Rockwall, TX-Feb. 3, 2024 – County Judge Frank New is intensifying his efforts to reduce the county’s reliance on China. He has instructed all heads of county government departments to explore alternative products imported from outside China.
In line with this initiative, a Rockwall County Purchasing and Procedures policy was approved by the Commissioners Court on January 10, 2023. This policy states that “the County will discourage the purchase of products manufactured in China whenever it is reasonably practical to do so.”
During the meeting, Judge New expressed his concerns, stating, “Any manufacturing in China is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which has declared total war on the United States.”
On a national level, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced the Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act. This legislation aims to safeguard military installations from threats posed by adversaries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The bill requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review any real estate purchases or leases made by foreign individuals or entities linked to these nations near military sites.
This initiative follows the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2021. This law prohibits Texas entities from contracting with companies owned by hostile foreign nations that have access to critical infrastructure. The Act was specifically enacted in response to concerns over a Chinese-owned wind project in Val Verde County, Texas. Legislators worried that the company could disrupt the reliability of the Texas energy grid or potentially shut it down if allowed access through its development of the Val Verde project.
Judge New believes we should reduce our dependence on China, stating, “When a nation declares its intent to defeat us economically, culturally, and militarily, it becomes our responsibility to stop funding that aggression. Given China’s human rights violations, theft of intellectual property, and manipulation of currency, choosing not to buy from China is the only logical decision.”
Submitted by: Jim Barto, Rockwall County Public Information
