Sens. Menendez, Risch unveil bipartisan bill to counter China

Details: Under the proposed bill, the U.S. would ...

• send more security assistance to countries in the Indo-Pacific region and offer debt relief to countries requesting forbearance during the coronavirus pandemic;
• impose sanctions in response to human rights abuses in Xinjiang;
• double down on the federal government's effort to fight China's raids of U.S. intellectual property; and
• monitor China's acquirement of ballistic, hypersonic glide, and cruise missiles.

What they're saying: "The United States government must be clear-eyed and sober about Beijing's intentions and actions, and calibrate our policy and strategy accordingly," Menendez said in a statement.

• "I am incredibly proud to announce this unprecedented bipartisan effort to mobilize all U.S. strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools for an Indo-Pacific strategy that will allow our nation to truly confront the challenges China poses to our national and economic security."

What's next: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will review the bill and vote on April 14, Menendez said.