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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2424 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2424
To require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the
Government of the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 23, 2025
Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Mr. Bennet) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the
Government of the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Tracking Hostile Industry Networks
and Kit while Thwarting Weapons Imports from Chinese Entities Act of
2025'' or the ``THINK TWICE Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The People's Republic of China is the fourth largest
arms exporter behind the United States, the Russian Federation,
and France.
(2) Arms sales by entities in the People's Republic of
China are an important element of the country's growing
military power and geopolitical influence.
(3) The People's Republic of China uses arms sales to
promote strategic interests, including--
(A) improving the image and reputation of the
People's Liberation Army;
(B) acquiring performance data of Chinese-made
weapons in contested environments, which can be
utilized by the People's Liberation Army;
(C) exacerbating tensions between the United States
and traditional security partners;
(D) gaining a foothold for further defense and
security cooperation with certain countries;
(E) building relationships with senior political
and military leaders in other countries, further
expanding the diplomatic and strategic influence of the
People's Republic of China;
(F) protecting economic interests of the People's
Republic of China by ensuring the security of foreign
partner governments to safeguard Chinese investments
and Chinese workers;
(G) exerting influence over the progression of
conflicts to serve the broader geostrategic aims of the
People's Republic of China;
(H) improving military operations and capabilities
of partner states, thereby stabilizing regions of
interest by addressing local issues, such as
disturbances near the border of the People's Republic
of China; and
(I) subsidizing the research and development and
production costs of weapons systems of the People's
Republic of China.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON ARMS SALES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on arms sales
facilitated by entities in the People's Republic of China.
(b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
an analysis of--
(1) the weapons systems and defense equipment originating
from the People's Republic of China available for purchase;
(2) the technical aspects and capabilities of such weapons
systems and defense equipment;
(3) how such weapons systems and defense equipment may
impact the balance of power in the area of responsibility of
each United States Combatant Command, when applicable;
(4) the weapons systems and defense equipment originating
from the People's Republic of China that are considered direct
alternatives to weapons systems and defense equipment
originating from the United States;
(5) the weapons systems and defense equipment originating
from the People's Republic of China that present the greatest
security risks regarding the potential to collect intelligence
on or compromise assets, weapons, or platforms of the United
States;
(6) the countries mostly likely to procure weapons systems
and defense equipment originating from the People's Republic of
China, including the specific type, quantity, and estimated
value in United States dollars of weapons, during the 1-year
period following the date of the submission of the report;
(7) the weapons systems and defense equipment in
development as of the date of the submission of the report by
entities in the People's Republic of China that could be
available on the global market not later than 5 years after
such date;
(8) the factors that incentivize countries to procure such
weapons systems and defense equipment, including costs,
flexible payment conditions and financing, a lack of end-user
agreements, and speed of sale and delivery; and
(9) the strategy of the People's Republic of China
regarding arms sales and variables that could influence such
strategy.
(c) Form.--
(1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but shall include a
classified annex.
(2) Classified annex.--The classified annex required by
paragraph (1) shall contain--
(A) an assessment by the National Intelligence
Council of the contents required by subsection (b); and
(B) an assessment by the Director of National
Intelligence of the counterintelligence risks and risks
of onward proliferation of technology and defense
systems originating in the United States and created
through the purchase, deployment, and use of weapons
systems and defense equipment originating from the
People's Republic of China by United States allies and
partners.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of
the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 4. STRATEGY TO COMBAT ARMS SALES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, shall develop a strategy to dissuade purchases of
new weapons systems and defense equipment, excluding spare parts or
parts for maintenance of previously procured weapons, originating from
the People's Republic of China.
(b) Elements.--The strategy shall include the following elements:
(1) An information campaign targeting countries interested
in procuring weapons systems and defense equipment originating
from the People's Republic of China to warn such countries
about--
(A) potential risks, including the lack of a proven
track record in combat, insufficient training on the
operation of the weapon or weapons system, reliability
issues, and the lack of maintenance and spare parts
available;
(B) the inability to integrate such weapons systems
and defense equipment with weapons systems and defense
equipment from the United States; and
(C) the potential limitation of future security
cooperation with the United States that could arise if
such weapons are acquired.
(2) A description of actions the United States can take,
including reforms to the foreign military sales, direct
commercial sales, and foreign military financing processes, to
make weapons systems and defense equipment from the United
States more attractive to prospective buyers of weapons systems
or defense equipment originating from the People's Republic of
China.
(3) A description of actions defense firms of the United
States can take to provide competitive alternatives to
prospective buyers of weapons systems and defense equipment
originating from the People's Republic of China.
(4) An analysis of whether the use of sanctions, export
controls, or other economic restrictions targeting buyers of
new weapons systems or defense equipment originating from the
People's Republic of China could serve as an effective
deterrent.
(5) A plan to ensure sufficient representation of defense
firms of the United States, or trusted allies, at defense
expositions where defense firms of the People's Republic of
China are also attending.
(6) A plan to combat Chinese disinformation campaigns
targeting the performance of weapons or platforms produced by
the United States or trusted allies.
(7) A plan to ensure close coordination with Congress to
prevent disjointed engagement with countries.
(c) Report and Implementation Plan.--Not later than the date on
which the strategy required by subsection (a) is completed, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report detailing the strategy and a plan for
implementation.
(d) Form.--The report required by subsection (c) shall be submitted
in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 238.
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