Brooke Rollins and Lee Zeldin on China’s Threat to US National Security
In a recent conversation, the America First Policy Institute’s CEO, Brooke Rollins, and Congressman Lee Zeldin underscored why a strong America First approach is crucial to meeting the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Rollins began by celebrating Zeldin's recent appointment to lead AFPI’s China Policy Initiative, highlighting his experience—including serving eight years on the House Foreign Affairs Committee—as giving him a deep understanding of the unprecedented national security threat from Beijing.
She praised his tenacity, noting his 2022 run for governor in deeply blue New York that pulled many New York congressional candidates across the finish line to secure a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. She noted that his policies had resonated across diverse communities during his campaign, from strengthening the economy to protecting families from crime. The insight gained from Zeldin's campaign is clear: conservative policies resonate with all Americans, including those long affiliated with the Left, as those policies address real-life needs like public safety, economic strength, and the preservation of family rights.
Zeldin expressed a stark warning about China’s influence, which permeates various facets of American life, from higher education to critical technologies. He explained that China’s manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl has fueled a devastating crisis in the United States, a clear example of how foreign policy directly impacts American communities. He pointed to China's subsidization of fentanyl producers and stressed the need for America to use every tool available to combat this scourge, including sanctions and closer regulation of companies aiding this dangerous trade. This is a foreign policy stance strongly rooted in defending American families and communities rather than appeasing malign international actors.
Rollins and Zeldin also explored the importance of a robust military policy, underscoring that America must prepare for the unique challenges posed by China's growing naval strength. Zeldin highlighted that while America maintained the world’s strongest navy, China’s massive shipbuilding capacity and strategic positioning in the Pacific posed a significant threat. As a solution, Zeldin argued for an America First military strategy that combined strength and deterrence, suggesting that a weakened America had enabled adversaries like China to extend their influence globally, even reaching the Western Hemisphere.
Further, Rollins and Zeldin touched on the CCP's theft of U.S. intellectual property and its growing holdings of American farmland. Zeldin urged Americans to reclaim control over their resources, advocating for tighter regulations to limit Chinese investments in critical U.S. infrastructure and agricultural assets. He stressed the urgency of bolstering American sovereignty, emphasizing that the government’s primary role was to safeguard its citizens' security and prosperity. This philosophy aligns seamlessly with AFPI’s America First principles, which prioritize American autonomy over foreign influence.
The conversation served as a rallying cry for an America First resurgence in policymaking, and Zeldin contended that Americans are ready for conservative policies that address these pressing threats. With the leadership of AFPI and support from engaged, patriotic citizens, we can succeed in safeguarding the nation’s future from all threats, both internal and external.