How China Uses Economic Coercion to Silence Critics and Achieve its Political Aims Globally

The People’s Republic of China uses a variety of coercive economic measures to silence criticism and influence discussion of its human rights violations in the United States and internationally. For example, recently China has stoked domestic boycotts of international brands that condemned forced labor in Xinjiang, and it continues to wage a high-profile, comprehensive campaign of economic coercion against Australia in response to criticism China deems sensitive. In addition, China recently has sanctioned individuals and companies, including Members of Congress and academic researchers, and taken significant steps to provide a legal basis for further measures.

The Commission will hold a hearing that examines these challenges and developments in the context of China’s international efforts to stifle criticism and achieve its political aims globally, spotlights the costs of China’s economic coercion, and solicits recommendations from expert witnesses for further action by Congress and the Administration.

The hearing will be archived on the CECC’s YouTube Channel.

Hearing Transcript (PDF)