Transcripts For CSPAN3 Senate Foreign Relations Hearing On U.S.-China Relations 20240712

The committee will come to order. Thank you all for coming today, i dont think all of you for being here. It is our honor to have the deputy secretary of state here to testify on u. S. Policy regarding peoples republic of china. I originally defaulting back in march, however, our need to focus on the Community Protests from doing that. It is important this committee continue its work on its most committing Foreign Policy challenges, obviously china is one of those. As a complete mistrust correctly recognized, china is a strategic in global competitor of the United States. It would be the greatest Foreign Policy challenge the United States faces in decades to come. Policies of the Chinese Communist party undermine u. S. Interests and values, as we share with partners around the world. Covid19 has brought this challenge the fork front of american life. We now know just how much the Chinese Communist partys decisions and actions directly affect u. S. Citizens, our allies and partners in the entire world and we know not even a Global Pandemic will stop chinas aggressive behavior, whether thats in hong kong, the South China Sea, or the indian border. Over the last three years the Trump Administration has taken more steps to put United States on the stronger path in beating china. Last week i was glad to see long overdue sanctions on Chinese Communist party officials, human rights abuses in tibetan elsewhere. I was also pleased, that we declared chinas claims to the South China Sea has unlawful and deployed to carrier battle groups there for exercises, and after the Chinese Communist party crushed hong kongs autonomy, the president made the tough but necessary decision to end certain types of special treatment for hong kong. In may, the administration published a report on the administrations china strategy that goes into more detail so this is a good time for this committee to conduct oversight regarding our objectives, what weve done, and where we go from here. This is also an opportunity to discuss china legislation put forward by members of this committee and others, and economic geopolitical initiatives, or the strategic gag, it is a comprehensive approach to china with concrete policies in several key areas of the competition. Ill describe to move them briefly. We must continue our focus on chinas and it competitive and economic policies. The Chinese Government engaged in intellectual property theft and massive financing of Chinese Companies. In the most abusive anti free market tactic, this is a horrible practice, forced technology transfer. It is reprehensible, this is designed push others out of the market and great monopolies. Innovative American Companies based in my home state of idaho know these challenges well. Their intellectual property was stolen by a Chinese Company who then patented that technology in china and sued micro. On the strategic i got it rises new tools for u. S. Companies to address the harms caused by such policies among several other provisions. To maintain our economic and technological edge it is not enough to just push back on what china is doing. We also have to strengthen and invested ourselves. In other committees out focused on this issue by supporting legislation, including u. S. Manufacturing critical technologies, fortifying Cybersecurity Infrastructure and small businesses, and strengthening our technology workforce. The strategic act with allies and partners. America is a world hub for innovation and we can boost that further by working with our highly capable partners. If we do, we will all be in a better position to develop technologies of the future and ensure they are used to uphold individual freedom, human rights and prosperity. Finally, i want to stress the importance of deterrence. Delighted states, of, course does not see any sort of military confrontation with china. However, transmilitary is getting bigger and more aggressive. In the indopacific region we should all be more worried about the Chinese Communist partys plans for taiwan, given what it just did to hong kong. In addition to the South China Sea, japan faces almost daily incursions of pressure in the east china sea. Beyond the region, chinas belt Road Initiatives also helping the Chinese Military expand its presence. We have to make a completely clear the Chinese Communist party that we are willing and able to defend our interests. That means reforming our commitments to our indopacific allies, even as they need to take on the larger industry share. The strategic act focus some he steps for advancing events cooperation with our allies, including advocating for several difficult but important policy changes. I want to stress that this bill live introduced does not seek to block china. Rather, what does it offers prosperity, it offers an invitation to join the International Community to operate under the rule of Law International norms. When that happens, we all prosper. We should not missed a bipartisan opportunity that we have today to address these things. I will close with a note about bipartisanship im a time again on everything from adjustment to human rights, and unfortunately in response bipartisanship has become a lot harder. We along with ahead of us in this competition we cannot allow partisanship to get in the way, even in an election year. Whatever happens in november, china will remain an issue. If we do not Work Together, the United States as a whole will be introduces bill to push forward, serious a bipartisan conversations about the senates role in advancing an effective strategy of competition. I want to thank several of my colleagues on this committee, from both sides of the aisle, for joining me in that effort. There is both republican and democrat input into this bill, not only from this committee, but also for the thanks around washington, d. C. , including democrat think tanks. I hope this will be the start of more cooperation to come. When we get to a final bill, im very hopeful that bill will contain items that everyone has an interest in. Theres been a number people have been introduced bills. Another Ranking Member is about to introduce a bill, and i hope as we get to a final bill, we will have things we can embrace on a bipartisan basis. With, that i will turn things over directly member senator menendez. Thank, you mister chairman. My thanks for joining us here today, especially as it has been so long since weve had a Senior Administration witness before the committee. As you and i have discussed in the past, i think the administration is asking the right questions of china in the u. S. China relationship. Unfortunately, however, i find that the Administration Strategies and policies fall well short of answering you normandy of the challenge. We need instead, as a title of this hearing suggests, an effective china strategy. The china 2020 is not the china of 1972 or even the china of 2000 or 2010. Toronto today is challenging the United States across every dimension of power. Political, diplomatic, economic, innovation, military, even cultural, and with an alternative and deeply disturbing model for global governance. Propelled by xi jinping, hyper nationalism, is unlike any child replaced by faces nation. Before emboldened by the shortcomings of the Trump Administration, china today is more active and more assertive in that region and into the International Community than they were before. Indeed, just since this past march, china has increased patrols, near the prosecco islands, these try to, city as well as its course of activities in the South China Sea. Conducted air maritime patrols, intended to threaten taiwan, clashed with india along the actual line of control. The Peoples Liberation army first use of force abroad in 30 years, continue to implement him morally repugnant campaigned genocide in this injuring, its cool oppression of the tibetan people and the crushing of its own civil liberties. Just yesterday, i released a report, the new big brother, looking at how china has stepped up its game in seeking to export a new model of digital authoritarianism and manipulate new technologies tocontrolled zone citizens and people worldwide. Aside from bluster, rhetoric, and some hastily written sanctions, what has the response been from the administration . The administration is now taking strong action on hong kong but four months, when the people of hong kong needed us, the president was silent, then complicit in chinas erosion of hong kongs autonomy, happy to trade hong kong for his socalled trade deal. Along with the chairman, i welcome regular freedom of navigation assertions and the administrations recent clarification on our push to claims in the South China Sea but the reality is that in the past three years, chinas aggression and coercion in the South China Sea has continued completely unchecked. You didnt United Kingdoms change of policy was welcomed, i would say, in spite of us, not because of, us and untrain economics, this administration is walkway for building regional architecture, embrace the so called phase one trade deal, which seemingly achieves nothing, and certainly does not address the core structural issues of the relationship, and leaves us, in the words of our own u. S. Trade representatives, wondering what the end goal of your trade policy is, and if he does not know, then we all have a real problem. On taiwan, i know that every year of the obama biden administration, in new year of the Trump Administration, has that been the case and i could go on. In short, i am deeply concerned that the administrations approach is one which labels on the mistaken belief that just being confrontational is the same thing as being competitive. Thats my question, in fact, what the act that the administration announced today in houston, i am all for safeguarding our National Security. I understand the importance of being tough with china. But being tough is the means, not the end so, while there may be reason to taking this action, and i look forward to being briefed on the appropriate setting, i want to understand better, not just a tactical considerations but how this measure advances our strategy. What is the effect we expect this to happen chinas behavior . When china retaliate, as they have said they will, what will be our next move, and our next after that . Obviously not asking you to disclose specific actions, which i know you will not and should not but this is not a simple to step dance so, help me understand where you think this is all going. I ask this because there should be a little doubt that we are indeed in a new era of strategic competition with china and the United States needs a new strategic framework and new set of organizing principles to address the challenges of this new era. So, far and despite all the bluster, that effective new strategy has been utterly lacking from this administration. One of the core organizing principles i would suggest its the importance of working in close coordination with our allies and partners to develop a shared and effective approach to china, and have to say, secretary, that the administrations disaster lou wrong headed, eliminated, and attacking approach to our alliances have been one of the most disheartening to witness these past several years. Our alliances, our partnerships, and the valleys and which they stand, and our reliability in the face of adversity are our special source for effective Global Leadership. This value doing diplomacy is one of the reasons why senator rubio and i have joined colleagues around the globe and for the International Parliamentary alliance of china, to build the relationships needed for our success. I know you are good with this president and the administration have been uniquely successful with china and i know youre good at your job, but factor indeed stubborn things. Now, before the hearing devolves into hearing bashing china in the World Health Organization for the covid pandemic, let me assure you i stand second no one in this body regarding concerns over have chinas paranoid totalitarianism contributed to its spread. But blame game politics will not save american lives. Instead of relying on science and knowledge, administrations for this energy toward finding racially inflammatory rhetoric that it further illinois test on the global stage, including at the g7 and the un Security Council. Chinas malign intent of the World Organization elsewhere, disillusion, show up, take action. If u. S. Leads. Others will follow, if we leave the field open, if our own country cannot develop a serious strategy, others like china earlier december the bat. Another chairman is because legislation in china, i welcome his effort. I mentioned another hearing this morning, and also work with colleagues to create a comprehensive china strategy. Cross cutting jurisdictions beyond this committee. Including trading Economic Issues and investments here at home, which we plan to shortly introduce. Given the shortcomings of the president s tactics, but no strategy to china, a comprehensive an integrated strategy is needed. I suspect there will be many areas, so i look forward to working with him on a combined approach. And the spirit, mister secretary, that i implore you today to engage beyond this hearing in a genuine conversation with us about how we Work Together to develop a comprehensive approach to china. To reset our strategy and our diplomacy. To reinvest and replenish the sources of National Strength and competitiveness at home. To place our partnerships and allies first. On that reflects, our fundamental values as well. Thank you. Thank you. I think in comparing our two statements, we have much to agree on and, overall, i think we both agree that this comprehensive strategy is needed as we go forward. I can assure you, when you do get that briefing on the closing, you certainly will agree that the closing was appropriate, under the circumstances. So, with that, i want to turn to our witness, the honorable Stephen Biegun who was sworn in to stay in december of 2019. He is serving as the special representative of north korea. He has three decades of experiences in both legislative branches, including the chief of staff of Senate Foreign relations committee. Deputy, we appreciate your being here today and invite you to have the floor thank you mister chairman. Thank you senator menendez. If i may ask for my full statement to be submitted to the record. I would like to give a shorter version in order to have maximum time for questions from the members today. Certainly agreeable. We will include your full statement. Again, thank you both for the invitation to testify today. It really is a pleasure and im pleased to be back. As you both pointed out, this is an important moment in