Congressman John Moolenaar Named U.S. Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China 

Congressman John Moolenaar Named U.S. Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Washington, D.C. 

— Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has been named the new U.S. Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a cross-party group of legislators from democratic nations working to reform how countries approach relations with the Chinese Communist Party. 

Moolenaar succeeds Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who co-founded IPAC and served as its inaugural U.S. Co-Chair. IPAC plays a leading role in coordinating global legislative efforts to counter the CCP authoritarian influence and to advance democratic values and human rights.

 "I am deeply honored to serve as the U.S. Co-Chair of IPAC at such a critical time in global affairs,” said Chairman Moolenaar. “The decisions made by legislatures today will define the future for generations to come, and IPAC’s role in advocating for democracy and global accountability is more important than ever. As Chairman of the Select Committee on China, I am especially focused on addressing the growing challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to undermine democratic institutions and influence global policies.” 

Moolenaar also paid tribute to his predecessor: “I am honored to take on this role following Secretary Rubio, whose leadership in co-founding IPAC and shaping its success has been truly exceptional. His vision laid the groundwork for the vital work we continue today, and I am grateful for his lasting impact on the organization.”

 On his first day in the role, Moolenaar expressed deep concern over reports that the PRC's attempted to pressure lawmakers in Malawi and The Gambia into withdrawing from IPAC. According to recent news, Chinese diplomats threatened to cancel official state visits and other diplomatic engagements unless these sovereign governments distanced themselves from the alliance. 

“The PRC's use of coercion to dictate the domestic policies and international affiliations of sovereign nations, as seen with Malawi and The Gambia, is deeply troubling,” said Moolenaar. “This blatant interference undermines the principles of free association and national autonomy – and sets a dangerous precedent for foreign influence over the internal decisions of other countries. We urge the international community to hold the PRC accountable for such actions and will continue to advocate for stronger measures to protect democratic processes, as outlined in our previous reports on China’s global influence and coercive diplomacy.”

 As U.S. Co-Chair, Moolenaar will work alongside international colleagues to strengthen cross-border legislative cooperation and champion policies that defend human rights, national sovereignty, and the rules-based international order