Washington, May 22: Two senior Republican lawmakers in the United States have introduced a bill aimed at accelerating sanctions against Chinese entities linked to the military-industrial complex. They assert that the US can no longer delay action against threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Senator Rick Scott and Representative Elise Stefanik presented the “CCP Sanctions Shot Clock Act.” Under this legislation, the US Treasury Department will be required to take action within one year against Chinese individuals or entities deemed a security threat by the US government.
The bill seeks to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026, establishing a one-year “shot clock” within which identified entities must be included in the Treasury Department’s list of “Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies.”
Currently, US law mandates the President to submit a report every two years identifying Chinese nationals or entities that could be added to the NS-CMIC list. However, there is no set timeline for the Treasury Department to update this list. The proposed law aims to change this arrangement.
According to the bill’s draft, the Treasury Secretary must include the relevant foreign nationals in this list within one year of the President’s report under subsection (A), and publish the revised version in the Federal Register.
Scott emphasized that once an entity is identified as a threat to national security, the US should act immediately against it. He stated, “No one working for the military interests of the CCP should be allowed to do business in this country. Communist China is our enemy, and we must wake up and act accordingly.”
He added, “When an individual is identified as a threat to our security and way of life, we should not wait to impose sanctions. This bill addresses that gap.”
Stefanik noted that this bill is part of a broader Republican effort to reduce America’s economic dependence on Chinese companies linked to military expansion.
She remarked, “This is a practical law that ensures the Treasury Department can no longer delay action against entities associated with the malign influence and military expansion of Communist China.”
Stefanik further stated, “Last year, Congress asked the administration to report on Chinese companies that fall under increased sanctions. The CCP Sanctions Shot Clock Act will ensure that sanctions are imposed as swiftly as America needs to respond.”