u. S. , china relations and the secretary and i appreciate your serious focus and that of the whole committee in trying to shape a bipartisan approach to this vital policy matter. We recognize that through a successful u. S. Policy towards the prc must be grounded in consensus across our governing institutions and across our society. Mister chairman, for this reason, we welcome the legislation you introduced today and senator menendez, we look forward to seeing yours as well. These are designed to frame u. S. Strategic approach to the prc and this, along with all of the recent legislation passed by the congress, have a provided us the crucial tools to advance our policies against the challenges we face. Across multiple administrations, the United States has supported chinas entry in the rule space of International Order and hopes that china will be a partner in upholding International Laws, norms and institutions and that the United States and china can develop a friendly relationship with a simple benefit. Over more than three decades, u. S. Policies towards the prc have advance that goal through a massive outpouring of International Assistance and lending, through foreign investment, facilitation of chinese membership and global institutions and the education of millions in chinas brightest scholars at our best universities. For where this administration divergence from previous administrations is in the will to face the uncomfortable truth in the u. S. , china relations. The policies of the past three decades simply have not produced the outcomes for which so many had hoped and that the United States must take Decisive Action to counter the prc at this moment. As stated in the 2017 National Security strategy, despite a huge dividends to the prc in terms of prosperity, trade and global influence, that the United States supported and its engagement had delivered, beijing has instead chosen to take increasingly a hard line and aggressive actions both at home and abroad. China has emerged as a strategic competitor to the United States and to the rules based global order. We find that china, u. S. Relationship today weighed down by a growing number of disputes, including commercial espionage and property theft from American Companies, unequal treatment of our diplomats, businesses, ngos and journalists by chinese authorities and abuse of the United States Academic Freedom and welcoming posture towards International Students to steal Sensitive Technology and research from our universities in order to advance the prcs military capabilities. It is these factors which has led the president to direct a number of actions in response, including yesterdays notification to the prc that we have withdrawn our consent for the prc to operate its consulate in houston, texas. Theres also growing alarm around the world about the dismantling of hong kongs economy, liberty and democratic institutions. The arbitrary massed detentions and the efforts to eliminate tibetan identity, military pressure against taiwan and the assertion of unfounded Maritime Claims in the South China Sea. Other areas of concern include chinas increasingly assertive use of military and economic coercion and state sponsored Disinformation Campaigns. Including, among others, against india, australia, canada, the uk, aussie on members, the European Union and several other european countries. At the department of state, both secretary pompeo and i are involved daytoday in the full range of policy matters related to the prc. An issue that touches upon every department of the states work. The department has launched a number of diplomatic and initiatives described in more detail in my written testimony that uphold and defend our interests and those of our friends and allies in areas, such as Global Infrastructure development, Market Access and telecommunications security. Much of what we are doing with serve our global interests under any circumstances, but the unfortunate trends we see in china make our actions all the more urgent. We have organized internally through the leadership of the secretary of state for east asia and the pacific, along with the directors of policy planning in our Global Engagement center, to align internal policy making and virtually every Single Bureau an office in the department. We are likewise organizing our diplomats to focus on competition with china around the world. As part of a comprehensive approach, we are engaged with allies and partners in the g7, g20 and nato to highlight the threat that the percy poses, not just to the United States interest, but also the interests of our allies and partners we are broadening partnerships across the transatlantic community, into the pacific, middle east, africa and the western hemisphere across the indopacific region, the United States has deepened relations that share our values and relationships in a free indopacific. Last september, we held in administrative meetings with the United States, australia and japan, marking a new milestone in our diplomatic engagement and a new asian relationship in the region. We are enhancing our relations with australia, the republic of korea, thailand, etc, and we are furthering our cooperation with asieh on, in Organization Central to the freedom in the pacific. Our Security Assistance to south chinas states and our recent projection of the recent maritimes claims, help protect the maritime and the Maritime Resources we are working with countries to ensure Sustainable Development and Energy Security and we have doubled the bell ministers to our pacific arland partners in the pacific pledge. On the other side of the world, china has increasingly become a topic of transatlantic discussions. The secretary recently announced that the United States has accepted the eus proposal to create u. S. New dialog on china. To discuss our Common Concerns about the threats that the prc poses to our shared democratic values. Similarly, the prc is a core component of our security dialogues with the United Kingdom, australia, new zealand and canada. In our hemisphere, the United States is working with neighbors to reaffirm the regions longstanding dedication to free societies and free markets. We are working on improving our Investment Climate for all types of infrastructure, including energy, airports, ports, roads, telecoms and digital networks. In addition to the u. S. Development and humanitarian assistance, we expect the United States International Development corporation to deploy 12 Million Dollars to the western hemisphere in the coming years, all towards this effort of making a priority to transparency and privacy, in particular in the digital economy. Though the prcs main extensive inroads have been across africa some applicants have they require chinese firms to employ more african labor and to demand protection of africas fragile ecosystems. Our diplomatic engagement will continue to highlight the perils of opaque and unsustainable prc lending practices. In the middle east, we have successfully engaged with partners to recognize the core costs that come with certain commercial engagements with the prc, especially Telecommunications Infrastructure. Finally, we are working with allies and partners to prevent the prc from undermining International Organizations through undue influence mister chairman, consistent with the priorities of the legislation, i should also underscore the engagement between the United States and China Remains of central importance in managing protections and exploring areas of neutral interest or efforts maya line. We will only make difference if our engagement produces Real Progress on many issues that ive enumerated today. Last month, i joined secretary pompeo in hawaii to meet with our chinese counterparts in the twoday discussions, secretary stressed that deeds, not words, where the pathway to achieve Mutual Respect and reciprocity between our countries across commercial, security, diplomatic and people to people interactions. He made clear our determination to push back against beijings efforts, to undermine democratic norms, challenge the sovereignty of our friends and allies and engage in a fair trade practice. At the same time, he outlined areas where the United States and the prc could cooperate to solve global challenges among the issues that we can start with our strategic stability around Nuclear Capabilities and doctrine. Coordinated efforts to identify the origins and spread of covid19. A denuclearized north korea that ensures peace and stability for all who live on the Korean Peninsula peace building in afghanistan, International Narcotics production and trafficking and, as evidenced by the trade deal earlier this year, bounced and reciprocal economic policies that will benefit both countries the United States also welcome exchanges, including the hosting of each other students. Provided that they are here exclusively for the purpose of studying. We would also welcome the members of congress from both sides of the capital on both sides of the island, around the working partnership of the executive branch, but to also extend your own engagement to better understand the aspirations of the Chinese People. Of course, this includes meeting with your Chinese Government counterparts. It must also include reaching out of the many voices of china that are found outside of china those not free to be heard at home and, therefore, requiring our assistance to be heard. Let me be clear. The United States supports the aspirations of those Chinese People who seek to live in peace, prosperity and freedom. Secretary pompeo has met with pro democracy leaders from hong kong, with chinese dissidents and survivors of oppression last month, i was honored to present the International Women award to the bravery of Chinese People who seek to advance rights and universal freedoms inspires us all in our work mister chairman, we are urgently taking the necessary steps to defend the interests of the United States. As we seek to correct the imbalance in our relations with china, we must address todays realities, while at the same time, leaving open tomorrows possibilities. With our friends and allies, we are standing up for universal rights and the rules based international system. The system that has provided the worlds collective peace, security and prosperity for generations to the benefit of the United States, the peoples republic of china and the entire world. Thank you. Thank you with that, we are going to do a round of questions. I will reserve my time, so i will send it over to you for round of questions. Thank you mister chairman. As i said earlier, i welcome the administrations clarification of our legal position of chinas unlawful claim to the south side of the sea. As you know, International Law is not selfin forcing and having now taken this position, it is critical that we give reality to our legal position where we may find that a gap between rhetoric and reality produces counterproductive and destabilization so, what does the administration intend to do to implement this new arrangement . I thank, you sent dermatitis so, as you are aware United States tied for sometime rejected chinese claims without endorsing and alternative climate positions right in the recent iteration secretary of state pompeo at the direction of President Trump has declared United States did not i looked at the images of what has grown up in the South China Sea in the corresponding five years. Its an astonishing military buildup china is undertaking and china is currently in the midst of Major Military exercises in the region. They have completely militarized the South China Sea. We will continue our operations which are continuing at an ongoing basis. We are providing assistance including Security Assistance to many of our friends and allies in the region. We are making this discussion in our relationships in the region, not just the South China Sea, my dad, but the east sea as well where there are also chinese claims on the territorial other countries. We are providing substantial Security Assistance to many of our partners in the region and will be working very hard to find a common position with our friends and allies in the region, most recently successfully overcoming some of the differences we had with the government of philippines in order to reach common cause with the philippines as well as with many other countries to pushback decisively against chinas claims. Thank you very much. So, im looking forward to hearing further discussion of what are the consultations you had with allies. As you know, mister secretary, the ccp so called National Security law for hong kong which undermine hong kongs autonomy, encourages a crackdown on pro democracy protesters and effectively ends its one country two systems policy, recently went into effect. Along with my colleagues on both size, i introduced the hong kong safe harbor act which would provide those hongkongers peacefully protested beijings corrupt Justice System and could have a well founded fear of persecution to be eligible for priority to Refugee Status. What efforts, other than some harsh words and criticism aimed at the ccp for their erosion of hong kongs autonomy, is the state department actively pursuing . So, senatornator menendez, au are probably aware, we have used the existing authorities we have in the department of state under the immigration naturalization act to impose a visa restrictions against some of the leading actors who have played a role in imposing the National Security act upon the people of hong kong in order to strip them of their democracy. Likewise, we have suspended the extradition treaty we had that hong kong, in recognition of the fact that the rule of law is unlikely to be found any further under the legislative authorities of the Chinese Government. We are comprehensively reviewing benefits that are extended to the region of hong kong to assess whether or not those should be continued. They are sprinkled across u. S. Code, and we are taking a comprehensive look at all those benefits, as we have heard, and finally, as you may know, the president has also extended refugee quota to any travelers coming out of hong kong. The secretary had a chance to meet with joshua long in london just yesterday, where we had a good discussion about the current state of affairs in hong kong. And will continue to press very hard in order to preserve the democratic voice of the people of hong kong. I hope the Refugee Status that the legislation, we have bipartisan support for, final question, we have seen authoritarian nation such as china and russia utilizing emerging technologies and new ways to surveil and repress but domestic and foreign populations as well as manipulate democratic elections. Now these countries are spreading their models of digital authoritarianism to other