Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Ambassadors to China, Japan, Singapore

October 20, 2021

Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Ambassadors to China, Japan, Singapore

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee nomination hearing. The first panel consisted of the Honorable R. Nicholas Burns, nominee to be ambassador to the People's Republic of China. The second panel consisted of the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, nominee to be ambassador to Japan, and Mr. Jonathan Eric Kaplan, nominee to be ambassador to the Republic of Singapore.

Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks for the first panel:

"Well thank you, Mr. Chairman.

"Like many members of the committee, I have known Nick for a long time. We first met in the early part of the last decade in Luxembourg, when he was serving as the ambassador to NATO. I think it is appropriate that Ambassador Burns was appointed to this position which really demands a bipartisan approach, and I think Congress, notwithstanding our other emaciations on other issues, has certainly taken a bipartisan approach to the challenges that China has presented to us and that we will face over the rest of the century, I believe.

"The position of ambassador to China is one of the most important ambassadorial nominations we will consider in this committee.

"The People's Republic of China is leveraging its political, diplomatic, economic, military, technological, and ideological power to wage strategic competition against the United States. Chinese Communist Party policies and actions threaten U.S. interests and values, as well as allies and partners, on just about every continent, but particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

"While this challenge will persist for decades, the competition is here, now - and we must act urgently. Advancing U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region must be our number one foreign policy priority. If confirmed, Ambassador Burns, you will be on the front lines of this competition.

"There are a few priorities that form the foundation of the bipartisan Strategic Competition Act, led by Senator Menendez and myself, which passed through this committee earlier this year.

"First, China's growing military might is dramatically shifting the regional balance of power in the Indo-Pacific in its favor. We need to counter China's conventional and nuclear build-up that threatens our interests and our allies.

"Nowhere is China flexing this military might as much as it is in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan's President Tsai is right: "If Taiwan were to fall, the consequences would be catastrophic for regional peace and the democratic alliance system." It is imperative that we work actively to deter PRC coercion and aggression towards Taiwan.

"Another issue that is not discussed as often - but must be - is China's pursuit of life sciences research with potential for weaponization, causing concern about potential violations of the Biological Weapons Convention. I have introduced legislation - the Biological Weapons Policy "Act - that would give our country team in China a larger role in ensuring that biological research cooperation with China does not put us, or the world, at risk.

"Second, our diplomatic mission in China must be strengthened to address the economic and political facets of the competition at hand. That includes providing information to decision makers in Washington on how the CCP seeks to exert undue political influence in our open society.

"On the economic front, we must ensure our economic corps in Mission China is up to the task of dealing with new challenges. China is rolling out laws and regulations to punish companies for complying with U.S. law, including our sanctions laws. The Chinese government is also stamping out remaining free market activity by asserting control over its own financial institutions and technology companies.

"Another challenge where we need an active economic corps is addressing pressing supply chain vulnerabilities, especially in technology and health care.

"Of course, advancing human rights must continue to be a central priority in our China policy.

"Ambassador Burns, you face a tough environment - China has said it won't work with us on anything until the United States gives into the demands of its "two lists." You and I discussed those lists yesterday, and someday I hope to be able to see those lists. How the Biden Administration plans to deal with that is not clear.

"In our diplomatic engagements, China has repeatedly shown a lack of interest in good-faith discussions. Yet, the administration continues to assert that China can be a partner on a variety of issues, notably climate.

"On Taiwan, I applaud recent defense sales, but we have also seen a lot of unclear messaging, including recent allusions to a "Taiwan agreement."

"And despite China's massive and unconstrained nuclear build-up, the administration is considering a 'sole-purpose' nuclear declaratory policy that would put U.S. allies at immense risk and shake confidence in U.S. deterrence commitments. I know that our allies have communicated serious objections to the administration on this topic. So far, the administration is refusing to share those communications with Congress.

"This issue is even more important given China's test this past weekend of a fractional orbital bombardment system carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle. Such a system would allow the PRC to completely circumvent U.S. early warning capabilities and increase the vulnerability of the continental U.S. to a nuclear attack.

"I look forward to hearing how you plan to address all of these challenges to help us win this competition.

"With that, I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Chairman."

Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks for the second panel:

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to both of our nominees for your willingness to serve, and your family's as well.

"On the nomination of ambassador to Japan - our alliance with Japan is the bedrock of our ability to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. Over the past decades, the U.S.-Japan alliance has become a critical example of how strong defense ties can bring about stability and prosperity.

"As we look forward to working with the new Japanese prime minister and his team, it is vital that we strengthen and sustain this critical alliance, especially in the face of growing regional threats.

"We've seen important steps in that direction, including the emphasis on cooperation with Japan, Australia, and India through the Quad.

"The U.S. and Japan are also working together with other partners in the region to finance the construction of a reliable and secure undersea cable connecting Palau to the rest of the Indo-Pacific, as well as bring electricity to Papua New Guinea. This is the foundation for future U.S.-Japan cooperation in advanced technology, supply chain diversification, global health, and other critical areas.

"On the security front, we must maintain and strengthen the credibility of U.S. extended deterrence commitments. I've said it before and I'll say it again now: a sole-purpose nuclear declaratory policy, or any perceived weakening of our extended deterrent, is a betrayal of our alliances in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan.

"We must also ensure our system is equipped to provide advanced capabilities to our allies in the region. To achieve this, Japan must do its part and work with us on cybersecurity and technology security, as committed during the Biden-Suga summit. However, certain parts of the State Department that come up with reasons not to provide these critical capabilities are a major impediment on this issue.

"If confirmed, Mr. Emanuel, you are going to see the security environment we face firsthand, and I expect that you will counter instincts and policies that would weaken our security ties with Japan. We shouldn't tolerate those.

"On to the nomination, Mr. Kaplan, of being ambassador to Singapore.

"If confirmed, you will be our steward in one of our closest partners in Southeast Asia. Idahoans know just how important our security partnership with Singapore is. We are proud to host, and have for some time, Singaporean F-15 pilots and their families as they train at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

"We should all support expanding our security cooperation with Singapore, building on the Memorandum of Understanding renewed in 2019.

"On the economic side, I want to hear how you will apply your private sector background to growing economic cooperation with Singapore, including on supply chain issues. Singapore is an important trading partner for the state of Idaho.

"On the defense side, Singapore has made clear that while it seeks a close relationship with the United States, it also seeks to maintain cooperation with China, including through increased defense ties. Another critical task for our next ambassador is to work with Singapore on issues where China seeks to exert pressure or undue influence in the country.

"And, along with the chairman, I want to underscore the meeting that we had that I think was a very significant and forward-looking meeting we had with the people of Singapore.

"I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of those issues.

"With that, back to the chairman."

These remarks have been lightly edited for clarity. Witness testimony is available on foreign.senate.gov.

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