(CNS News)- Speaking on “Fox News Live” on Saturday, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said “This administration is not taking a tough enough stance against China,” and “We have to separate ourselves from China.”

Smith was responding to a question by Host Griff Jenkins:

“Your committee Ways and Means just held hearings. You're looking into the trade aspect of this. Since you brought it up, are we taking a tough enough stance with China in regards to trade?”

“This administration is not taking a tough enough stance against China,” Rep. Smith answered, noting the threat to national security posed by America's reliance on products from the communist country:

“Our trade deficit with China last year was almost $400 billion, Griff. Our supply chains of food, energy and medicine, they're all vulnerable because we are more reliant on China manufacturing than ever before. 

“A country that relies on another nation for the most basic goods needed for national security is no longer independent. They are politically dependent. We have to separate ourselves from China.”

As CNS News has previously reported, the United States’ trade deficit with China was $382,917,000,000 in 2022, according to the Census Bureau. 

In January 2023 alone, the United States ran a $25,160,300,000 trade-in-goods deficit with China, according to the Census Bureau.