countries may be attracted to these new modes of social control. What is the administrations strategy to counter the spread of digital authoritarianism . And how are we engaging our allies in that context . The same technologies that are being used to repress populations are also used in many countries of the world in order to conduct routine screening and security. It is a very thorny and complicated issue to sort out the use issues. One of the first positive steps we have taken is in relation to shenzhen where Chinese Companies who impact provided those tools to the communist party in order to be used to enforce the chinese repression against the leaders, are now sanction under u. S. Law and not able to do business with the United States. We will continue to extend that gonna protect when we see those technologies used for oppressive purposes but it is an important and worrisome area, and technology, and one that we are having to grapple with in the world in which social media, telecoms, a new technologies challenge freedoms around the world. Thank you, senator gardner. Thank you, mister chairman, i thank you secretary. Since 2015 and had the privilege of serving as the chair of the senate formulation subcommittee on east asia, the pacific, and International Cybersecurity policy by senator marquee and i have led efforts to shape a new policy toward the indopacific region, including through the passage of the landmark Asia Reassurance Initiative act in december of 2018. As part of our work in the conference, the East Asia Pacific Committee Also held a three part series entitled the trying to challenge which examines a comprehensive manner how United States should respond to a china that seeks to no doubt and and suppress the liberal order in their mind. Our first two hearings focused on security and economic aspects of chinas authoritarian rise, including chinese debt trap diplomacy and military modernization programs. Our third hearing focused on democracy, human rights and rule of law. Values that have been fundamental to the conduct of u. S. Foreign policy for generations. Our witnesses testified that we were in the midst of the socalled authoritarian closing that under president xi jinping has resulted in unprecedented and intensifying crackdown on civil society, ethnic minorities, and religious freedom in china. Without the mask concentration camps for Uyghur Muslims and the changing autonomous region shocks the conscience and necessitates a serious response from the United States and International Community including sanctions against top officials. The crackdowns indeed about autonomous region are intensifying, while beijing refuses negotiations with the central tibetan administration. Without the human rights defenders in china are routinely jailed, tortured and otherwise deprived of liberty. We found that genuine freedom of speech and assembly are nonexistent, that corruption and abuse of power are rampant. Just look at hong kong in the violations of International Agreements registered with united nations, and the length of the communist party in china will go to to deprive its people of what china itself not too long ago had agreed to. And now in the midst of the unprecedented opaque of covid19, coronavirus. This is the china that we must deal with, not just now, but for the long run as well. I look forward to hearing from deputy secretary begin today. In a series of questions, on to talk about the Asia Reassurance Initiative act, and what it means the framework, as you identified. A few question, is trying to torturing the weaker Muslim Population in china . Could you repeat the question . Is china towards ring muslims in china . We certainly believe that there is a severe mistreatment in fact, they are demanding access. You are not set willing to say whether they are torturing or not . Torture is a Legal Definition and i do not simply have the evidence available. But you would agree with that . I do believe they are severely mistreating those people. There have been public reports that we are populations ive been tortured is certainly believable. Is china dissidents speaking out against a pressure . China has been arresting voices, but in recent months, we have seen in particular, this focus has turned against those who spoke up, in particularly early on regarding the coronavirus. Absolutely. Is china stealing u. S. Coronavirus research . As the department of justice unveiled, and to its indictments yesterday, we have Firm Evidence to suggest that chinese hackers are working in Close Association with chinese National Security institutions and have in fact try to steal information related to Development Technologies related to coronavirus is their promise for no militarization of the South China Sea . As i mentioned to my comments, you will need to type into your Search Engines on your computer South China Sea military bases and you will see how substantial is trying to persecuting other religious minorities . Absolutely. Is china breaking International Agreements with hong kong . They have broken their International Agreement in hong kong. This obviously is something that must be dealt with strife swiftly, strongly, and not just by the United States. And action subsequent to that condemnation and that will show china and the communist party of china that their actions are unacceptable and irresponsible if they wish to be deemed or seen as a responsible nation. The asian Reassurance Initiative act which passed in 2018 sets a framework. In your testimony, you state that the asian reassert incentives shouldve act is a framework for leadership in the indopacific network. Just out of curiosity, how can we use that framework to address the challenges and the consequences of the actions china has taken as it relates to the questions you just answered. Similar to what we welcome in the legislation, laying out a strategic framework and knowing that it is creating a space for us on budgets and priorities is very helpful authorizing committees do play an Important Role in telegraphing to the entire department and set of professionals. This means that we can move into as we go annually into our budgets and staffing issues. Legislation that has already been in place for a couple of years has been useful in that regard. We have seen u. S. Policy toward asian pacific, consistent and even in some ways through the openings that were suggested in an area legislation. The more focus efforts on china are going to likewise need close congressional cooperation of the senator. I want to thank you and members of the committee for a number of pieces of legislation that i highlighted in my written testimony that have come out in recent years. Senator, if i may also for a moment, i misspoke a moment ago. It was not joshua wong, the secretary that we met with. It was another person named nathan law that we met with yesterday. I want to correct that for the record. Thank you. Thank you mister chairman. Secretary biegun, thank you for your service, we appreciate it very much. There is a common theme from all of us we cannot list all of our concerns about china and five minutes. There is so many issues of major concern. I want to follow up on senator gardners point that we need a global response, at least a regional response. The Trump Administration, one of the first policies it initiated was to pull out the tpp, transpacific partnership. That was a trading bloc that was to stand up in some respects against the economic power of china only regional basis. The president then initiated trade policy talks with china that were unilateral with the United States and china not engaging with our other trading partners. As those discussions have taken place, it is becoming a concern to many of our partners that the United States is looking for in agreement where they can point to some progress on specific commodities, rather than dealing with the fundamental problems of the chinese economy the fact that its government controlled and it steals our intellectual property, that it manipulates currency, that there is government control and the list goes on and on and on so, can you share with us what steps you are taking to develop a regional approach, so that we have support from other countries to deal with the activities of china . Yes, thank you senator. The United States is collaborating very closely with countries in the indopacific for a regional approach and globally. As i mentioned in my testimony, we have initiatives that have been launched in every continent in the world. Even in the arctic. The United States is actively advancing a strategy to pursue our interests. Secretary pompeo today is in denmark meeting with our allies there to discuss those very issues. In relation, specifically in relation to the indopacific, we are working very closely with our asieh on partners. We have launched a robust cooperation in the asian indopacific quad in india, japan, the United States in australia. Explain to me what the focus of that asean partnership as it relates to china. What strategic actions are we planning as a regional approach to Counter China . We undertake military exercises together, we train for worst, to include deterrence. That is the sweet of our strategies. We collaborate very closely on combatting Disinformation Campaigns out of china. In fact, we have a regular coordinating discussion between me and my indopacific counterparts we have started in the early stages of the covid crisis and a Weekly Conference call with the deputy level officials of six other indopacific countries, along with the United States. All towards both sharing best information on the challenges posed by china and providing support for efforts to comprehensively combat it. Our intelligence coordination is a key part of this, along with our military alliances we are every day, senator, working in close cooperation with allies in the indopacific. The central issue that all of them are considering in that relationship is china let me challenge that and keep us informed on it does not seem like there is a strategy. I hear messages coming out from the white house, but it does not seem to be coordinated with any of the other countries that are allied with us in the region. The one road, one belt policy of china is aimed at exercising its economic power globally senator menendez talked about hong kong in our major concern with hong kong and the rights and freedom of the people of hong kong it is very clear to many of us that china has violated that agreement and the special status that we give their territory should be reviewed and seriously considered eliminating their special status. One of the reasons why hong kong was given that status was not just the respect human rights to the people that live there, but to develop a more market economy in that region, which was the hallmark are we now in jeopardy of seeing chinese influence as its shown in hong kong to try to dominate government controlled economies, rather than allowing more Market Driven economies . I would say that most of chinas economic policies are in fact incompatible with a rules based market economy. There are some dimensions of the market that, when confined in the chinese economy and other countries where china operates, the essential factor that made hong kong distinct phone the remainder of china is that the economy was governed under the rule of law with an independent court system, in which fair justice can be applied you have to move hand in hand together. China is eliminating the dismantling the democratic government and eliminating the rule of law. This is in a manner that, not only is it listening to the reaction for the United States, and by the, way other countries around the world, but its actually listening for many of the investors and businesses that shows operate from hong kong as well there they are because of the rule of law. They are there because of the democratic governments. The absence of that is going to do more damage to the fabric of hong kongs economy than any sanctions that we can conceive of. I would suggest, just in closing, that there is an area where the u. S. In leadership, working with countries of like mind, should have a common response to what is being done by china and hong kong. A very definitive, strong response that was where i think the u. S. Showed its leadership and effectiveness in dealing with what china is doing. In the near term, senator, the president s of the United States, the g7 has released a coordinated statement on exactly that statement or action . The g7 statement is a commitment to action, but we are doing in the state department is outlining in more detail in my written testimony, i will not go into significant eagle, but the Economic Policy network that worked with many of our indopacific allies is intended to address these issues across the region in exactly the manner you are describing. Thank you. Thank you senator gardner, senator young. Sir biegun, welcome to the committee. Chinas taking advantage of a market influenced economic approach, predatory economic policies and a strong position in growing their influence within Development Banks and International Regulatory organizations with its made in china 2025 initiative, to create what seems to be a pretty potent economic state craft arsenal. This will have long term consequences for many countries around the world, but especially the United States as it relates to our relationship two allies and partners as it relates to our own economic policies our own good Faith Development efforts and the future of American Innovation and expertise it has really impact so much of our own foreign and domestic policy. Having laid that foundation, how is the department of state thinking about the issue of decoupling with china . Our goal with china is not decoupling. Our goal is to present a set of pressures on china that has not lived up to the expectations the rule played out two decades ago and china was welcome to the World Trade Organization and the years since that they were welcomed into full partnership with many countries around the world in economic relations. China becomes a net contributor in responsible stakeholder and in upholding global rule of law and institutions. Chinas efforts have been, by design, aimed at dismantling that consensus in a manner that has created huge imbalances in the Global Economy and has led to a number of predatory behaviors as you described i would not say that it is to our advantage to decouple from the chinese economy and that is not our specific policy goal our goal is to see china resume a full commitment to the path that they were on 20 years ago when they were trusted by the global community. I regret i have some followup questions that is fine, sir just very briefly, you mentioned chinas entry into the wto. Is it pretty clear to