Two Code Pink protesters interrupted the opening moments of the first prime-time Congressional hearing on the dangers of the Chinese Communist Party on Tuesday night.
A woman and then a man were kicked out of the committee meeting, which included testimony from two former Trump officials, ex-national security adviser HR McMcMaster and deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger, as well as Chinese human rights activist Tong Yi and Scott Paul, the head of the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
The women held up a sign reading “China is not our enemy,” while the man held up a similar hand-drawn sign reading “Stop Asian Hate.”
“I shouldn’t have told him his sign was upside down, I guess,” remarked committee chairman Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin, as he restarted the hearing after security caught the two anti-war activists. deleted.
Later, the protesters were praised by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, an ally of Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, who noted that it “takes guts to enter the halls of power with dissent.”
A Code Pink protester delivers an opening statement by former Trump official, ex-National Security Advisor HR McMaster (left) during the opening moments of the House special committee on China that met Tuesday night
A Code Pink activist is led away by Capitol Police after interrupting House Select Committee opening talks on the strategic competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Tuesday night
A Capitol police officer escorts a Code Pink protester after interrupting the House Select Committee’s first public hearing on strategic competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
“If we listen to people who question the existence of the committee, we are showing by example what makes the United States of America different from communist China,” he added.
The hearing was the first meeting of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, which was signed by Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The first meeting covered a variety of topics, including some of China’s current threats — the country’s role in the fentanyl trade and the spy balloon, for example — and potentially gruesome future issues, such as a war over Taiwan.
The usual partisan divide was not prominent on Tuesday night.
The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, remarked at the beginning of the hearing that “we must recognize that the CCP wants us to be unruly, partisan and prejudiced” and urged his colleagues to remain professional and not to engage in anti-Asian hatred.
“We have no quarrel with the Chinese people or people of Chinese descent,” he said.
He also said the US was not hungry for war.
“I shouldn’t have told him his sign was upside down, I guess,” remarked committee chairman Mike Gallagher (pictured), a Republican from Wisconsin, as he restarted the hearing after the two antiwar activists removed by security.
“We don’t want war with the People’s Republic of China. No cold war, no hot war. We don’t want a clash of civilizations. But we are looking for a lasting peace,” he said.
McMaster testified that he believed he could avoid war with China “peace through strength still works.”
“It is important for us to demonstrate the strength needed to convince Xi Jinping, leaders of that party and leaders of the People’s Liberation Army, that they cannot achieve their goals through force,” the former Trump official said.
Strengthening US allies in the region is one way to do this, McMaster also noted, saying it was “hugely encouraging” to see Japan double its defense budget.
McMaster also testified that a number of Asian companies are befriending the US over Xi’s rhetoric and behavior.
“We really have to thank Xi Jinping because he really helps us,” McMaster said. “I think it’s becoming clear to countries in that region that it’s not a choice between Washington and Beijing, but a choice between sovereignty and servitude.”
Pottinger, who previously testified before the Jan. 6 committee, explained China’s role in the current flood of fentanyl coming across the U.S. southern border.
Trump’s former national security official explained that Chinese fentanyl used to enter the US through the mail, but that was cracked down on during the last administration.
Now the chemicals used to make fentanyl come from China and end up in the hands of the Mexican cartels.
“The best you can say is that the Chinese Communist Party is practicing vicious neglect and letting the business continue,” he noted.
He said that the CCP could stop this trade, but so far has not done so.
