US lawmakers plan to introduce legislation next week that would put additional sanctions on Chinese officials, build closer US relations with Taiwan and place more checks on Beijing’s military operations and territorial claims, among other measures intended to counter China, South China Morning Post reported.

Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Democratic chairman, and Jim Risch of Idaho, its senior Republican, told the newspaper on Thursday that they would introduce the Strategic Competition Act of 2021 for debate by the committee on Wednesday.

“I am incredibly proud to announce this unprecedented bipartisan effort to mobilise all US strategic, economic and diplomatic tools for an Indo-Pacific strategy that will allow our nation to truly confront the challenges China poses to our national and economic security,” Menendez told the newspaper.

Relationship between China and the USA has touched a new low in recent times.

Both the nations have exchanged barbs over numerous issues including COVID-19.