U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that whether it’s mining rare earth minerals, establishing military bases in Africa or building more ships and submarines, the U.S. needs to do more to compete with China.
At a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, Campbell He rated China as the “defining geopolitical challenge facing modern American diplomacy.”
“We need to do more, and we need to challenge Chinese actions, not only in terms of their forward basing strategy, but also in their desire to go after rare earths in Africa that will be critical to our industrial and technological capabilities,” he said.
Campbell added that China has presented U.S. diplomats with a global challenge that spans everything from economics and defense to information and human rights.
Bipartisan desire to compete
Democratic and Republican lawmakers who attended the hearing agreed with that assessment and the need to compete in the face of influence of China.
Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida expressed concern that China is the “world’s leading shipbuilder” and the “undisputed king of basic industrial inputs.”
Campbell agreed with Sen. Rubio, noting that the difference between the two countries was “deeply troubling” and that the United States “has to do better” in the naval building.
He also said the US submarine program needs more attention.
In his opening remarks, Ben Cardin, a Democratic senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the American power needs to offer the Global South an alternative to China.
“To address these challenges, the United States should not only invest in our military, but also in our diplomatic and economic development tools,” Cardin said.
Technology and critical rare earth minerals used to make everything from semiconductor chips to batteries in electric vehicles were an area of particular focus during the hearing, given China’s dominance.
In 2022, China was the largest source of rare earth mineral imports for the United States, accounting for 70%, according to the United States Geological Survey. It is also the world’s largest supplier of rare earth minerals.
“If you look at the balance sheet of the top 40 trace elements and minerals that are needed for batteries or semiconductors, the bulk of those supplies are now controlled by China,” Campbell said.
He noted that while the US was initially in a disadvantageous position, it has stepped up signing critical minerals deals with Japan and Australia.
Campbell also said the Lobito Corridor project in Africa, a railway that would run through mineral-rich Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to an Atlantic port in Angola, would help meet U.S. demand for minerals.
Hearing examines relations with Africa
Strengthening diplomatic relations with Africa was one of the main topics of the hearing.
Campbell said he has traveled to Africa twice since his appointment in February and has plans for a third trip. He also noted that there are 14 ambassadorial nominations for posts on the continent that have not yet been approved by the Senate.
Several senators at the hearing stressed the need to increase the U.S. diplomatic presence and fill empty ambassador positions, particularly within the Global South.
Campbell said the lack of US ambassadors in key positions was “shameful” and “antithetical to America’s strategic interests.”
During the hearing, lawmakers also discussed the need for U.S. involvement in international infrastructure development projects, continued support for Ukraine against Russian encroachment, and the need for more efforts to combat Chinese disinformation and press manipulation in third countries.
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