Outgoing US Justice Department officials call their ‘China Initiative’ to counter Beijing a success
- Despite collateral damage such as a chilling effect on scientific exchanges, analysts expect the Biden administration to continue the programme in some form
- Initiative’s goals include investigating trade secret theft and economic espionage and countering threats posed by Chinese foreign investment
The US Justice Department gave itself high marks in a report card released on Monday on the second anniversary of its “China Initiative”, a programme aimed at blunting Beijing’s influence in the United States.
The assessment, released as a new administration prepares to take power, comes as more Republican voices try to nudge President Donald Trump into acknowledging his electoral defeat and as Attorney General William Barr – criticised for acting more like Trump’s personal lawyer than the nation’s top legal guardian – contemplates his legacy.
“The department has made incredible strides in countering the systemic efforts by [China] to enhance its economic and military strength at America’s expense,” Barr said in the report. “While much work remains to be done, the department is committed to holding to account those who would steal, or otherwise illicitly obtain, the US intellectual capital that will propel the future.”
While legal, academic and Chinese-American groups have highlighted some of the initiative’s collateral damage, including its chilling effect on open scientific exchange and the potential demonisation of Asian-Americans, most expect it to continue in some form under President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.
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China’s influence operations have ramped up, safeguarding intellectual property theft is a national priority and looking soft on Beijing is hardly a good use of political capital at a time when the incoming team has its hands full with Covid-19, an economic recession and racial tension, analysts said.