Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed firsthand the breakdown in our supply chains when federal, state, and local entities had to compete with one another for simple personal protective equipment. It was a terrifying glimpse into a future situation that has the potential to be mimicked on a larger, more dangerous scale. This realization showed how the country needs a more robust dialogue with business leaders about the impact of doing business in and with China.

We can no longer assume that any product, no matter how high- or low-tech, is not critical or that the supply of those items is assured. If our collective experience with COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that many of our medical and critical technology supply chains are entirely dependent on a nation that does not share our values. Building domestic resilience in these supply chains is a vital homeland security mission.