COUNTER Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1731
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-18: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 96.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:05:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to address the growing global military basing efforts of the People's Republic of China (PRC) by requiring U.S. government officials to develop and implement a coordinated strategy. It seeks to counter potential threats to U.S. and allied military operations, freedom of navigation, and strategic interests posed by PRC overseas bases and infrastructure, emphasizing a proactive, whole-of-government approach.
Key Provisions
- Findings (Section 2): The bill outlines concerns based on reports like the 2024 China Military Power Report, noting the PRC's expansion of overseas logistics and bases (e.g., in Djibouti since 2017 and Cambodia's Ream Naval Base since 2023) to project military power via the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It highlights risks to U.S. operations and lists countries where the PRC may seek further access.
- Sense of Congress (Section 3): Expresses that U.S. responses should be urgent, interagency-coordinated, proactive, and involve allies; prioritize countering PRC basing in the broader U.S.-PRC competition; consider PRC use of commercial/scientific ties as covers for military access; and ensure adequate resources to protect U.S. and allied interests.
- Definitions (Section 4): Defines key terms, including "appropriate congressional committees" (specified Senate and House panels on foreign relations, armed services, intelligence, and appropriations); "PLA" (PRC's military); "PRC" (People's Republic of China); and "PRC global basing" (overseas sites for PRC military, intelligence, or support infrastructure for power projection).
- Assessment and Strategy (Section 5):
- Requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit a classified intelligence assessment within 180 days of enactment, analyzing risks to U.S./allied power projection, movement, and interests from PRC basing.
- Mandates the Secretary of State (coordinating with the Secretary of Defense and others) to submit a strategy within 180 days, including: identification of at least 5 high-risk locations for PRC presence/bases; listing of involved U.S. agencies with resource needs/constraints; details on mitigation/prevention efforts; and effective U.S./allied actions to end host-country plans for PRC bases.
- Establishes an interagency task force within 90 days after the strategy submission to implement it and identify broader prevention measures.
- Requires quadrennial reviews and reports (every 4 years starting 4 years after the initial strategy) on the strategy's effectiveness, including updated information.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new requirements not previously mandated by law, such as a formal interagency strategy, intelligence assessment, and ongoing task force specifically targeting PRC global basing. It builds on existing executive efforts (e.g., case-by-case interventions) by institutionalizing a comprehensive, proactive framework with congressional oversight, resource assessments, and periodic reviews, which were absent in prior statutes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination and workload for the Departments of State and Defense, intelligence community, and other federal entities; requires new task force and resource planning, potentially leading to budget requests for personnel and programs to counter PRC basing.
- Citizens: Indirectly affects U.S. citizens through enhanced national security measures that aim to protect military operations and global interests, potentially reducing risks to U.S. forces abroad without direct domestic impacts.
- International Relations: Could strain U.S.-PRC ties by directly challenging PRC military expansion; strengthens alliances by involving partners in joint actions and intelligence sharing, influencing diplomacy in targeted countries (e.g., via aid or incentives to deter PRC basing); promotes U.S. proactive engagement in regions like Africa, Asia, and the Pacific to maintain freedom of movement and counter influence.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Departments of State and Defense (lead roles); intelligence agencies (e.g., Director of National Intelligence); congressional committees for oversight and funding.
- Allies and Partners: Countries with historic U.S. ties (e.g., Japan, Philippines) and those targeted by PRC basing (e.g., Djibouti, Cambodia, Angola, Pakistan); benefits from collaborative mitigation efforts.
- PRC and Host Nations: PRC military/logistics expansion faces U.S. opposition; host countries (e.g., in Africa, Southeast Asia) may face U.S. incentives or pressures to limit PRC access.
- U.S. Military and Taxpayers: Enhanced strategies protect operations but may require increased funding.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Mandates classified assessments and strategies, balancing secrecy with congressional reporting; defines "PRC global basing" broadly to include non-traditional military sites, potentially expanding U.S. intervention scope without new authorities for direct action.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's war powers and oversight of foreign affairs (Article I, Section 8), reinforcing checks on executive foreign policy through required submissions and reviews.
- Political: Signals bipartisan concern (introduced by Sens. Coons, Ricketts, Kaine, Cornyn, Slotkin) over U.S.-PRC competition, prioritizing it in national strategy; the 2025 amendment refines focus on high-risk sites and resources, reflecting Senate Foreign Relations Committee input; could influence future appropriations and alliances amid rising geopolitical tensions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-18: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 96.
- 2025-06-18: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2025-06-18: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2025-06-05: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2025-05-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2025-05-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (9 pages)
- Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-18 — PDF (18 pages)