you and to the state department generally that china has not followed the commitments, either the letter or the spirit as it relates to their commitments as a wto member nation. China severely abused its membership in the wto and missed an important moment to put pivot in the development around, when it could have been an advocate for improving and strengthening the Global Trading system. Install of our jet stream in, they preserve a similar benefit that they derive from entering the wto as a poor country, despite the fact that they are now one of the two largest economies in the world. Should we envision a future in which countries are forced to choose between an alliance or a Strong Partnership with china on one hand or with an americanled system on the other . That is not our intention and nor are we going to apply that litmus test to our relations with other countries. We will seek to educate them on the challenges that come from an economic relationship with china and suggest to coordinate them improve steps to limit chinas ability to disrupt the technology, privacy or safety of their own citizens would give the United States more leverage if our government invested in large scale innovation efforts to ensure American Leadership and key technologies, perhaps, partnering with our allies and strong interested partners. Senator, i know that you are one of the several members of this community who have worked with our economic borough and the Global Economic Security Strategy that is designed to do just that. We cannot be strong abroad if we are not strong at home. We have to design our own strategies within our economic traditions, within the free market to allow our innovators and our companies to produce the best and most competitive outcomes. Im confident we can do that. That has been one of the enduring strength of the United States of america. We just have to recognize that we are doing in an environment now that we have a near perfect competitor that is an ecosystem which is economic progress is made. Thank you, with 30 seconds left, and summary fashion, can you assess for me xi jinpings current standing within the Chinese Communist party . And taking power, one of the first things he did using an Anti Corruption initiative was to eliminate nearly all competitors inside the party while i do not know who these individuals are, or whether corruption was, in fact involved in corruption. I could say that the individuals were eliminated. I think he holds a strong hold on power in china. More worrisome to us is the decision of the chinese leadership also to dissolve a customary two term limit on chinese leaders, which now leads them with potentially a leader for life, which is problematic for any system. That means any challenge to the decisions to the government is an existential threat to the leadership because of the absence of turnover, because of the absence of elections and because of the absence of rotation at the top level of chinese leadership. Im afraid many of the behaviors that we have seen can be directly attributed to that factor. You have just identified an interesting paradox we have seen play out around the world in throughout history, which is if you eliminated opposing forces, those competitive Power Centers within your government, in a way, that makes you stronger, but also makes you far more vulnerable to pull back there is a reason why democracy have served this nation so over the last 240 years. Thank you sir. Thank you mister chairman and secretary biegun, thank you for being here. As you know, chinas belt and Road Initiative has allowed the chinese to take control of steak inured 13 european ports. Last year, we had a hearing before the Armed Services committee where the davidson commander did a pacifica man testifying that sri lanka, malaysia and the maldives have all handed over control of their ports or territories to china. We know that 40 out of 55 african countries have gotten financing through the belgian Road Initiative. More than 130 countries around the world. So, given the clear law benefits and advantages china has been taking through our initiative and the challenge that prevents the United States, help me understand the administrations log in cutting u. S. Diplomacy and Development Funding for three consecutive years . Thank you senator. The most important tools that we have used against that are a combination of the resources provided to the International Development finance corporation. Paired with the strong u. S. International Business Community that is more than prepared to seek opportunities and Business Opportunities in every corner of the world. What we have tried to do in order to address the specific challenge of the belt and Road Initiative is work on the equation. Not only are we seeking to provide more infrastructure support in a system that facilitates through active cooperation of our embassies, which are now maintained in what we call deal teams, which bring together the Agency Components of the best commercial competing with Chinese Companies. Also, on the other end of the equation, we have created a program called the blue dot network, which is basically a housekeeping seal of approval major Global Infrastructure projects to make sure that they are done in a transparent and on corrupt manner, that they are done with appropriate economy and also that they are not financed in a manner that makes the recipient of the project fall into duck trap diplomacy, which china has used on several come countries. I certainly agree with that, but is it your contingent that our efforts are as effective in terms of getting support from other countries and, particularly we in africa and asia as the chinese efforts . As i highlighted in my testimony and as we have seen in recent months, there has been quite a backlash against chinas duck trap to pelosi. United states and many other countries strongly advocated debt relief at this point in order to help many of these countries that are severely impacted by the covid19 crisis the Chinese Government has been foot dragging and reluctant in many cases to rule out debt relief, because its a major policy that they use. The chinese actually are facing a backlash, but i think our efforts have been success as well. We are seeing Business Opportunities open up for the United States and our International Trading partners in parts of the world that we previously surrendered under the belt and Road Initiative to china. That no longer is the case. The end of june, this Committee Held a hearing on the International Aspects of the coronavirus pandemic and one of the things that we heard from both minority and majority witnesses, so virtually everybody who testified before us, said that it was a mistake to withdraw from the World Health Organization. One of the reasons they cited was because it provided a vacuum that the chinese had been filling in terms of providing assistance and guidance to countries who are factored by the pandemic. Do you share that view . Senator, the president made the decision to file a notification of withdrawal from the World Health Organization we have not withdrawn from the World Health Organization and are not allowed to for a full year after notification is filed. I understand that. Im asking if you share the view that we heard from those witnesses that it would be a mistake for the United States to withdraw from w. H. O. , particularly at this time . Senator, let me tell you why the president made the decision and i assure you that i have given the secretary of state and the secretary of state has given the president the full benefit of opportunity. Thats okay, i read the reports on why the president made this decision. I happen to disagree with, it but you do not need to repeat it for me. Senator, let me also highlight that one of the rules i play in the department because ive had the responsibility for many of the International Dimensions of the covid19 crisis, is in martial and the substantial made effort that the United States is undertaking. The debate over the w. H. O. Is the debate over less than 4 really, the mandatory contribution, is less than half of 1 of the entire budget of the United States im sorry to interrupt, but the point that they were making was not just about the World Health Organization, it was about the failure of the United States to provide Global Leadership to respond to this pandemic. I am not going to ask you to respond to that because im out of time, but i do want to point out something that i think is positive and know that i was very pleased to see the recent actions that the state Department Took against russia and its maligned efforts. Last weeks magnitsky designations of subsidiaries in rushes military wagner in hong kong, sudan, taiwan and they appeared in court and set forward. And, i appreciate that the state Department Took those actions. I wonder if you could clarify, was that in response to any particular event that we have seen . Was it a response to the news of the reports that russia had provided the bounty for the taliban to kill american troops . Senator, the recent steps that we have taken in relation to russia are simply a part of our purse push back against a longstanding pattern of behavior that is virtually impossible for us to make progress in any way, shape or form with the russians. Good, i appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you mister chairman. Thank you senator. Samantha romney. Deputy secretary biegun, i appreciate the work that you and members of the state department are doing to secure our interests as they relate to china, but im concerned. I am concerned that we are using the traditional techniques that we have long had. We are using them in more aggressive ways that we have to push back against china and their ambitions. But they are not working. China has not been diverted from the course that they are on. China is more assertive than ive ever seen in my life. The years of dan xiaoping, he talked about keeping your head down and china would become stronger and the world will finally be able to see how strong they are, well thats happened. They are not backing down. Look at what they are doing to uighurs, the South China Sea basis, look how they are cracking down on hong kong, the belt and Road Initiative, the number of ports they have and bases is extraordinary. The fact that the philippines, the Solomon Islands are changing their course with regards to the relative relationship that we have had. There are cybertheft. Putting people in our universities to steal technology. The list goes on and on. It is not working. The normal approach that we take with countries that we are not happy with is not working. China represents a threat to freedom to our economy, to our military capability, to our National Security, of an entirely different nature than what we have faced before. This is an extraordinary assault. Simply employing the normal techniques that we employ in normal circumstances is, in my opinion, not going to work actually, the United States is flexing all of our muscles and is alone, not strong enough. We have 330 Million People and they have won 44 billion people. Their economy will be bigger. They are already procuring as much military hardware as we are. They will be enormous powerhouse. They are blasting ahead we will increasingly be in the rearview mirror, unless we combine with other nations that abide by the rule of law. Unless we linked arms in a very dramatic and aggressive way and layout rules of the road that they must follow, or they will find themselves disconnected. Disconnected from the economy of the rest of the world. We are not doing that instead we are seeing america first, everybody go off and do your own thing, great for brexit, lets blow up europe, everybody pursue your own interests. America looks like we do not care about bringing the world together in a dramatic way. I would suggest a summit of the leaders of the major nations of the world, laying out a process to approach china in a very dramatic way it strikes me when it comes to china strategy, we are like the titanic. We are all running around straightening chairs and playing music as loud as we can, but we are losing. I look to you and ask, am i wrong in that . Do we need to take a wholly different level of approach to combining with our friends around the world and confronting china to let them know they may not pursue the course they are on . And continue to have free access to our market places. Thank you senator. You are not wrong. I agree with you and in virtually every senior official agrees with you on the magnitude of this challenge the one thing that i do not think any of us should expect our fast results. We are up against a generational challenge. This is a formidable challenge in virtually every nation of our economic, political, social and military existence we are up against a significant challenge in china you likened it to the titanic, but i would like an it more to an Aircraft Carrier that slowly begins to turn and reorient itself in a different direction. That is what i have seen in the United States of america myself over the course of the last five to seven years. That is that different sectors of the United States are think tanks, or china experts, our businesses, our congress, our executive branch, have slowly begun to reorient on the issue of china. It was not easy for us to do. We invested quite a bit in the last three decades and it has resulted in a different outcome. Sometimes, wishful hard outcomes are hard to let go of. This administration is equally criticized for moving to abruptly and harshly against china or precipitating the new cold war not our intention romney, you are absolutely right it requires every bit of our energy and every bit of cooperation we can get from other countries and it also requires strong unity here at home. I hope through discussions like this, we can, not only converge our views in come to common approach on our strategy, but also that we can take that same sentiment abroad to our friends and allies, both in the executive branch and congress, to impress on them how important it is to press on this issue. We are doing quite a bit in that regard, but we can do more. Thank you senator romney. Thank you chairman, Ranking Members for this important hearing. Deputy secretary, thank you for your service and for your testimony today. I will simply add to the conversation that has been going on about the significance of the challenge that china poses to our security, our prosperity and the place in the world. Our Critical Role in alliances and a strong and broad sustained strategy. I want to commend members of this committee that have worked hard to develop legislation. I think there is an urgency about our developing a thoughtful and bipartisan approach to managing