China’s Predatory Trade and Investment Strategy

Hearing - China in Africa: The New Colonialism?

Hearing - China’s Expanding Influence in Europe and Eurasia

CNBC - What does China own in the U.S.?

Foreign Policy - MINING THE FUTURE: How China is set to dominate the next Industrial Revolution

Bloomberg - U.S. Was Right to Give China’s Navy the Boot

Undermining Democracy: Kremlin Tools of Malign Political Influence

(More Coming)