Focusing on covidien team prevented us from doing that even as we continue to address the pandemic and its impact on us citizens it is important we continue the work on most pressing foreignpolicys challenges in china is one of those especially the case with today is the Trump Administration has recognized china is a strategic and global competitor to the United States will be the greatest form policy challenge United States bases in the decades to come the policy of the Chinese Communist party undermine us interest and values including those we share with allies and partners around the world t t. Covid19 has brought this challenge to the forefront of American Life to know just how much the Chinese Communist partys decisions and actions directly affect us citizens our allies and partners in the entire world and we know the pandemic will not stop their behavior whether hong kong the South China Sea or the border the last three years the Trump Administration has tried to put the United States on a stronger path to compete with china last week i was glad to see longoverdue sanctions on the Chinese CommunistParty Officials bed and elsewhere. I was also pleased that we declared chinas claims in the South China Sea is unlawful and deployed to carrier battle groups there for exercises. And after the Chinese Communist party crushed hong kongs atomic, the president made the tough but necessary decision to end certain types of special treatment for hong kong. And made the administration published a report of the implementation of the china strategy that goes into more detail. So this is a good time for this committee to conduct oversight regarding our objectives, what we have 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. This week i introduce the strengthening trade regional alliances Technology Economic and geopolitical initiatives concerning china or the strategic expert is a comprehensive approach to china with concrete policies in several key areas of the competition. Ill describe some of them briefly. We must continue our focus on chinas anticompetitive economic policies by the Chinese Government engages in intellectual property theft massive financing of Chinese Companies. In the most abusive anti free market tactic of force technology, this is a horrible practice. Forced technology transfer. This is a horrible practice it is reprehensible. These policies are designed to push others out of the market and create monopolies. Innovative American Companies like micro Technology Note these challenges. Their intellectual property was sold by company who then patented that technology in china ensued micro. The strategic act has new tools to protect those caused by such policies among several other provisions free to maintain our economic and technological edge, its not just enough to push back at what china is doing. We also have to strengthen and invest in ourselves. In other committees i have focused on this issue by supporting legislation promoting u. S. Manufacturing of critical technologies, fortifying cybersecurity for infrastructure and small businesses, and strengthening our technology workforce. The strategic to act focuses on increasing Technology Collaboration with allies and partners. Americas the world hub for innovation and we can boost that innovation further by working with our highly capable partner partners. If we do, we will all be in a better position to develop technologists of future and ensure they are used to uphold individual freedom, human rights, and prosperity. Finally i went to stress the importance of deterrence. The United States of course does not seek any military confrontation with china. However chinas military is getting bigger, more capable of becoming more aggressive part in the Indo Pacific Region we should all be a lot more worried about the chinese commonest parties planned for taiwan given what it just its a hong kong. In addition to the South China Sea, japan faces almost daily incursions and pressure in the East China Sea. On the region, chinas belt Road Initiatives also help the Chinese Military expand its presence. We have to make it completely clear to the Chinese Communist party that we are willing and able to defend her interest. That means reaffirming our commitments to our indo pacific allies even if they need to take on a larger role in defending the interest we share. The strategic act focuses on key steps are advancing cooperation with their allies including advocating for several difficult but important policy changes. I want to stress that this bill i have introduced is not does not seek to block china. Rather, what it does is it offers prosperity. It offers an invitation to join the International Community and operate under the rule of law and under international norms. When that happens we will all prosper. We should not miss a bipartisan opportunity that we have today to address these things. I will close with a note about bipartisanship. Time and time again on everything from human rights to investment screening the senate has worked across the island china. Unfortunately in recent months that its become much harder part of a long road 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 weaker paired i introduce this bill to push forward a serious and bipartisan conversation 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 and joining me on that effort. There is both republican and democrat input into this bill, not only from this committee but also from the think tanks around washington d. C. Including democrats think tanks. I hope thisll be the start of more cooperation to come. But we get to a final bill, im very hopeful that that bill will contain items that everyone has an interest in. There has been a number of people that have introduced bills, i know the Ranking Member is about to introduce a bill and ive no doubt there are things there we can all embrace and i hope as we get to a final bill we will have things that we can embrace. And we can do that on a bipartisan basis and with that i will turn it over to Ranking Member senator menendez. Select thank you, mr. Chairman paid my thanks for joining us here today specially to has been so long since we 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 about china and the u. S. China relationship. Unfortunately however i find the Administration Strategies and policies fall well short of answering the enormity of the challenge. We need instead, as the title of this hearing suggests, an effective china strategy. The china of 2020 is not the china of 1972 or even the china of 20000 or 210. Its across every dimension of power, political, power, diplomatic, economic, innovative, military and even cultural it with an alternative and deeply disturbing model for global governance. China today is led by the commonest party is unlike any challenge we have faced as a nation before. Emboldened by the shortcomings and the enablement of the Trump Administration chinas more active and more assertive in the region and in the International Community than ever before. Indeed, just since this past march china has increased its patrols near the san conkle islands in the East China Sea as well as the coercive activities in the South China Sea. Conducted air and maritime controls intending to threaten taiwan, with india along the actual line of control with the Peoples Liberation army first use of force abroad in 30 years. Continue to implement a morally Repugnant Campaign genocide of cool oppression of the to button people and the crushing of its own civil liberties. Just yesterday released a report, the new big brother looking at how china stepped up its game and seeking to export a new model of digital authoritarianism and have new technologies to control its own citizens and people worldwide. But aside from bluster, rhetoric, and some hastily written