our strategic competition with china to confronting its digital authoritarianism and to strengthening our allies and our joint approach to china for the years ahead. Let me move, if i could, to a question mr. Deputy secretary. Earlier this month, the wall street journal reported the pentagon has presented the white house with options to reduce the American Military presence in south korea. This information comes as our president has also unnerved nato and european allies and deciding to remove a third of our troops from germany. You continue to serve, deputy secretary, especially representative for north korea. You have experience working on the Korean Peninsula. Im interested in whether you have been a part of these inter agency discussions and how you think china would view the removal of a sizable portion of u. S. Troops in the Korean Peninsula. Thank you senator comes. The secretary of defense actually made some public remarks yesterday, addressing the exercise that they have been going through and looking at structure in south korea and places around the world. Also was quite emphatic that he has made no recommendation to the president , nor presented no particular proposal to reduce troops. In general, the u. S. Alliance on the Korean Peninsula plays an incredibly Important Role in anchoring our Strategic Interests in the region. Not only to north korea, but potentially in relation to the challenges that can come from the peoples republic of china. I will say that it is an alliance that i spend a lot of time engaged with because of my dual hat on north korea policy. This is an issue that i had an opportunity to discuss just two weeks ago when i visited soul. There is a consensus in both seoul and here in the United States that we need to rejuvenate the alliance. The purpose of the alliance between the United States and rok has, for 70 years, been to reinforce an armistice on the Korean Peninsula on the country, north korea, 25 Million People, to defend south korea, a country of 50 Million People and 100 times the economy. Mister deputy secretary, reducing troop levels what helped rejuvenate that alliance . I think what we need to do with the alliance, senator, is subtlety issue of burden sharing and how we fund the alliance and have also, at the same time, a strategic discussion to create a sustainable footing for that alliance for the next 75 years. If we were able to do, so i think a substantial presence in that region would strongly advance america security interests in east asia. I have two more questions i want to get too quickly, so forgive me. I am deeply concerned about the administrations consideration of deporting or refusing to allow the return of foreign students. It was initially phrased as an list of doing inperson classes. I have heard from president s of every college and university in my state, theres about 350, 370,000 Chinese Students in the United States and i recognized the security risks associated with students from a range of countries. But much more broadly, the overwhelming majority of them have an opportunity to be exposed to our ideals, freedoms, academic inquiry and i think they are an enormous contributor, both to our academic enterprise and many take back to their home countries a view of the United States thats much more positive. Obviously there are cases where they abuse the privilege of our openness, and they should be investigated. I am concerned the administration will continue to flirt with blocking or deporting foreign students. You may well have influence over decisions on foreign students, but would you remind the administration that our ability to persuade and attract other nations is a tool almost as valuable as our ability to compel . I could not agree more with you, senator in fact, we settled in the right place on our policies i have to say that there was a little bit of turbulence there and, not surprisingly, Many University president s weighed in. I strongly agree with you on the importance of the student programs. In fact, the state department has made an urgent priority, not only administering where we have travel restrictions due to covid still, but the issuance of visas. With the highest priority being allowing student traveled to be facilitated in order to get those young men and women here to the United States of america for the fall semester we very much welcome the students we welcome students from china as well, as i said in my opening statement, although expressly for the exclusive purses of study. It is reports that china and iran have reached a broad based 25 Year Agreement, which would allow china the opportunity to invest billions and Energy Infrastructure and provide them with a reliable access to low cost iranian oil. Obviously, then be a major challenge to the maximum pressure campaign. Does the administration have a coordinated strategy internally and with our allies to respond to deepening china, iran ties and chinas increasing influence as a result of the middle east . Senator, the reports of that agreement are little bit premature, although the iranians in the chinese have been having a discussion for some time. There is no 25 Year Agreement in place that president , but thats not to say they could not possibly move forward. At this point, they are closer to discussing it for the past 25 years than a green for the next 25 years. I will say there were some elements of chinas behavior, as it is willing to consort on democratic countries, like iran, or the adversaries in the United States, and that is a generic order that we have across the board. In the case of iran, and we have a comprehensive strategy to iran and that would affect china if china engages with iran in Economic Activities that are in violation of u. S. Law. Thank you for your answers. Thank you senator. Thank you very much mister chairman, good to see you again. I appreciate it. I want to tell you how much i agree with what senator romney had to say. Concerns about china, the coverup, Disinformation Campaign on the coronavirus, the structure of hong kongs autonomy, unlawful military activities in the South China Sea, theft of American Intellectual property and terrible human rights abuses that we continue to see today against the uighurs and minorities across the country. In terms of human rights, china is engaged in truly serious human rights abuses, including political, religious repression. These are attacks on indignity, religious freedoms. As americans, we cannot tolerate this. Recently, the administration has taken strong actions to sanction china for its human rights abuse. I strongly support the efforts of the administration. Are there ways that we can better increase our support for the rights and freedoms of the people of china along the lines of democracy, opportunity, liberty, the things that we hold dear . Absolutely, senator. Thank you very much. I want to emphasize i agree with senator romneys characterization of the magnitude of this challenge as well. In the case of repressions of Human Rights Violations in xinjiang, we actually use the global many members of this committee attributed to its passage. That provides a very important tool that we can use to address those specific human rights abuses that were identified in that legislation. More generally, we are in interaction with the chinese civil society. Here, i emphasize the point i made in my opening statement. We have to talk to the chinese outside of china. The ones who really need to be heard, their voice in their aspirations of the Chinese People. We also have to use a lot of the tools that we have at our disposal to reach the people inside china. To communicate with them. And, i think that ultimately, that will be to our benefit. With regard to moving to the next topic, stealing intellectual property on the list that i have talked about china continues to infiltrate top u. S. Companies, laboratories, innovator cities. It seems their goal is stealing valuable American Intellectual property, traits the kurds the Chinese Communist party clearly attempting to surpass us and economic strength, military capabilities, international influence. This is their game plan funding criminal hackers to target u. S. Research and sectors ranging from agriculture to covid19 related Biomedical Research just yesterday, yesterday, the u. S. Department of justice charged to chinese nationals working on behalf of the government of china with stealing trade secrets, Hacking Computers secrets of companies who are working on a coronavirus vaccine. This was just yesterday. You know, the fbi estimates that they open a new china related Counter Intelligence case not every ten weeks or ten months or ten days, but every ten hours theyre having to open a new china related Counter Intelligence case. The fbi Deputy Director, chinas economic coercion is likely described as an organized criminal syndicate. What steps must we as a nation take along with our international partners, as we have talked about in the international group. What do we need to do to and chinas economic espionage . The state Department Works very closely with the fbi. In fact, just before this hearing, i had a phone call, phone conversation with the individual who you quoted a moment ago, Deputy Director dave. We are doing enormous amount to challenge this as we speak. The fact that those indictments were unsealed as well as two others that were unsealed in the state of california just a few days before our suggestion of the degree of the fact that we are complying to this. I would not in any way disassociate the direction of the president that gave the department the yesterday to notify about the prc in houston. Its very much related to this. You will be getting more briefings in a different setting on these topics, but just a set of challenges that we take very seriously and its one that we and our domestic Law Enforcement partners are working very hard to address. My final question has to do with huawei. The Trump Administration continues to raise the alarms with our allies and partners about the National Security risks of huawei, the Chinese Communist party. Huawei is a trojan horse. Its deep links to the communist regime are impossible to ignore. They are attempting to infiltrate Communications Networks around the world. It poses a serious risk, i believe, not only to our National Security, but also to privacy, intellectual property and any human rights. Recently, the United Kingdom recognized the serious Security Threat and is taking action to ban huawei from their 5g networks. It sounds like germany will make a decision. All eyes are on germany with regard to what they decide with huawei. Is it your impression that we are making some headway is that our allies are understanding the dangers that are posed by having huawei, and ultimately china, so involved in our Telecommunications Infrastructure . Absolutely senator. We are seeing countries around the world recognize the risks of bringing unreliable technology, like huawei into their networks. I know that senator menendez is a bit grudging about giving us credit about the decision of the okay. I will give the government the first credit, of course. That decision was the product of lengthy and numerous discussions all the way up to the level of the Prime Minister over the course of the last several months. Just today, we saw france mirror the uks decision france has announced that all Huawei Technologies app to be removed from the france telecoms system. This technology will rapidly be removed from those networks because it will be obsolete. The systems will be obsolete if they incorporate it now in advance. We are seeing significant success in this effort and we will continue to emphasize to partners around the world that we will not conduct secure communications on networks that are supplied by these chinese technologies. Thank you mister secretary. Thank you mister chairman. The thank you. Thank you mister chair. Good to see you again. I will start off by saying i think this is a very hard problem and i also agree with your opening testimony and senator romneys that there was a bell very well intentioned strategy for the last through decades. We had every reason to try and hope it worked out and it did not happen. So that is unfortunate. I also do not give earlier administrations great credit for the way they handled this relationship either. I will tell you the three critics that i have about the Trump Administration with china. I want to ask you about the third one. Number one, i see a lot of action, but i sometimes have a hard time connecting the action to any strategy. So, i mean, obviously it is a massive relationship, so theres trade, diplomacy, human rights, military, theres a lot of things going on, but i have a hard time connecting the actions to a strategy. Number two, i think the u. S. Under this administration has squandered the Natural Advantage that we have that china does not have, which is a deep network of alliances offered by casting the alliances aside. I will go back to senator romneys point. When we want to confront china on trade, we cannot confront them oneonone with the strength that we can confront them with if we linked arms with our allied nations that have the same concerns about chinese trade practices as we do when the president started off with trade sanctions against canada and mexico and the eu, i think it made it much more difficult for us to try to go hand in hand against china we should have been working with those strong allies to link arms and foreign form a comprehensive strategy. What i want to ask you about is my third critique. My third critique is that i think the president s Foreign Policy is often chasing our adversaries into each others arms. Senator asked about our reports that were in the news piece today about iran and china doing a negotiation for economic infrastructure and defense cooperation. We have seen iran and china do joint military exercises in the gulf. We have seen china and russia do joint military exercises on their border in some ways that are troubling to me. As a member of the Armed Services committee, we get briefings every year and they are often classified, so i would not give you any info. What i can tell you is that we tend to get briefings about u. S. Capacity and then we get briefings about the capacity of china and the capacity of russia and the capacity of iran, but those are all separate briefings about their separate capacities. These are nations that ive had longstanding difficulties and challenges with each other. Iran has been, in the revolutionary period, very anti great power, any great power. China and russia have had a very difficult relationship with president nixon realizing that and pretty much counted on the fact that they cannot agree on anything as we have seen it in the article news week