Speaker who we aree so honored o have with us, senator tammy duckworth. Senator duckworth probably needs no introduction to most of you watching. She is an iraq war veteran, a purple heart recipient, former assistant secretary of the u. S. Department of Veterans Affairs and napa yes, senator for the state of illinois. For both of us working in our security, certainly for those of us who are women in National Security, when you think about people who are breaking down barriers ahead of you, store duckworth is the top of the list when the first handful of women in the army to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi freedom cup first u. S. Senator to give birth while in office, and particularly relevant to todays event the firsts member of congress was born in thailand and the first asianamerican who was elected to congress from the state of illinois. In addition to the work shes done of defense and Veterans Affairs, senator duckworth spent a lot of time thinking about the military challenges we face in the pacific. Shes really been an advocate for the alliances and partnerships we have in the region, especially in the part of the world she knows very well from time in Southeast Asia when she was growing up. From the time shes been serving and u. S. Military she understands firsthand why it is so important to have our friends and partners working and fighting alongside of us. Im thrilled we will have thiss conversation. Senator duckworth will offer a few words at the top and then we will talk a bit for about 30 minutes. When thats done i will turn the floor over to my colleague russian rush doshi will moderate an excellent panel on indopacific. With that, senatorec duckworth, welcome. We are thrilled to have you and want to turn the floor over to. Thank you so much, lindsay. I first i want to apologize to everyone hoping its late because of me. We had votes called wright at 2 00 and had to go vote. I do apologize to everyone. Thank you for waiting in the to go cast my vote in order to start this event. Lindsay come thank you for the very kind introduction in thank you for inviting me to speak today. Im looking forward to our discussions on just going to say just a few words to kick things off because you said im an american before in Southeast Asia to an american dad and of high mother. I think my heritage makes the living example ofes the friendsp between the two nations. For t centuries now united stats and thailand have learned and leaned on each other a telecom diplomatically economically, culturally. Whether its Law Enforcement or education, National Security or are respected economist the two nations atop one another to grow and evolve, adapting to world that is ever more connected and adapting to an error in technology that allows allies have world way to be there for each other and instant. States t just hold true between u. S. And tylan. Its the same with many other countries were fortunate to call our allies throughout the Indo Pacific Region. They Work Together over the years and even decades even centuries in the name of common sense and for the sake of common good. And now after four years avenue with the administration the use of Term Alliance is a dirty word here at home for the strength of these bonds is more important than ever. You know as well as i though the indo Pacific Place houses and the greatest security challenges of our time. Nos tensions with iran and to the north russia is determined to find its way back to dominance it ignoring International Norms and moving forward no matter what the cost is per into the northeast , north Korea Remains dangerously erratic. Send that amongst the chaos. Between us and our friends. From the economy to cyber warfare to Maritime Security the United States council nations big and small throughout the indo pacific reason to be our partners, our friends working together to ensure the safety and prosperity. To ensure all charges are free to trade and travel on the high seas and make sure all parties adhere to the rule of International Law. Most shangrila dialogue im going to quote perhaps the greatest longterm threat regio regions to seek to undermine rather than undermine the rules based order. Trend exploit militarily. They destabilize the region towards exclusive advantage. We, the United States must stay vigilant against the request within the erosion of sites. Anything but resolute economies falter. Prosperity are threatened and it rains theres no easy fix. No simple way to backtrack. Those are just some of the reasons im so grateful to be speaking with everyone here today. Im so grateful that you have all taken interest not only whats exclusively americas interest but in the allies interest as well. Theyre often one and the same. With that im going to turn over and look forward to the discussion. Thank you so much for those remarks senator. Take us off. Had a couple of administrations now i think this will be consistent with the incoming biden have tried to emphasize focusing on our interest in the pacific region. I think a common complaint name you heard their partners in the region over the last couple of years as we in the United States is not always put our money where our mouth is. At times we talk a really big game about the pacific but looks like resources like the middle east. Congress i think has really been out in front on this issue in the last few years. More recently the pacific dothan budgetary resources for the pacific. From your view diplomatically as well