US lawmakers push measures to curb China's tech and pharmaceutical influence

Congressional leaders held a round‑table on U.S.–China technology competition, warning that China poses a systemic threat and urging actions such as expanding the “Silicon Shield” to keep Chinese firms out of semiconductor, drone and other critical supply chains, cutting bureaucracy, and accelerating work on emerging fields like quantum computing. Senior China director Piero Tozzi told the panel that Beijing is trying to set global technology standards and even reshape human‑rights norms.

In the Senate, a bipartisan bill was introduced to increase oversight of Chinese investment in the pharmaceutical sector. The Pharmaceutical Investment Oversight and Accountability Act would require the FTC, in consultation with CFIUS, to produce an annual report on foreign influence in drug manufacturing, assess reliance on foreign ingredients, and examine impacts on DNA‑sequencing technologies. Senator Rick Scott warned that dependence on China could allow Beijing to block critical drug exports if tensions rise.