Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is gearing up for a significant diplomatic trip to China, Japan, and South Korea, leading a bipartisan delegation of senators. The visit comes as part of the Biden administration's efforts to address tensions with Beijing through diplomacy. Schumer will be accompanied by Senator Michael D. Crapo, a Republican from Idaho. The delegation's planned visit, which was reported by Punchbowl News, aims to engage with senior Chinese officials while also imposing restrictions on American investments in China's high-tech industries.

Schumer, a long-time critic of China, has been supportive of the Biden administration's approach. He sees the restrictions on American investments in China's high-tech industries as crucial steps to reduce Beijing's military ambitions and protect U.S. national security. Throughout his career, Schumer has consistently condemned China for currency manipulation, unfair trade practices, and aggressive actions against Taiwan. As majority leader, he played a key role in passing legislation last year that invested billions of dollars in the American semiconductor industry, aiming to reduce reliance on China.

During a forum on artificial intelligence, Schumer warned about China's rise in the field and emphasized the need for the United States to outpace China strategically. However, unlike other congressional leaders, Schumer has been more cautious with diplomatic gestures, avoiding engagements with Taiwan that could further escalate tensions with Beijing. In recent years, Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, organized visits with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, but Schumer has not met with her during her tour of the United States earlier this year.

Schumer's delegation to China would follow visits by several high-ranking Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and climate envoy John Kerry. This upcoming trip would be the second official international trip led by Schumer since becoming majority leader in 2021, with the first trip covering Europe, India, Pakistan, and Israel in February.

Schumer's visit to China is part of his broader efforts to address competition from China. In May, he launched a renewed legislative push, planning to introduce a bill that would bolster the U.S.'s ability to address various issues with China, ranging from technology to security threats against Taiwan. Last year, Schumer played a pivotal role in passing the "Chips and Science" act, which allocated $52 billion for semiconductor research and manufacturing subsidies. The bipartisan support for the legislation reflected the growing consensus in Congress that a tough stance on China is necessary.

This year's planned legislation, dubbed "China Competition 2.0," aims to go even further by limiting the flow of technology to China, deterring China from initiating a conflict with Taiwan, tightening rules to block U.S. capital from going to Chinese companies, and seeking funding for additional domestic investments in key technology areas. Schumer sees this legislation as a means to provide a better U.S. alternative to China's Belt and Road global infrastructure initiative, countering Beijing's international influence. The desire for a firm stance on China remains one of the few bipartisan sentiments in Congress.