Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is a U.S. Army veteran, is praising the Trump administration’s proposed rules to tighten restrictions on American investment flowing into Chinese companies with military ties.
In an opinion piece, Mast argues that American capital and expertise have for too long ended up inside Chinese firms developing technologies with military applications, and he calls that “a serious national security failure.” He credits Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the administration for advancing new protections meant to stop American money from strengthening China’s military-industrial base.
Mast points to the COINS Act as an earlier step toward restricting American investment in sensitive technologies in adversary nations, and says the new proposed rules are meant to “close loopholes” and make sure restrictions keep up with the technology Beijing is trying to acquire, including in financial and professional services that can help Chinese companies advance.
“We cannot warn the American people about China’s military buildup with one hand while allowing our capital and expertise to help finance it with the other,” Mast writes.
Mast, who served in the Army, frames the issue as one of troop safety rather than just economics. He argues that every technological advantage China gains – in weapons, targeting systems or cyber capabilities – makes it harder for American service members to detect threats, defend against attacks or come home safely.
“Our troops should never have to face a more powerful Chinese military because American dollars helped build it,” he writes.
He also points to legislative efforts in the current Congress, including the AI OVERWATCH Act, the MATCH Act, and the Remote Access Security Act, which he says are intended to codify the administration’s AI Action Plan, strengthen oversight of advanced AI chip exports, close loopholes in semiconductor equipment controls, and prevent China from bypassing safeguards through remote access to sensitive technology.
Mast argues that artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors and quantum computing will determine both economic and military power for generations, and says the United States cannot win that competition while “handing our advantages to the Chinese Communist Party.”
He closes by applauding President Trump for taking action to protect America’s technological edge.
