Allred Introduces Bipartisan Measure to Combat China's Belt and Road Initiative

Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX) and Young Kim (R-CA) – both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee – introduced the bipartisan Stopping PRC Environmental Exploitation and Degradation Act (SPEED) Act. This bill would attempt to combat the “negative environmental, ecological, and public health effects of investments linked to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Africa.”

The bill aims to counter China’s influence in Africa by “Establishing that it is U.S. policy to oppose the actions of PRC-linked entities that do not abide by host country, international environmental protection, and labor laws in their exploitation of natural resources in Africa; requiring a strategy from the State Department and USAID detailing how the U.S. will work with sub-Saharan African countries to remediate environmental disasters caused by PRC companies; and, allowing for sanctions on PRC-linked entities that are responsible for adverse environmental and public health incidents on the African continent.”

According to Rep. Allred, China has become Africa’s “largest trading partner, creditor, and source of foreign direct investment through the Belt and Road Initiative.” Reps. Allred and Kim believe this relationship between China and the African continent can be “destructive and harmful” to the environment through the Asian nation’s “debt-trap diplomacy” strategy.

“We cannot allow the People's Republic of China and Chinese-linked companies to continue their exploitation of African nations as they subject their people to harmful ecological and public health risks,” said Rep. Allred. “The bipartisan SPEED Act will strengthen U.S. policy, authorize sanctions and hold the Chinese government accountable for the adverse environmental, ecological and public health incidents occurring in Africa.”

Moreover, Rep. Kim added that this bill would “hold the PRC accountable” for its business practices.

“The PRC’s Belt and Road Initiative coerces developing nations to fall into Xi Jinping’s debt-trap diplomacy but also exposes vulnerable populations to harmful ecological, environmental, and public health risks,” said Rep. Kim. “We cannot allow Xi Jinping to get away with growing his global power and violating international environmental and labor laws in the process. I am proud to lead the SPEED Act to counter the Belt and Road Initiative and hold the PRC accountable for its exploitative practices, deliberate environmental degradation, and threat to African communities’ livelihoods.”

However, Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) has been sounding the alarm on this issue for over a year.

In February of 2023, Rep. Mills appeared on Fox Business Mills and discussed China, Russia, and the other nations that have formed apparent alliances with each other. Mills dubbed them as the “axis of evil.”

“At the end of the day, we know weakness invites aggression, and that’s exactly what this administration has done … China’s continued to ramp up their aggression. The China, Russia, Iran, North Korea geopolitical alignment, this axis of evil, is advancing their goals which is the Road and Belt initiative. Chairman Xi is expanding the Eurasian border, he is taking Africa Oceania, he is going to cut off the Western Hemisphere supply chain, Russia has the iron curtain going up,” stated Rep. Mills.

He concluded the interview with a message and a mindset to approach the “axis of evil.”

“We want to look at the fact that China is the aggressor, they are the greatest existential threat. They are not an ally to America. We need energy dominance and to rid ourselves of adversarial nations like Russia and China, economically,” quoted Mills.

For the full interview, it can be found here.