China aims to supplant U.S. global leadership. If Beijing prevails, it will usher in a more authoritarian world where human rights, free markets and the rule of law are not respected. History will judge the next Congress in part based on how successfully it confronts this threat. 

In the last few years, Washington has shed much of its naïveté vis-à-vis China. Few still believe that greater engagement will lead to a freer, more open China. Four decades of engagement strategy succeeded only in turning a cash-strapped authoritarian regime into a totalitarian economic powerhouse. 

The next Congress will have to develop effective legislation to deal with the consequences of that failed strategy — everything from Beijing’s dominance of critical supply chains to its military expansion and modernization. 

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Thus far, congressional action hasn’t been very effective. This is partly because lawmakers are in uncharted territory. Not since the American Revolution has this country had to grapple with such a powerful adversary that enjoys so much leverage over the U.S. economy. 

Politics are also to blame. Much of the legislation passed so far has done little to strengthen America or weaken Beijing. Rather, it seems designed primarily to help individual politicians appear to be tough on China. 

The new Congress will have to rise above political posturing and flashy headlines and instead formulate serious solutions that strengthen U.S. global leadership and protect our country from Beijing’s pernicious influence. At the same time, they must avoid being needlessly provocative or harming American businesses beyond what is necessary to keep America safe and prosperous. The focus should be on quality of legislation rather than quantity of bills. 

The top priority should be ensuring America’s own house is in order. Beijing not only believes the U.S. is in decline; it’s counting on it. Only if the U.S. ceases to become the leading global power can China hope to dominate the world. 

Unfortunately, our reckless public spending, the hollowing out of our military, and the government’s prioritization of issues like climate change and woke gender ideologies over core national security interests give Beijing reason for optimism. America must curb its addiction to wasting taxpayer dollars on an ever-growing list of expenditures that do little to enhance national security or the well-being of citizens. Congress wields the power of the purse and will be crucial in bringing back a sense of fiscal responsibility. 

Part of this reprioritization of expenditures must be to modernize and reinforce America’s military without delay. China is rapidly modernizing its military and views the U.S. as its most likely adversary. Yet, our military is no longer structured for a protracted conflict with such a capable rival. China now has a larger navy than the U.S., not to mention being on the cutting edge of some next-generation weapons technologies, such as hypersonic missiles. Congress must put the pieces in place to ensure China never eclipses America as the world’s preeminent military power. 

At the same time, Congress will have to develop legislation to ensure that American firms stop enabling China’s technological development and military modernization. To be clear, U.S.-China technology competition is not purely an economic issue; it is primarily a national security imperative and must be treated as such. The government’s current haphazard whack-a-mole approach is wholly insufficient. While a full decoupling of the U.S. and Chinese economies is likely infeasible, greater restrictions on sensitive industries, such as artificial intelligence and high-end semiconductors, are long overdue. 

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The same goes for ending reliance on Chinese supply chains for goods critical to Americans’ livelihoods, such as microchips and pharmaceuticals. The disruptions caused by China’s lockdowns during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic show how damaging this reliance can be when key supply chain nodes are taken offline. We cannot afford to let a strategic rival like Beijing possess such powerful leverage over the U.S. 

Developing and implementing solutions to these challenges will be difficult. The necessary changes to priorities and expenditures will face a backlash from affected parties, particularly U.S. businesses seeking profits in China. While there is probably no way to completely avoid the short-term pain they will feel — or the price spikes that might result from targeted decoupling — the right legislation will help soften the blow by providing assistance and giving companies time to gradually relocate supply chains, which cannot be moved overnight. 

This process must begin immediately, though. Time is running out. 

China is the greatest external threat facing America in the 21st century. How well lawmakers address this challenge will go a long way toward determining whether future historians rate the next Congress as a success or a failure. To be successful, they will have to hit the ground running on day one. 

Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Wednesday for four University of Idaho students who were murdered earlier this week.

Community members gathered at Independence Point to remember the students — Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 — who were found dead in their home the morning of Nov. 13.

Among the mourners was Angela Navejas, the organizer of the vigil and who knew the students through her daughter. "They were vibrant and wild, carefree and loving," Navejas said, according to Coeur d’Alene Press.

She added: "We know the bright stars they were here on Earth. They are up there looking down on us."

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Kirsten Rowley, a former co-worker of Goncalves, described her as a "ball of sunshine" and described her and Mogen, her best friend, as inseparable, according to Coeur d’Alene Press.

"My heart hurts so bad for the people who lost both of them," Rowley said.

Rowley and Goncalves previously worked together at Dutch Bros on Northwest Boulevard.

Garrett Sciortino, who described Kernodle as his best friend in high school, shared some good and fun memories, saying it is what she would have wanted.

"I know if she were standing here, she would want us to remember the good times," Sciortino told the outlet.

He added: "Xana, I know you’re listening right now. I just want to tell you I love you. I always have and I always will."

Sciortino also called on law enforcement to do "everything" in their power to "bring the monster responsible to justice."

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Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris was also in attendance at the event.

"Kootenai County, the state and the nation mourn with the families and friends of the victims of this horrible criminal act," Norris said.

Separately, Ethan Chapin’s family shared with the Associated Press the last memories they had of their son, who is a triplet, was at a dance hosted by Maizie's sorority.

"He was our daughter Maizie's date, and his brother was Maizie's roommates date," Chapin’s mother, Stacy Chapin, said in an interview Wednesday. "They all spent their last day together, all dressed up, and had a great time. We’re all thankful that they spent that time together."

The mother added: "He could read any situation and make it better. He was just so carefree."

During a press conference earlier in the day, Moscow Police Department Chief James Fry provided additional details on the quadruple homicide.

He said there is "possibly" still a threat to the Moscow community as no persons of interest or suspects have been placed in custody as of Wednesday evening.

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University of Idaho President Scott Green also spoke at the presser, describing the students’ deaths as "beyond comprehension."

"First, my deepest condolences to the families and friends of Ethan, Kaylie, Zina and Madison," Green said. "Their loss has been devastating and they were bright lights in our community and are deeply missed and remain in our thoughts and our prayers."

He added: "While our small community is certainly not immune to such things. It's not a situation our close-knit campus is used to dealing with."

The school administrator said the school is fully cooperating with Moscow police "when asked and continually pushed for information whenever possible."