Dear Editor:

Our state representative Jason Smith (I use the term "our" loosely.) periodically has a missive sent out called "Weekly Capitol Report". I want to be an informed voter so subject myself to its contents and often see erroneous content. This past week had a particular outlandish accusation. The Report accuses the Biden administration of having "opened the door for Chinese billionaires and the [Chinese Communist Party] to take billions from hard-working American taxpayers." He gives no information to support that accusation. The reality is much different. The following is from "Money Watch", a part of CBS News of 4/08/24. The Biden administration had Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spend four days in talks with Chinese officials over an industrial policy that poses a threat to U.S. jobs. She also had "difficult conversations" with Chinese officials about national security, including Chinese companies supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine. Yellen also cited manufacturing of electric vehicles and their batteries as well as solar energy equipment as areas of concern. In direct contradiction of Smith's accusations "China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, alleging the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden, distorts fair competition due to its electric-vehicle subsidies." The United States and the People's Republic of China held the fifth meeting of the Financial Working Group (FWG) in Shanghai on August 15-16.  

 

The Report goes on to accuse China of using American classrooms to try to spread propaganda through establishing "Confucius Institutes" at colleges. That part of the "Capitol Report" is true. 

 

James Vokac,

Willow Springs