sanctions, what has responsible for the ministration . The administration is now taking strong action on hong kong. But for months when people of hong kong needed us the president was silent. It was complicit in chinas erosion of hong kong a ptolemy happy to trade hong kong for his socalled trade deal. Along with the chairman, i welcome regular freedom of navigation assertions and the administration recent clarification on the South China Sea. The reality is over the past three years chinas aggression and coercion in the South China Sea has continued completely unchecked. The united kingdoms chains of policy was welcomed, i would suggest in spite us not because of us. And on trade and economic this administration is walked away from building regional architecture embrace the socalled phase one trade deal , which seemingly achieves nothing. Certainly does not address the core structural issues and the relationship and leaves us in the words of your own u. S. Trade representative one at what the end goal of your trade policy i is. And if he doesnt know that we all have a real problem. Arent taiwan i know that every year of the Obama Biden Administration there welcomed and i could go on. In short im that just being confrontational is the same thing as being competitive. That is my question and facts about the action 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 memes, not the end. So while there may be reason for taking this action and i look forward to a briefing on it in an appropriate setting, i want to understand better not just the tactical considerations but how this advances our strategy. What do we expect to have on chinas behavior. When china retaliates as they said they will, what will be our next move . Enter next after that . Im obviously not asking you to disclose specific actions which i know you wont shouldnt this is not a simple twostep dance so help me understand where you think this is all going. I asked is because there should be no doubt we are indeed in his top addition with china and the United States needs a new strategic framework and a new set of organizing principles to address the challenges of this new era. So far despite all the bluster, that affected new strategy has been utterly lacking from this administration. One of the core organizing principles i would suggest is the importance of working in close coordination with her allies and partners to develop a shared and effective approach to china. I have to say the administration has wrongheaded, alienated an attacking approach to our alliances has been one of the disheartening to witness these past several years. Our alliances, our partnerships, and the shared values on which they stand in our reliability the face of adversity are special source for effective Global Leadership in this value driven diplomacy is one of the reasons why senator rubio would not have join colleagues around the globe to form the International Parliamentary alliance of china to provide the vision and build relationships needed for our strategic success. I know you argued this president at the administration has been uniquely successful with china and i know youre good at your jobs. But facts are indeed stubborn things. Before the hearing devolves to a hearing bashing china and the World Health Organization for the covered pandemic, let me assure you that no one in this body has concerns regarding the chinas paranoid took terry lives and contribute to it spread . But blame game politics will not save american lives. Instead of relying on science and knowledge the administration has spent its energies finding fault and racially inflammatory rhetoric that both alienates us on the global stage including at the g7 and the un Security Council. If the administration is truly concerned about chinas maligned intent at the World Health Organization and elsewhere, there is a simple solution. Show up, take action. If the u. S. Leads others will follow. If we leave the field open, of our own country cannot develop a serious strategy at home, others like chinas are only too eager to step into the vacuum. I know the chairman, he is mentioned as introduced legislation with china i welcome his effort. As i mentioned in another hearing this morning im also work with colleagues on a bill to create a comprehensive china strategy. Crosscutting jurisdiction be on this committee including trade and Economic Issues and investments here at home which we plan to shortly introduce. Given the shortcomings of the president s bluster and tactics but no strategy approach to china, make comprehensive and integrated approach is needed. I expect to be many areas of the agreement between my bill in the chairman i look forward to working with him on a combined approach. And it is in this spirit, mr. Secretary, that i implore you today to engage beyond this hearing and a genuine conversation with us about how to Work Together to develop a comprehensive approach to china. To reset our strategy in our diplomacy. To reinvest and replenish the sources of National Strength and competitiveness at home. To place our partnerships and alleys first. That reflects our fundamental values as americans. Thank you, mr. Chairman. So thank you mr. Menendez i think in comparing her to statements we have much to agree on and overall i think we both agree this comprehensive strategy is needed as we go forward. I can assure you when you get that briefing i will certainly agree the closing was appropriate under the circumstances. With that i will turn to our witness, the honorable steven b. Who soared in december 2019 hes serving as a special representative north korea has a three decades of experience in both legislative branches, including the chief of staff of Senate Foreign relations committee. Deputy, we appreciate you being here today and invites you to have the floor. Thank you, mr. Chairman, thank you, senator menendez. I may ask for my full statement to be submitted to the record i would like to give a shorter time to give maximum time for questions from the members today. Certainly will include your full statement with the record. So thank you again for the invitation to testify again today. This is an important moment in u. S. China relations a secretary and i appreciate your serious focus on that of the whole committee and trying to shape a bipartisan approach to this vital policy manner. We recognize to be successful u. S. Policy towards the prc must be grounded in the institution and society. Mr. Chairman for this reason we welcome legislation introduced today, and senator menendez we look forward to seeing yours as well. These are designed to frame the United States strategic approach to the prc and other legislation passed by congress have provided us with crucial tools to advance our policies against a challenges we face. Across multiple administrations the United States has supported chinas entry into the rules based International Order in hopes china will be a partner in upholding international law, norms, institutions in the United States and china could have a friendly relationship with reciprocal benefit. For over three decades u. S. Policies have had a mass outpouring of assistance in letting their foreign investment, facilitation of chinese membership and global institutions, and the education of millions of chinas brightest scholars at our best universities. Where this administration to verges from previous administrations is the will to face the uncomfortable truth in u. S. china relations with the policy for the past three decades simply have not produced the outcomes for which so many had hoped. And that the United States much gem must take Decisive Action to counter the prc at this moment. As stated in the 2017 National Security strategy, despite a huge dividend to the prc in terms of prosperity, trade, and global influence that the Un