New Legislation Calls for Task Force to Track China’s Hybrid Strategies

Senators Tammy Duckworth and Marsha Blackburn have introduced a new bill that would form a dedicated task force to monitor China’s hybrid, or gray‑zone, operations throughout the Indo‑Pacific theater. The task force would be charged with gathering intelligence on cyber attacks, economic coercion, and information warfare, then developing tools to mitigate their impact.

The legislation requires the secretary of state to submit a strategic plan outlining which federal agencies, programs, and entities can support heightened surveillance. It also mandates regular performance assessments and a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the task force’s actions.

Supporters contend that the measure will safeguard U.S. strategic interests, protect the global economy, and improve regional security by ensuring a coordinated response to China’s increasingly sophisticated gray‑zone campaigns.