as on the defense side what are some of the key investments of the u. S. Needs to be focusing on over the next several years to really demonstrate their walking the walk. Back one of the things we can do is renegotiate a trade agreement, multilateral trade agreement in the region. I did not vote for the ppp. That imparts the time as a congresswoman i have specific issues with country of origin rules as well as rules that had to do the environmental damage. The languages should not shall in that agreement. I end up voting against it. I think when you ppp type of agreement. Left the United States out. We dont have it we cannot shall commit to the region. Multilateral trade agreement is critically important on the agenda of things to follow through on. The nbs, the dods National Defense strategy that came out a couple of years ago specifically talked about National Security and the Indo Pacific Region as critical to our National Security. We need to go back to that and really reengage with friends and partners and basically restore u. S. Presence in the region. That does not mean we have to be there in a purely defensive posture. We can be in a humanitarian posture. We dont need giant basis we dont teacher recreate a base for example. But certainly having a presence when it comes to cybersecurity based out of singapore is important. The initiative right now thats in the current that would establish Cybersecurity Partnership between United States and indonesia were that looks like its going to stay in. Hopefully that will sign into law create a new initiative. First and foremost is going to be the economic reengage my has to happen a really real way. In addition to whats happening. Thank you so much senator. Cybersecurity is an important one. But another issue talked a lot about, think president obama did too. I would imagine this conversation will probably continue may be in a different form under president elect biden. This issue of burden sharing. President trump is probably taken with the very narrow slice of this conversation and has focused mainly on the support costs in places like japan and korea. Theres a broader conversation to be had when you talk about burden sharing. How we modernize and partner relationships. Where the areas are what may be partners have more to contribute. And where partners to what more so they work alongside us. What are some of the opportunities that we can think about burden sharing in our respective goals and missions in our life its may be it a little more strategic way in the coming years . I think we should have this discussion wears a burden sharing not purely on monetary terms. I mean you can have that discussion more with nato where alliances and allies are wealthier. Them greater financial capabilities. In the Indo Pacific Region in particular you talk about burden sharing you have to recognize some of the burdens that can only be shouldered by some of the allies are those who are not our allies. Those were in the region per you have to recognize a portion of burden sharing that is just as important. And encourage other nations to step up. What theyve been doing in terms of resisting the chinese expansion into the region. And then into territorial waters on the oceans or even indonesia you see the same thing. Really give a standing up to their waters. That is not necessary on Monetary Base but a commitment based type of burden sharing. It will continue to Grow Partnership with the same share priorities. That is with navigation in the region and adherence to the International Law regimes. It was a role space as opposed to strict dollar space. Host excellent points. On the treaty, what would you say in terms of the United States is diagnosed in the near term . Switch it you know i dont know. [laughter] im very interested in moving in that direction. But again we do not even have a named nominee to be defense secretary yet. It is certainly something i will be having in my conversations with whoever the nominee is as we move forward. Sue had let me followup as of the points you made about vietnam, indonesia, on the last several years the United States is obviously focus a lot on our partnerships in Southeast Asia. Its economically important countries with young vibrant economies. Theres a lot of shared interest have their own sovereignty while president elect biden has talked a lot about the importance of strengthening our alliances and partnerships, that also affects tonys refrain importance of Democratic Values and human rights back into u. S. Foreign policy. Theres some Difficult Conversations to be had there with partners. Im wanting from your perspective how we balance those two foals in the alliance conversations that we have especially with Southeast Asia. Guest first and foremost we have to be consistent in our approach. We have to consistently stand up for Democratic Values and for those who are championing true democracy, representative democracy. And be approved authoritarianis authoritarianism. That is who we are at the nation those are the values we are founded on. Knows what we have must adhere to. Whenever we strayed away from those values and has never worked out well for us. Another might be an instant to do that that is not the way to go. And frankly its a different world now than the 50s or 60s. And we have to recognize the move for these democracy movements. Theyre only going to grow. We need to oppose those whether its insurgents terrorist groups, just as much as we need to talk to those