Texas plays major role in helping America retain, secure its place on World Stage
By Randy Purham
AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — China is doing everything it can to take the lead over America – from technological innovation, to military capabilities – and the results of this race between our countries will determine how our world looks for decades to come.
America is built on the principles of freedom, entrepreneurship, and individualism. China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have built a system of government based on censorship, surveillance, and control. If China is allowed to outcompete America and win the innovation race, those principles will define our world – a terrifying thought for any freedom-loving American.
Thankfully, the U.S. is home to some of the world’s most brilliant inventors of our time – many of whom call Texas home.- With more than 17,600 technology firms that employ over 203,000 workers, Texas is quickly becoming a second Silicon Valley and a critical tech hub of America.
- The Lone Star state is also second in overall patent filings, just behind California.
- It seems like every week there’s a new announcement about a company either moving their operations here, or expanding in the Lone Star State.
This all means that Texas is playing a major role in helping America retain and secure its place on the world stage.
But, while the innovations from America’s private sector remain the best in the world, in order to continue leading in the race with China we must be careful about policymaking.
Texas has every reason to be proud of the tech legacy we’re building – which is a direct result of responsible policymaking and a government that supports and encourages innovation. We’ve created an ecosystem that sets the stage for advancements from both smaller startups, and larger tech innovators alike. The policies that have helped us get here – smart, light-touch regulation, support for the private sector, and energy dominance – should be replicated at both the state and federal levels.
As AI takes center stage in this race, we also must consider policies around energy, as significant amounts of energy are necessary to power computing and data centers. Energy dominance and a strong and safe energy grid are critical to America staying ahead of China in this technology. As the top energy producer in the nation, Texas is once again well-positioned to support AI development.
Apart from policies like these within our control, our leaders also have to be cautious about China at the local level too. States must be a partner and remain vigilant – China surveils and steals from American companies, and when we find out, they move at breakneck speed to adapt and switch their practices.
Texas has taken decisive action to hold China accountable – while safeguarding the sensitive data and intellectual property of our institutions and citizens. For example, in recent months, Governor Abbott ordered the state to divest from risky Chinese assets, protect our critical infrastructure, and harden our government to protect against CCP spying.
The state has also worked to stop China from buying up Texas farmland, which both protects our farmers and ranchers but also limits their ability to set up surveillance operations here in the U.S.
It’s been reported that China has strategically bought farmland near 19 military sites.
The New York Post also reported that:
It’s been reported that China has strategically bought farmland near 19 military sites.
The New York Post also reported that:
“Under the guise of farming, the Chinese landowners could set up reconnaissance sights, install tracking technology, use radar and infra-red scanning to view bases, or attempt to fly drones over them as ways to surveil military sites.”
The lesson is that China moves – rapidly. So America must allow our innovation sector to do the same. It’s the only way we will be able to compete and stay ahead of them.
One bad policy move could hold America back and inadvertently give China an advantage.
The federal government should strongly be encouraged, and other states as well, to follow Texas’ example of unleashing innovation while keeping a close eye on China.
If we fail to keep up now, we risk falling behind for decades to come.
Randy Purham is a retired U.S. Army Veteran, an Entrepreneur, Author, Consultant and State Republican Executive Committeeman (SREC) for Texas' State Senate District 21.
