Senator Ricketts Introduces the THINK TWICE Act to Combat Chinese Arms Sales
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Tracking Hostile Industry Networks and Kit while Thwarting Weapons Imports from Chinese Entities (THINK TWICE) Act of 2025. The THINK TWICE Act would require an assessment of arms sales by Communist China and a strategy to dissuade countries from buying Chinese weapons systems and defense equipment. The legislation was also sponsored by Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).
“Communist China has emerged as a major weapons supplier. This is particularly true in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia,” said Ricketts. “This development has major implications for American defense companies, our military operations, and our global security partnerships. The recent Pakistan-India clash saw significant use of Chinese-made weapons. This should be a major wake-up call that we must do more to combat these arms sales. That’s why I’ve introduced the THINK TWICE Act. This act requires a coordinated strategy to dissuade new purchases of Chinese-made weapons. It will also ensure our defense industrial base is better equipped to provide alternatives to prospective buyers.”
“As China wields arms sales to reshape the international system in Beijing’s image, the United States must reassert its role as a security partner of choice,” said Bennet. “This legislation is an essential step toward countering China’s expanding military footprint and geopolitical influence.”
The THINK TWICE Act would:
- Requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to report on arms sales facilitated by entities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The report requires inclusion of:
- The specific weapons systems, technical aspects, and capabilities of those weapons;
- The countries mostly likely to procure weapons systems;
- The weapons that present the greatest security risks regarding the potential to collect intelligence on or compromise U.S. platforms;
- The factors that incentivize countries to procure Chinese weapons;
- And the PRC’s strategy regarding arms sales.
- Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to develop a strategy to dissuade purchases of new weapons systems and defense equipment from the PRC. The strategy would include:
- An information campaign to warn countries interested in procuring weapons systems and defense equipment originating from China about risks;
- A description of actions the U.S. can take, including FMS reforms, commercial sales, and foreign military financing;
- An analysis of whether sanctions or economic restrictions targeting potential buyers could be used as an effective deterrent;
- A plan to ensure sufficient representation of defense firms of the U.S. or trusted allies at defense trade shows;
- And a plan to combat Chinese disinformation campaigns targeting the performance of Western weapons.
BACKGROUND:
Communist China is now the fourth largest arms exporter behind the U.S., Russia, and France. In recent years, Chinese-made drones, missiles, and fighter jets have been exported to 44 countries. All around the world, Communist China uses arms sales to promote strategic interests, improve its military’s image and reputation, acquire performance data of Chinese-made weapons in contested environments, exacerbate tensions between the U.S. and traditional security partners, and gain a foothold for further defense and security cooperation. With Russia unable to facilitate arms sales given its war of aggression in Ukraine, an opportunity has arisen for Communist China to fill the void.