who may be empower who are trying to oppress demonstrations. And people are just asking for with their own political proces process. I think we can do both spray think we can have blunt upfront conversations especially with her allies and friends. But listen, we stand for democracy. We want to work with you but cannot come at the expense of our democratic expense. Host you talked a lot about norms and values. One of the more notable things about the past year has been we have seen a lot of our partners in asia speaking up on issues like they problems in hong kong, taiwan, and pushing back against chinese actions in some of those areas. And in return, have paid a pretty steep price. In particular id point most recently into a trade agreement between australia and china over chinas rest take a jump frustration on covid or hong kong or in the South China Sea. That step impacting Something Like 20 billion of straight exports. They would to see in this situation because im sure its on the First Partners this is happened to, it will not be the last. The u. S. Has their back. What would you like to see the u. S. Taking to be more proactive about backing up partners like australia when they get into these kinds of situations where they are suffering really direct Economic Force in beijing . Me too i think this was back to the first Economic Engagement. We sort of dealt with this part of the world as an afterthought almost. And when President Trump begot the ppp that negatively affected Economic Engagement in the region. Lingua should certainly looking at increasing her engagement to the Indo Pacific Region. Especially working to it in advance a multilateral agreement. But having a stronger Bilateral Agreement with specific partners like austria for example. In order to support and show them we do have their back. For the last four years you had a president who is not wanted to engage internationally. Whether its National Security wiser economically. I think you see the Biden Administration, especially when you look nominees he is already announced, they are going to be much more engaged. We commit both economically and security wise. But he certainly would support, i support our Armed Services and commerce committee. Im uniquely positioned to talk to both sides of this with economic and security wise. I think more trade agreements are necessary. And looking at what we can do perhaps in a bilateral basis. Negative pushback from the chinese. Thank you. You know when we look at what happens in places like hong kong over the last year or two, i think something that has been a concern for a lot of people is that perhaps taiwan could be next. And as they wrap up some of the military, political and economic pressure that has been deployed against taipei over the past few years. How concerned are you about that problem . And what steps do you think . In addition to the other issue of arms sales, can be other likeminded partners as well preserves International States for taiwan. Guest this goes back to one thing i been pleasantly surprised by the administration. They have been engaging significantly with taiwan both economically and on measures related to covid19. The administration has taken a number of steps that signals investment in the relationship including something senior officials visited the island earlier this year. Hhs secretary is there the under secretary for growth environment was there. These are the highest ranking members of the u. S. Government to visit taiwan and literally decades. I think that while it has been an unprecedented, those visits are in line with the established u. S. Policy. I think we need to continue this type of visits. And to raise up the level of engagement with more secretary or cabinet level business as well. Think the administration has continued to build on this agreement, these engagements. Last month the state department did host a delegation from taiwan for the inaugural taiwan u. S. Prosperity dialogue pretty think we can push that a little bit more. Its basically continued to engage even more frequently and at a higher level that we can bring to our friends and allies from around the world to participate in those thats even better. Host im glad to hear say that. I think this is an area we think about the taiwan policy were bipartisanship is very importan important. I think its an Important Message of continuity that you are making. That question i had for you you mentioned partners from elsewhere in the world. And something that is been really interesting over the last few years is the european allies and partners have become more interested in engaging with us as well. I am curious rethink their particular opportunities to think about ways that our European Partners could be more engaged in the pacific. And having more support for asian allies . Speech i think the Indo Pacific Region is a region that is a growing middle class. Thats a whole big marketplace for everyone. The allies and the United States. I think that Economic Engagement is just as critical to our National Security. And really having a much more presence in the region and having much more in terms of formal economic agreements is critically important. And i think it is actually beneficial to our european allies. Because this is a whole new market. I see over the last ten years the growth of disposable income in the middle class that isnt growing in places like indonesia and malaysia for example. We long thought about singapore as being a developed