[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 53 (Monday, March 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1661-S1662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on Thursday, the Biden administration 
officials had their first person-to-person meeting with representatives 
from the People's Republic of China. By diplomatic standards, the 
opening public exchange was tense. The belligerent grandstanding by PRC 
diplomats was, unfortunately, no surprise. It is what we have come to 
expect.
  As China's military and economic might have grown, Beijing has found 
that the bullying tactics that people call their ``wolf warrior'' 
diplomatic strategy have often worked out for them. So I was glad the 
U.S. team used the opportunity to cut through the CCP's spin and tell 
some plain truths about China's regional bullying and disrespect for 
the rule of law, whether in Hong Kong or Tibet.
  I am also glad the administration has sent U.S. personnel to join 
other diplomats in Beijing to protest the secret trial of Canadian 
citizen Michael Kovrig.
  But like I said last week, calling out China rhetorically is just the 
first step. An effective U.S. strategy will require more than just 
tough talk and symbolism.
  The PRC poses all matter of threats to the United States and to the 
free world. They want to control crucial sea lanes in the South China 
Sea. They want to expand their capabilities to menace other countries' 
forces, including ours, with increasingly accurate long-range weapons. 
They want to rewrite the rules of the international system to suit 
their interests instead of ours and our friends.
  These are hard and real challenges. Facing them down will require 
strength and resolve from the United States and from our partners. So 
like I said last week, if the administration is serious about staying 
tough on China and strengthening our hand, they will have support among 
Senate Republicans.
  But any such serious strategy will need to start with maintaining and 
building up the backbone of our hard power--the competitive edge of the 
U.S. military. To defend America, defend America's interests, and deter 
adversaries, we need to sustain our military edge. And to sustain our 
edge, we need to modernize our forces and maintain our capability to 
project power.
  Defense spending is the single most important policy lever available 
to us in our competition with China. The President's budget submission 
will tell Beijing a lot about whether the Biden administration intends 
to back up tough talk with actual strength.
  Finally, whatever Congress may do to step up our game on China, it 
will be essential that it be bipartisan. The legislative components of 
national security should not swing wildly every time the gavels change 
hands.

[[Page S1662]]

  It is a perfect demonstration of why scrapping the 60-vote threshold 
for legislation would be catastrophic. For important bills to have a 
stable and lasting impact, they need broad bipartisan buy-in.

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