As China grows as a strong actor on the world’s stage, their capabilities are becoming more apparent. However, their intentions remain cloudy. Since 2005, the Chinese Yuan has gained 9% on the U.S. dollar. But China manipulates their currency to give themselves a 15-40% advantage over our businesses. Business is booming on the Chinese black market. They take without compensation (or steal) more of our intellectual property rights than any other nation in the world, denying fair access for many of our companies to compete in China. The Chinese government turns their back to this, failing to enforce intellectual property laws and regulations. The result is a $233 billion trade deficit that has been used to fund the largest and most sophisticated military buildup in China’s history.

More recently, China has been the source of many food, drug, and product safety issues, as a number of tainted products from China have found their way to the U.S., including pet food, toothpaste, and children’s toys containing lead paint. Over 1.5 million toys made in China were pulled from U.S. shelves last month alone. China promises improved safety rules, but one has to wonder, in the context of China’s overall complexity and lack of transparency, how much these promises or improvements hold true.

Here and there, pieces of the puzzle start to take shape. In terms of defense, The People’s Republic of China’s announcement of a 17.8 percent defense spending increase over 2006 levels is blurred by a lack of transparency. We know that any reported defense spending is no more than one-third of actual spending because it fails to include important sectors such as weapons procurement and research and development. Whether it’s a submarine that can stalk a U.S. carrier and surface within firing range without being detected, a missile that can target and destroy a satellite orbiting in space, a batch of tainted food and toy imports, or an espionage ring working to illegally ship military equipment such as an F-16 jet aircraft engine to China, we must assess each development and reflect upon how it fits into the puzzle.

The U.S.-China relationship hinges on transparency; not just transparency in dialogue, but transparency in action as well. This is critical to the development and preparation of a comprehensive policy to prepare the United States for the long-term impact of China’s rising power and influence around the world. It is important for policymakers, the administration and federal agencies to work together, sharing strategic information on this and other critical issues facing the nation.


To that end, we must evaluate the interagency planning and coordination process as it exists today. Current interagency efforts are undefined, ad-hoc, and largely ineffective. Stove-piped decision-making results in a piecemeal response to most international issues. There is no formal guidance to compel or instruct interagency coordination as every federal agency has its own unique operational and structural organization. Outside of the Department of Defense, most federal agencies have limited operational capabilities and ineffective means to mobilize and deploy personnel.

In 2005, I traveled to China and witnessed the beginning of a crescendo of sophisticated military buildup, one that could be likened to a quiet storm cloud brewing over the world’s horizon. I returned from the trip stressing the importance of thinking long-term and preparing for the future in regards to China and created the Congressional China Caucus. This August, I will return to China on a Congressional Delegation trip to assess current military and economic trends in China and their effect on American relations. This time, I will focus specifically on how we can prioritize U.S. interests with China through interagency planning and coordination so that we can align our assessments of China as a nation, and create a comprehensive plan for U.S.-China relations.

Without a comprehensive plan for U.S.-China relations, we risk knee jerk responses that may ultimately hurt more than help. The American people want and deserve a fair and level playing field that allows us to compete, to continue high standards for the safety of products entering US markets, and to maintain our national security for decades to come. The American people want us to be wise about our international friends and our enemies. A comprehensive inter-agency national plan is critical to our success to reach this goal.

Preparing for College

For college students and their families, August is a month of mixed emotions. Freshman students and their parents are both excited and apprehensive about this transition period of their lives. Returning students are glad to return to their close friends but reluctant to begin a strenuous schedule of studying again. In the midst of this exciting transition time, one of the most important things that parents and their college students can do together is to create a college safety plan.

As much as we as parents would like to know that our children are completely removed from the dangers of our current society, it is simply not the case. Although we shouldn’t live in constant fear of these possible dangers, we should be prepared in the case that something unexpected does happen. Before your student returns to college or leaves for college for the first time, take a few moments to review the following college safety preparation guidelines:

Create a personal property inventory.
With new computerized card keys and the ability to maintain 24-hour “key-only access”, on-campus dormitories strive to be a safe place for college students to live. However, statistics show that 80% of on-campus incidents are student-on-student. Be prepared for the possibility that something might end up stolen from a dorm room or lost, as well as the possibility of a fire or other similar disasters. Having an inventory of personal property, including computers, televisions, iPods, and mini-refrigerators, will help in determining the value of the items if something should happen.

The inventory should document information such as the serial number, model, age, where the item was purchased, and any unusual or unique qualities. Keeping copies of sales receipts, photocopies of related important documents, and photos of valuable jewelry are also good ideas. You should keep the inventory list updated any time your student acquires a new item. You should also check with your insurance company to determine whether you need to purchase additional insurance to cover your college student’s belongings while they are away at school.

Create a roadside safety kit.
Often times, the commute from home to college is long and your college student may be driving alone. Creating a roadside safety kit will ensure that your student has the resources they need in the case that they get a flat tire or breakdown on the way back and forth from school. First responders recommend that the following items be included in roadside safety kit: booster or jumper cables, flashlight, safety vest, towel, first aid kit, poncho, fuses, bottled water, crackers, blanket, and batteries.

Develop an emergency contact plan.
In the event of mass emergency, cell phone service is often limited due to the amount of people trying to make phone calls. Your family should designate one person as the emergency contact whom the student would contact to provide any important information in an emergency situation. Other family members should be instructed to contact the designated emergency contact for updates. Your college student should have the emergency contact person’s telephone number memorized, so if they are without a cell phone or address book, they can still get in touch with them. In the case of no phone service, you should develop an alternate contact plan, such as through the internet.

Share class and activities schedule.
College students should inform their parents and close network of friends of their semester course schedule and regular activities schedule. This information is valuable should parents or friends need to know the whereabouts of their college student during an emergency situation.

Often times we think of college preparation as saving for tuition costs, buying the appropriate computer technology, and making sure our student has enough meal plan coverage to last them the semester. But safety preparation is an important step that should not be overlooked. Taking the time necessary to plan for an emergency can provide valuable peace of mind for parents and students.

Congressman Forbes participates in a press conference introducing an omnibus crime bill.