today, there is a Wilson Institute comment that says President Trump is driving our adversaries into each others arms as they seek to a power at a moment of apparent american indecision. How much of the state department are you guys looking at this question . The relationships between these adversaries, china, russia, iran, turkey. Whether they are getting closer, how much of a threat and combination of capacities, military, economic, diplomatic, pose a multiplied threat to the United States. Thank you senator. Just very quickly on your first two points, let me assure you that we seek the same goals with coherent strategy and as close as possible cooperation with our allies. United states is a democracy and an occasion, we get both of those. It is our aspiration and something that we work on in the state department every day. The president has given us clear direction on the china strategy that will help us move, i think, in a more orderly way across the administration in that direction on your question, i can tell, you honestly, i have spent less time worrying about our adversaries working in concert with each other, although it is worrisome. You should worry more about countries maybe in the middle. Its inconceivable that we are going to have a cooperative relationship with a venezuelan ruled by maduro, a syria ruled by assad, a russia ruled by putin and so, or in iran ruled by another group. It is the other countries that were previously mentioned and also countries that have been in discussions with the Chinese Military base. Countries like the uae, where we really have to apply ourselves and we do as i mentioned, i do a weekly phone call with my indopacific partners india, japan, korea, vietnam, new zealand, australia and the United States. One night after that weekly call, what happened, it happens late on thursday evenings, i turn to my team and i asked, what do you wonder that call would have sounded like tonight if it was china, russia, syria, venezuela and iran . I can tell you from our allies point of view, it is a rich discussion anchored in historic shared interest in shared values that allow us to build natural cooperation, as long as we can get out of our own ways. It is not just us incidentally. Mentally times are challenges come from our partners as well. We work on those as friends and allies. We have to do that with friends and allies, we have to do that with the countries in the middle. Im less optimistic that we will find a cause with the adversaries. Unfortunately, it is the case that they will find a common cause with each other. That is an illuminating answer and i just would hope, and i do not need to ask it, because im sure we are doing it. As we watch these adversaries who have traditionally been opposed to each other get closer and closer into more and more together, we do need to be paying attention to them. We do. Just to that as our relationships are based upon shared interests and shared values, there is a very transactional. United states has been in a long standing partner with countries like australia, new zealand, japan, south korea, and there is no doubt in the minds of those people that the long term orientation of the United States with our interests and values with them. Russia and china, maybe not so much. Thank you mister chair. Thank you. Senator purdue . Thank you mister chairman. Senator, thank you for being here. I agree. There was a great comment there laughs . In there is a weather warning. That was huawei. I find myself always in these hearings, mister chairman and i am green with my good friend from virginia, senator king. We disagree on some things in terms of cause factors, but this is a very complicated relationship that we have we got it wrong for the last 30 years, 40 years really. Ive lived over there, i have a background and ive watched this develop. Michael pillsbury has written a book, a marathon that acknowledges that we all get it wrong, all of us its nothing to do with policies or politics or anything else. Its just, we got it wrong we now see what they are trying to do the vacuum that was created in the last administration with Foreign Policy created a vacuum that they step into. The Chinese Culture never tells you what they are going to do, unless they decide that you do not have the wherewithal or the will to stop them. In 2013, they told the world they are going to dominate us in 12 years in technology and they are making huge investments to do that they develop the belt and rhoden initiative. Why . Theres a vacuum. I want to come back to something that senator kaine talked about. Allies. I think we all see this as our huge advantage. I want to talk about this before i do that, i will make a comment. If we sat here and worried about what china is doing, we worry about the shanghai Cooperatives Organization where they have four Nuclear Powers and they are a defense type organization. Russia, china, pakistan and india. That is an odd group of partners there. I do not really worry a lot about that. What i am looking at is that the world has become very binary. You have state control of countries, russia, china, venezuela, cuba, others, syria, and you have the other countries that are self determined. Countries like malaysia, indonesia, singapore are all beginning to Pay Attention to what chinas ultimate goals are and that is to dominate the economic and political relationships. They are very concerned about that. They are actually trying to turn back to us. I do think the quad is a specific targeted effort right now that we can put a lot of energy behind. I would like to respond to this. That australia, india, japan and the u. S. Are beginning to look at how we might pull together. Our economic value, and that is how we defeated the soviet union without firing a bullet, was that we ground them into the dirt with our economy. I believe, and we bankrupted their ethos. We have the same opportunity here in that the economic power of china today is about 14 trillion, and adjusted. If you take just the quad, it is over 30 trillion dollars of Economic Policy. We have the ability today to dominate the economic, military relationship just with those four countries. Im not including europe or any of the other countries in asia that are already beginning to lean their way. How does the administration, how is the state department looking at the quad as an example of a relationship that we can build and actually encourage others to see how they might participate to stand up against the bully of the next 50 years . Thank you senator. If i could add to your description of the Global Environment that we face to senator romneys description of the challenge we face from china, i think we would have a complete picture of what we see every day when we wake up at the department of state. I agree with you that the quad isnt incredibly important institution. We held last year, we marked a milestone and how we will approach organizing our security interests and other interests in the indopacific. India just recently invited australia to participate in exercises, which has now been allowed. All four members of the quad participated military exercises together. It will be hugely beneficial to reinforce the behavior that are necessary for us to defend our mutual interests. You know, just stepping back, its not quite your question, and i apologize for using your time. I see our policy is successful if they stand on four pillars. First is unity at home, second is Close Partnership with our friends and allies around the world, third is effective military deterrence and, fourth, is a powerful economic alternative. We have to work on all four of those together at the department of international cooperation. I actually think we get all for these right, we produce the best outcome with china as well. If china sees it that is how the world is aligned against its efforts, it will have the best incentive to change its behavior in a peaceful manner as well. Thank you. I yield my time. I would just like to make a comment that this type of meeting with someone at this level in the state department in the administration is so critical to have us develop more of a non partisan view of china that can translate to administrations. That is the problem with dealing with china. You cannot yoyo your relationship with dealing with a country like that. It will be much more monotone over a long period of time. Thank you for having us here. Mister chair, can i just tell senator purdue that that noise was a flash flooding noise just when you started to speak. I do not know if there is any connection. Thank you for that. Fortunately, we are not on the ground floor. Thank you senator purdue. Senator murphy . Thank you very much. U. S. Foreign policy for much of the last 40 years has been about studying the interactions of china, russia and the United States. Two of that three, trying to play off one against the other and i want to ask two questions today. They get at what i think is a continued priority for this committee and this administration to understand how that interplay works in modern times. The first is this. You have laid out a series of actions the administration is taking with the hope of sending clear messages to china. The consequences of its actions, especially when it comes to ways in which they infringe on the rights of the United States at home and abroad. China does not Pay Attention only to the messages we send then. They also Pay Attention to the messages that we send to other nations. Russia is at the top of that list. I do not think we have gotten a chance yet to get a member of the administration on the record with respect to very credible reports that suggest that the russian government was paying what would commonly be referred to as bounties for the murder of u. S. Troops in afghanistan. That, of course, crosses the line. It is a fairly unprecedented abuse of one Security Council permanent member by another. Thus far, the American Public and the world have not seen any consequences of not even a public acknowledgment of that abuse having been committed against the United States. I worry that china watches that. It takes signals from him. I wanted to just ask you to tell us for the record today whether any action has been taken orders planned to be taken with respect to these i think we would all agree, very credible reports thank you senator i will answer your question, but i am also going to be mindful of the fact that the information that you are discussing comes from a sensitive source and method. Let me say this. Any suggestion that the Russian Federation or any part of the russian government is employed in providing resources to fighters from other countries. To attack american soldiers and they will be met with the most severe consequences, including those individuals in their movements in the areas in which they are undertaking those activities were that to happen, they should expect a full on robust response i will also say that any such report that came into the United States of america would be treated into manners first, it would immediately be notified to the force commander and all necessary steps will be taken in order to protect u. S. Soldiers anywhere in the world, particularly in a place like afghanistan, which they serve every hour of the day in a hostile environment. It would also be the subject of a conversation between various officials in both governments and in no uncertain terms. The horses out of the barn with respect to these reports being solely classified and, thus while you may be suggesting that their actions being taken, they have not been made public, i think we are at the point where the world and this country wants to know what those consequences are. I think it does have an impact with respect to our relationship with other great powers. That leads me to my second question with respect to the interplay of the United States relation with china and that is with respect to the negotiation with respect to a new start. The administration has laid down some priorities in order to get to a new agreement and one of them is the inclusion of china in those discussions and ultimately in a new agreement we had all live in a perfect world, of course we would want china at that table, of course it is in our interest to have china. Right now, before they acquire the same number of arms and warheads as the United States to some limitation. It likely does not stand to reason that china is going to enter into those negotiations because they would likely want time to catch up before they sat at a table with us. So, i think, i would just love some assurance that we are not going to give china the veto power as to whether we engage in a renewal of an agreement with russia. I think we can all agree, but the confines of that agreement, has worked to limit the arms race i would just want to make sure that china is not going to be the one that decides whether the United States and russia decide to renew that agreement. I appreciate that take. Senator, i think you could see the evidence in front of you. I know that our special on fire arms control testified in his capacity yesterday. Also, he was up here a few weeks ago, i believed to brief members of the committee on the progress and our discussions with the russians. Those are ongoing. We are eminently going to be dispatching the technical teams to continue a deeper level discussion. The russians in that decision ongoing. They are still seated at the table, but those conversations between the United States and russia are ongoing. I believe my colleague at the department of state has emphasized at this point in his discussions with you, let me say it publicly as well, russia has every reason to want china in those discussions. Russia faces a far more formidable challenge from chinas presence on its southern border. This goes to the transactional nature of the relationship that i think exists between the two countries. History between russia and china is one of significant tension. The fact that it is papered over today because of a shared and adversarial relationship with the United States is not a great basis for china and russian relations. I think many of the experts in russia who work on the issues know full well that china should be at the table as well. Not only because of its potential strategic challenges they could pose to the Russian Federation, but because china is a p five member and is a recognized Nuclear State and is obliged to participate in good faith negotiations to reduce the level of Nuclear Forces it holds. The nonproliferation treatment does not say in proportion to other countries in the world. It says good faith efforts on reduction of Nuclear Forces and that is what we are requesting from the peoples republic of china. Thank you senator murphy for that line of questioning. Thank