Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25) released a statement following recent reports of China’s increasing nuclear capabilities. 
 
“It is incredibly alarming to me that top U.S. Intelligence officials are saying they are ‘surprised’ at how quickly China is advancing their nuclear capabilities when we have seen warnings of this for months. Equally alarming is the fact that China has not only tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile but that it is occurring simultaneously as the Biden administration fails to properly invest in our nation’s military. Now more than ever we need to be investing in our nation’s defense capabilities, especially as China is only boosting the funding for theirs. The Biden administration continues to give hope to the bad guys by not only improperly funding our nation’s defense sector but also by not holding our adversaries, like China, accountable. 
 
“China’s increased nuclear capability is a great threat to our nation. We must not allow China to get ahead of us on any front. We can’t just compete with China; we must surpass China. We must double down on our efforts to advance our nation’s defense capabilities – on land, sea, air, and especially space. We are amidst a new golden age of space exploration and staying ahead in this domain is critical.
 
“As the co-chair of the China Task Force, I will work to ensure America remains a leader on the global stage and ahead of China. Additionally, as a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight to ensure not only that taxpayer dollars are appropriately spent but that we properly fund our nation’s military. I will also continue to call for investment in U.S. Space exploration. Space is a domain where we as a nation can thrive, but as we have seen by the recent reports on China’s nuclear capabilities, it is also a place we can be vulnerable and susceptible to malicious foes like China.”
 
Rep. Garcia, a former U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot, currently serves as co-chair of the China Task Force and on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.