Florida and Arizona senators introduce bill to counter Chinese influence in strategic ports

The People’s Republic of China is actively expanding its global maritime network, with multiple Chinese companies owning key ports in the U.S. and around the world. This growing investment poses significant risks to national security, U.S. trade access, global supply chains, and overall maritime maneuverability.

To address this threat, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the Strategic Ports Reporting Act.

The bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense to prepare an interagency strategic report to counter this growing Chinese influence.

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“Florida is home to many of our nation’s most important ports. Our country cannot allow Communist China to invest in geographically and economically strategic ports. We must prevent our adversaries from using our resources against us at all costs,” said Senator Rubio.

“America has always been a maritime nation, dependent on trade to fuel our economy. This bill is critical to securing our overseas ports from Chinese influence that threatens our economy and our national security,” said Senator Kelly.

“Protecting the ports, seaports, and infrastructure of the United States, our allies, and our trading partners around the world is critical to our economic independence, U.S. national security, and the safety of our allies. As our country faces threats from adversaries around the world and Communist China continues its quest for global dominance, we must eliminate any ownership, influence, or access the Communist Chinese regime may have over our allies’ infrastructure and data that could be used against us. Our law requires the Department of Defense to identify our most critical ports worldwide to ensure continued U.S. trade and military operations and develop a plan to protect them from our adversaries. This long-overdue action is essential to protecting American commerce and security,” Senator Scott emphasized.

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U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) will introduce related legislation in the House of Representatives.

“As China continues its military aggression in the Indo-Pacific and expands its economic influence around the world, it is more important than ever that the United States has a plan to counter China’s investment in strategic foreign ports while ensuring the resilience of U.S.-allied ports. I am proud to introduce the Strategic Ports Reporting Act, which will take critical steps to safeguard America’s national security and economic interests as the Chinese Communist Party works to increase its global dominance both economically and militarily,” said Congressman Wittman.

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