you mister chairman thank you for your testimony deputy secretary. The trade deficit between the United States and china has had a huge impact in transferring wealth and jobs from america to china the course of that unfolding, we have watched in the short period of time, china go from bicycles to traffic vans, to bullet trains. It is not that many years ago that we had a congressional delegation go to china to get the first bullet train, 200 miles, beijing to changing on the coast. Now they have 16,000 miles. President trump made this point, campaigned on this point, as continue to make this point. Yet, between 2015 in 2018, our trade deficit increased over 14 in manufactured goods, meaning a higher level of disparity between the two economies. Is this a topic that is, the team is deeply engaged in . Because, here we are talking about the surging of china, and yet policy in the United States provided that Economic Foundation for that surge. Thank you senator. Yes, that is absolutely remaining one of the president s Top Priorities and one that particularly our counterparts and our economic agencies pursue aggressively, but also and certainly remains a priority for the department of state as well. It is, we have a lot of progress that we have to make an order to rebalance our trade relations. The phase one trade deal was just that it was phase one it was an early harvest, it was an attempt. A few sectors to begin to write the balance there is much more work that needs to be done in order to eliminate the structural impediments to a more balanced u. S. , china trade relationship and we are committed to pursuing those. Thank you. Im glad you are committed to it, working on it. Mitt romney proceeded to know the free access to our market has been a significant factor in china as well. Heres the thing the evidence proceeded in such a fashion that the trade deficit actually has grown in manufacturing of goods. Kind of chaotic throwing rocks at china and then throwing rocks back at us. This can get as to a reduced trade deficit has to be much more coherent, strategic strategy than the one that we have seen so far. I have been very concerned about chinas enslavement of 1 million uighurs, by using all kinds of facial recognition technology, other ideas, or surveillance, producing enormous amounts of goods law. Should the United States completely end the ability of china to send goods manufactured under the slave labor strategy with 1 million uighurs to the United States . We should import no goods from any country, including china made with slave labor. Senator, the recent series of sanctions that we imposed on several Chinese Companies operating inching john were precisely for that purpose. Its not just Chinese Companies, its american multinationals as well and operations in this area have been sometimes hard to get the clear facts. I understand it is difficult. Senator, we have sent out a Business Advisory to the ceos of the five major u. S. Companies as well as every Business Association in washington, d. C. And specifically the ones operating in china that will be held accountable if materials or components made through forced labor or slave labor in xinjiang appear. I will say, i was extremely disturbed to hear that President Trump had dismissed this slave labor, this enslavement of the Muslim Community as unimportant in his conversations with chinese leaders. I want to talk about taiwan. I do not think it has been discussed here today. We have had essentially a position going from our early opening with the relationship with china where we have accepted the concept of the sovereignty of hong kong and over taiwan. Now they have dramatically violated the terms of the agreement of one system, or two systems, one country for hong kong. And, taiwan is essentially been operating as an independent country for a very long time. Is it time for us to start looking seriously at starting to treat taiwan as a country, not an extension of china . Senator, the policy of this administration is to uphold one china policy, but consistent with that also, we have to fully enact the protections underneath the time one relations act in the case of taiwan, we commend them for building a robust democracy in the recent election. Represented the true will of the taiwanese people, a tremendous accomplishment its a demonstration that the people of china is capable of operating in, fully within democratic norms. I will point your attention to a series of highprofile public remarks made by Senior Administration officials, including the attorney general and National Security adviser. Tomorrow, secretary pompeo will be giving some remarks at the Nixon Library in california. He will be talking about some of these issues. Thank you. Thank you mister chairman and i really appreciate you being here mister secretary. Like many here and in the administration, i am very disturbed by the recent authoritarian turn in china, from hong kong, to the uighurs, two to bet and across their civil society. Well this is happening, i am also deeply concerned about our own moral authority on these matters and it eroding here at home, limiting our ability to rally the world to put pressure on china as many others have spoken about today. The sad fact is this administration is taking a hostile attitude to silence uighurs, separating children, some of them very young from their families. They are doing it on purpose as a cruel deterrent to tell others to stay away from america one fleeing violence. Last month, we saw the National Guard members using pepper spray, rubber bullets another blunt instruments against Peaceful Protesters in the streets of our Nations Capital this week in portland, camouflaged federal agents have been taking Peaceful Protesters into custody in unmarked vans and beating protesters, including a 57 year old nonviolent navy veteran. These scenes echo those on the streets of hong kong. This is a moment that cries out for national leadership. Not this president not only offers unhinged bouts of violence with americans exercising their First Amendment rights. Many are increasingly concerned that the president s behavior in those of his loyalists create divisions at home. This committee needs to consider how that weakens us abroad as well. Let me be clear, we should oppose any such behaviors from the chinese or any government that repressive is their people. Their treatment of to bet and the uighurs is in particular, totally unacceptable. The authoritarian crackdowns here at home and these saber rattling are not going to help those in hong kong or repressed religious minorities sanctions have not worked in cuba and they are unlikely to work with china. There is no good military solution here like with the soviet union that we can overcome repression with openness. We welcome asylum seekers, foster freedom of speech, show a better example what has been the response of our adversaries and our allies to this administrations actions . Like child separation, cutting off asylum, and now paramilitary crackdowns on mostly non violent protesters. How is that impacting our efforts to build coalitions to push back on chinas authoritarianism . And are we facing more accusations of hypocrisy . Senator, i generally am an agreeable person, but i have to say i cannot agree with nearly anything that you just laid out. I think the type of protests that you see playing out in the streets of the United States in america within a democratic system, with a rule of law, democratic rights guaranteed all. The ability to choose officials who govern them and the responsibility of Law Enforcement authorities themselves be answerable to the law represents an entirely different situation than what we are seeing play out in hong kong. I understand the temptation. How about the part that we have the president going for a photo op and clearing a peaceful protest . I mean, that does not sound to me like the america i know, mister secretary. Senator, i understand that this moment has incited strong emotions and some of them we see playing out in the streets, some in an orderly way, which is part of a robust democracy and some in a disorderly way. It does require some level of enforcement and authority in order to protect private property in the safety of individuals. That is the moment we are in. We are in that moment in a Democratic Society in which you and i can have this discussion openly. To suggest that there is any comparison in the environment in which we are having this discussion and the one that brave democracy leaders, like joshua wong and nathan law face in hong kong, is simply wrong. It is a moment that has excited a lot of passion here in the United States and it is an uncomfortable moment for us because of that. It does not indict our democracy. The resolution of these issues through the rights and liberties of all citizens in this country are guaranteed under our constitution and it is exactly how we move forward as a society and we will. One quick question on the health care front. Are the cdc, nih and others in the United States being allowed to share scientific information about covid19 with their respective chinese counterparts . So, senator, we are very interested in i laid out in my opening testimony deeper cooperation with the Health Authorities and the peoples republic of china to understand both the origins and characteristics of a covid19 virus, as well as cooperation, as the president said, on potential areas of addressing or treating it. I will say that it has been a stubborn resistance we faced from the peoples republic of china, dating back to mid january when i was first engaged in this issue. The Chinese Government, over several weeks refused to allow delegation into china in order to examine these very issues at the beginning of the crisis. At present, we are now in an environment in which the World Health Organization as over maddeningly past legislation calling for that exact organization under independent leadership. The w. H. O. Has appointed two respected leaders and they are deeply frustrated by their inability to gain access to china in order to do the work that the World Health Organization has appointed them to do. We would be prepared to have that kind of discussion and are highlighted it in my opening testimony as one of the potential areas that we could, potentially, open some areas of cooperation with china. It would be to the benefit of the entire world. Secretary pompeo, likewise with any of these issues for his counterpart and honolulu approximately a month ago when we met there unfortunately, the chinese have not taken up on that proposal. Thank you. Thank you mister chairman. Thank you. Thank you mister chairman and thank you for being here. When you decide to step up and come back into public service, i said this was an important time in our countrys history. Im glad you are stepping up. I had no idea how important it would be. Here we are talking about one of the great challenges we face now is a country with china having an increasingly aggressive posture toward us and so many areas. Others have been discussed today, certainly in trade. I am hopeful we can finish phase one, but phase two seems unlikely and we continue to not play by the rules. Military adventurism in the South China Sea, we have seen recently, visavis taiwan and elsewhere the human rights abuses as it relates to the uighurs house in tibet a couple years ago, i got to see what goes on their. And then recent passage of the interNational Security law with regard to hong kong so many troubling things im going to ask you about another one. This afternoon, which relates to china systematically targeting u. S. Research and taking that research with the legislation we just had marked up in the committee today to combat that. With this long list, sort of list of horribles, tell me something good that is happening in respect to our relationship with china. An issue that i know is near endured to you, senator and one that you have shown leadership in, the chinese, just in the past several days, invited the dea to establish a presence and one of our consulates in china in order to deepen our collaboration in fighting against, not only the trade in fentanyl, but also the trade in free courses that we have seen being used to evade some of the restrictions that have been in place. Its a small issue, but it is one that we can potentially were gone with the chinese. I stay in regular contact with my chinese counterparts in north korea it is an important area of shared interests between the United States and china. I would not say that they are completely faithful and fulfilling their responsibilities under the International Sanctions regime, but still, they do generally push in the right direction and it is an area, at least, where we can have discussions we stay in close touch with the Chinese Government the Peace Process in afghanistan, like many other countries in the region, china has a shared interest in a stable outcome in afghanistan of course, we do not want to see the territory of afghanistan surrendered to terrorist rule again. And, frankly, neither does the peoples republic of china. There are several areas that are highlighted in my testimony where there are, at least areas of potential cooperation between us. I will say senator that my 16 page testimony had to be cut back by one third. In doing so, we had to remove a litany of the issues that you have raised. Many of them are still running when rated there it is a long list and a formidable challenge, a generational challenge that we face with china. Notwithstanding the smaller areas of these cooperations that are violated, we have an enormous task ahead of us to turn back the challenge from china. I agree. The challenge is only growing every day as i see it i ask you about some of the positive lines of communication we do have open with china it is important to have that. I believe that, with regard to the ceiling of technology and invasion that we are finding waking up as a country, i think that we typically point a finger at china, when in fact, we need to be in our own house. One is not to be naive about what the chinese have been up to through the Chinese Communist party. And their relationship with their own universities, own research for 20 years, as you know, for two decades, they have been systematically taking our good research, must be paid for by the u. S. Taxpayer. 