Rep. Guy Reschenthaler calls for action as China seeks global military, economic superiority

Representative Guy Reschenthaler believes that America must act to defend its national interests as China seeks to supplant the U.S. as the world's preeminent economic and military power.

"The Chinese declared a pseudo-Cold War on us years ago, arguably two or three decades ago. We've refused to acknowledged that," the Pennsylvania Republican said during an interview on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast.

"The Chinese want to be the world dominant power, and they want to do it by 2049," he explained. "Not only do they want to be militarily the dominant power, they want to be the dominant economic power in the world."

Reschenthaler, a lawyer who has previously served as a magisterial district judge and state senator, said that the West erroneously predicted that granting China entry into the World Trade Organization would lead to its Westernization through trade.

Instead, he said, China's economy has expanded, but it has used Western technology to bolster its authoritarian regime, which he noted is apparent in its treatment of the Uyghur ethnic group.

Reschenthaler serves on the national security and economic branches of a congressional task force focused on China. The group also includes sections that deal with the issues of education, technology and ideology.

Earlier this month, the congressman introduced the End Chinese Communist Citizenship Act, which would block Chinese Communist Party members from receiving green cards.

During the interview, he suggested that the U.S. should slap sanctions on China, and he emphasized the importance of America having strong unilateral trade deals with other nations.

He also called for the U.S. to bring supply chains back home and to ensure that non-U.S. supply chains are spread out so the country is not dependent on China for materials like personal protective equipment, ventilators, and antibiotics. 

The congressman also said that the U.S. should increase its number of Navy ships and "encourage Japan to rearm."