Trump vows to restrict Chinese investments in critical areas such as energy

The former president said that the U.S. must enact restrictions on Chinese purchases of any of the country's vital infrastructure.

Donald Trump en Louisville, Kentucky / Cordon Press. — (Cordon Press)

Published by

Juan Martín Fernández Quintero

19 de enero, 2023

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Trade competition with China is an area of concern for most Americans. That is presumably why Donald Trump promised Thursday that, if elected president in 2024, he will restrict Chinese investments in vital industries such as energy and natural resources.

The former Republican president, who has already launched his candidacy to return to the White House next year, is planning to tighten Beijing's leash. He knows that his supporters expect him to reverse Joe Biden's laissez-faire attitude when it comes to confronting the Chinese Communist Party.

Given China's history of using multi-billion dollar foreign investments to peddle its influence, Trump said that he would restrict Chinese purchases in the country's most important industries:

China does not allow American companies to take over their critical infrastructure, and America should not allow China to take over our critical infrastructure.... To protect our country, we need to enact aggressive new restrictions on Chinese ownership of any vital infrastructure in the United States, including energy, technology, telecommunications, farmland, natural resources, medical supplies and other strategic national assets.

In addition, the Republican leader said that a process should begin as soon as possible to force Beijing to sell "any current holdings that put our national security at risk." He criticized the Biden administration for allowing such massive Chinese investments:

With the help of corrupt influence peddlers like the Biden crime family, China is even trying to buy up the pillars of the U.S. energy industry.

In connection with Trump's remarks, last Thursday, Jan. 12, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit the sale of U.S. oil reserves to China.

"Selling our oil reserves to the Chinese Communist Party does not benefit the American people or the world," Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman wrote on his Twitter account. He added, "Proud to have voted to advance bipartisan legislation to protect America's national and economic security."