150 billion dollars a year and using it to help fuel their own economic rise and their military rise because some of these our military technology. I think you are aware of the fact and we have legislation today in the committee of homeland security. We work very closely with your people because one of the five major elements in this legislation has to do with the enterprise. The ability to deal with the current loophole nausea relates to export controls and to deny a visa based on someone coming into this country in order to take our most sensitive information. One, i want to thank your people. I testified before. They worked closely with us and help us to adjust to invest in concerns that some of the universities had. I do have thoughts on this broader issue. Legislation is called safeguarding American Innovation, because thats what its about. Again, there are several elements to it. One thats very important that is directly related to your department. Thank you senator. I first, we are in complete agreement on the gravity of the problem. It has been a persistent problem ongoing for a very long time. We now have more tools that we can used to push back against it. As i said earlier in the hearing, the state department is working closely with our domestic Law Enforcement partners in order to address these issues in the coming days, you will be the recipient of some additional briefings on this matters relating to some of the steps that the president directed the department to take this week as well as some of the indictments that have been unsealed by the department of justice will only say that you will get more detail on the full effort that we have undertaken in our own pushback. The indictments and the arrests have increased substantially since our report came out in the last year. We call for the doj and the fbi to step it up and they have, to their credit. It is just the tip of the iceberg, including 54 scientists just being relieved of their duties. The researchers, they had been providing Grant Funding to the them. Some resigned, some were fired countless examples, including my own state of ohio who, shall we say, a concept of commitment taking millions of dollars from china, taking millions of dollars from u. S. Taxpayer, not revealing the chinese money setting up labs in china, taking the research, taking innovation. Really leapfrogging us by taking advantage of our relatively open research enterprise. We appreciate your work on that. Again, thank you to the state department and for visa folks for working with us to counter this. Thank you senator. Senator cruz . And thank you mister chairman you know, these are very divided times for our country. I have to say just a few minutes ago, this Committee Heard a democratic senator compare federal Law Enforcement agents to Chinese Communist oppressors. Silencing and brutalizing protesters in hong kong. Political disagreements are fine, but let me say for the record, that comparison is obscene. It is false and it is grotesque. I did a recognize we are 104 days out from an election, but last week, the speaker of the house tweeted out a statement calling federal Law Enforcement officers storm troopers a term typically reserved for nazis and other such oppressive thugs. She alleged that the storm troopers were kidnapping people on the streets, she described those people as innocent and Peaceful Protesters. Cops are not stormtroopers. Unrest is not kidnapping. People who are engaged in violent acts of riots, who are assaulting innocent citizens, who are fire bombing police cars, who are attacking federal buildings and court houses, who are murdering police officers, are not engaged indecent protests i would just encourage members of this committee and members of the senate, you may not like the president , that is your prerogative in a democratic system, but slandering federal Law Enforcement officers were protecting court houses and federal properties by calling them and analogizeing them to communist thugs, those are not comments that are fitting the senate of the United States. Mr. Biegun, speaking of communists, this morning it was announced that the state Department Asks the chinese consulate in houston to vacate the premises within 72 hours. I was wondering if you can tell this committee what the reason for that was and what the basis was for. Think you senator cruz. In my earlier remarks, i highlighted three areas of particular concern in the United States that led the president to make these decisions. One is the persistent theft of u. S. Technology by Chinese Government representatives and agents the second is the degree to which that is being done through abuse of our Student Exchange systems. The third is the behavior of chinese diplomats and the houston consulate in a matter that is incompatible that with the diplomacy. There will be briefings given to the committee. They have been arranged now and our counterparts and domestic Law Enforcement have likewise been in touch with their oversight entities i want to assure you, you will have more detail on this, but for purposes of an ongoing process and also ongoing investigation, i prefer to leave it for further detail to that discussion. I have that classified briefing already scheduled this week, but i would encourage the state department to the extent possible and consistent with productive sources and methods, they make the basis public i think it is beneficial. I have no reason to doubt your representation that the personnel of the chinese consulate in houston where behaving in ways that were harmful to u. S. National security interests. I think it is beneficial for both americans and the world understand some of the evidence about what those threats were. Lets shift to a different topic and that is taiwan. What the u. S. Can do substantively and symbolically to emphasize work for our ally in 2015, the Obama Administration responded to a request from china and banned taiwanese officials and military members from displaying their flags or insignia on u. S. Government property and basis. I have introduced legislation that would reverse these guidelines. But, that decision could also be made within the state department by the administration. Can you speak as to how the administration views this specific issue . Whether taiwanese officials should be able to display their flags and insignia. Also, address more broadly the issue of supporting taiwan in the face of chinese aggression. On the specific question, i wasnt familiar with that policy pronouncement in the previous administration. It is one that we are more than happy to take a look at with an eye toward reversing it. I would appreciate it. In regard to our broader relationship with the people of taiwan, the secretary commended her very successful election. As i said earlier, demonstrating that chinese heritage and confusion in society is not incompatible with democracy and we should never forget that. We should only hope that the people of china can all enjoy the fruits of democracy. In the meantime, the United States remains fully engaged in our commitments under the taiwan relations act. We are providing ongoing support for the defense of capabilities of the people of taiwan. In fact, just recently, produced some additional sales on top of already large arms sale to taiwan by any Administration Since the United States recognized the peoples republic of china. We expect china to uphold its commitments to peacefully resolve any dispute with taiwan and we will watch very closely over that fact. We also believe that there is an important place for taiwan for example, in the World Health Agency as an observer and participating in the global dialog on protecting International Community from the ravages of pandemics, like covid19. Time unease authorities enjoying tremendous success in containing covid19 because, perhaps, they even more so than many of us, where wherever exactly what they were contending with. Not just in terms of the virus, but in terms of the country from which it originated. So, we have a very high esteemed for taiwan and senator, i will take a look at the issue. Thank you i appreciate it. Thank you senator cruz. Senator menendez. Thank you mister chairman. I think it was all over window homes that said a man must be judged by the passions of his time i would simply say that when we have federal agents sneak up innocence and Peaceful Protesters in lafayette park, so that the president can have a photo op, it does not serve our cause of promoting to the world the democracy and human rights as an example. So, i think that the senator from new mexico, with his last question, was pursuing that with the secretary. I think we can all agree there was a lot of silence when that took place. I think we can all agree that is not in our collective interest. Secretary, there are consistent reports that u. S. Companies failed to undertake basic labor and human rights assessments in xinjiang in essence, wolf really ignoring the horrific conditions of forced labor in xinjiang. This is a particular problem for clothing manufacturers, given that 84 of chinese merchandise comes from jim jean. A wide array of u. S. Companies, including apple, craft, hines, cocacola and the gap, among others have sourced, or continue to source from xinjiang. Other International Firms with considerable u. S. Presence also have operations in xinjiang, including those who have partnerships with state owned military contractors that manufacture and supply the Chinese Government with the mass surveillance tools it uses in its new digital authoritarianism. So, given the ongoing threat that the sourcing of goods and services produced by forced labor from touching john poses to the Global Supply chain, what is the government doing to make u. S. Companies aware of the glaring human rights issues that are contributing, that they are contributing to buy sourcing goods from xinjiang . The thank you. Thank you senator menendez. I can assure you that we see, we share 100 the concerns that you laid out and we are actively engaging with the private sector in order to ensure that they put in place the mechanisms to detect any entry into their supply chain of goods maids in xinjiang from forced labor, slave labor. How so . Just two weeks ago, the secretary for economics, keith, sent a personal letter to 500 ceos across the country, as well as every trading Business Association operating in china, laying out the supply chain dimensions of this. How Companies Need to pursue and look at their own supply chains in order to determine to remove this is not the first time we have confronted issues like this, senator i think you are well aware you have also been a supporter of initiatives like the blood diamonds restrictions or the conflict minerals out of the Great Lakes Region it requires study pressure in setting the bar by the government, which we have done with these companies. It will include enforcement, including using tools and mechanisms like the Security Exchange commission to hold Companies Accountable if they, in fact do not expunged these goods from their supply chains. That is our clear message what is the priority for the department . One of the senior most officials in the department has taken the personal initiative to try to persuade companies around the country to take this action before enforcement. We look forward to continue to engage with the on that, including in the private sector. They need to be responsible in this regard. I would agree with you in this conversation here. Hopefully will help further illuminate and create the expectations that those Companies Need to abide by finally, last week the state Department Released in 2018 diplomatic cable, noting that the Wuhan Institute of virology had, quote, a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to operate this high containment laboratory, close quote. You may be aware, i have been asking since march of this year, repeatedly for these cables and for engagement and a briefing from the department for this committee on the question of covid origins a vital National Security issue. To which i have received no response, no briefing, nothing. Even though all the statements by Senior Level Administration officials on this issue, i find a perplexing that the administration has been unwilling to engage with congress as to these simple requests. As im sure you would where you still here as a senior staff member of this committee. Can you pledge to me that the department, by the end of this week, will schedule this long requested classified briefing and discussion for the committee to take place before the end of this work period, which is ending in another two weeks . I will pledge to try, senator. I will be back in touch with your team through our legislative affairs to seek to schedule such a briefing. Certainly the level of safety in chinese laboratories around the breadth of the peoples republic of china is an ongoing issue of concern. It has been written about extensively in any number of public journals, including a well known Science Magazine story about these cases. We need to make an independent judgment of what you have or dont have. I look forward to, hopefully getting this it has been going on since march. I see the president himself on tv and other Senior Administration officials talk about these things in public for the press for consumption. Members of the United States senate of this committee cannot get access to something as critical to understand the nature of the veracity, the depth of the understanding and whether or not, this is the case that is being promoted by the president. Let me ask you this, its not a question that is classified, does the United States government have clear and convincing evidence that this pandemic originated in and was released from the Wuhan Virology Institute . States, including fellow members of the Vice President s coronavirus has forced, such as doctor red field, doctor fauci as well as our own operational met experts in the state department. I will say that it is inconclusive, but that only highlights the extreme urgency for the World Health Organization inquiry that was authorized at the World Health Agency meeting earlier this year to be able to get on the ground in wuhan, have access to the Wuhan Virology Institute and make that firm determination. I hear you say that it is inconclusive, i asked you whether there was clear, convincing evidence, you said it was inconclusive. I share with you that we should have all of the facts. But until we do have all of the facts, making statements and assertions that are as if they were facts does not serve as well. Thank you mister chairman. Thank you, senator, for members the irreparable remain open till 5 pm friday for questions secretary thank you so much for being here thank you for being so generous with your time and i can tell you we have sit through a lot of these and we really appreciate your good faith effort to address the question sincerely and in good faith and as best you can. So with that, the committee will be adjourned. Thank you, senator. inaudible and books are sold. Washington journal continues. Is calledorganization conservative clergy of color. Its chairman is bishop aubrey shines, joining us from