Strategic Ports Reporting Act

The Strategic Ports Reporting Act would require the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study of strategically important ports around the world and identify any efforts by China to build, buy, or control these ports. The bill would mandate the creation of a global mapping of ports critical to U.S. national security or economic prosperity, as well as a detailed inventory of ports currently controlled by the United States and China. Within one year of enactment, the secretaries would submit a report to Congress assessing vulnerabilities in U.S.-controlled ports, analyzing China's port acquisition strategies, and examining how Chinese control of foreign ports could harm U.S. national security and economic interests.

The report would also include recommendations for securing trusted investment in strategic ports, protecting maritime infrastructure from Chinese control, and ensuring open access to critical waterways. The bill focuses on information gathering and strategic planning rather than direct action, with the report to be submitted primarily in unclassified form, though it may include classified sections. If enacted, this bill would provide Congress with detailed oversight of China's global port activities and potential strategies to counter Chinese influence over critical maritime infrastructure.