[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. TUBERVILLE. Madam President, Russia's invasion into Ukraine is 
changing the global order, the likes of which the world has not 
witnessed since the end of the Cold War. Vladimir Putin launched an 
unprovoked and brutal war--one that left the United States and our 
allies shocked and enraged. The global response to Putin's provocation 
was a mix of sharp words, hastily delivered weapons, and targeted 
sanctions, but even as we speak, the actions from the Biden 
administration are still too weak.
  As airwaves were flooded with messages of support and solidarity with 
Ukraine, one major power was very vocal in their support against 
Ukraine, and that was China.
  China vocally took Russia's side very quickly. The two countries 
share a land border, but they also issued a statement of solidarity on 
February 4, just 20 days before the invasion. And there is no doubt 
that China is looking at the Western response to the war unfolding in 
Ukraine, and it plans to consume its neighbor, Taiwan, in the same 
fashion.
  Yesterday, an article in the New York Times detailed the lengths 
China is going to in order to convince its people that their support 
for Russia is righteous and their hatred of the West is justified. The 
article goes on to outline China's pro-Putin propaganda, stating:

       Chinese universities have organized classes to give 
     students a ``correct understanding'' of the war, often 
     highlighting Russia's grievances with the West. Party 
     newspapers have run a series of commentaries blaming the 
     United States of America for the conflict.

  China's political posturing should be taken very, very seriously. The 
CCP is building the foundation for its future actions. Since 1949, the 
Chinese Communist Party has been eyeing Taiwan and patiently waiting. 
They have not attacked because the United States and other free nations 
have strengthened the tiny island. That is the essence of deterrence. 
We want Xi Jinping to look out his window each morning and think: Not 
today.
  Our President's response to Russia's invading Ukraine has not 
inspired confidence in the Pacific. Joseph Wu, Taiwan's Foreign 
Minister, recently stated:

       When we watch the events in Ukraine evolving . . . we are 
     also watching very carefully what China may do [to us] in 
     Taiwan.

  Alarmingly, the White House is indifferent to the warming relations 
between China and Russia. When asked about a recent call between 
President Biden and President Xi, regarding the war in Ukraine, White 
House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, in part:

       China has to make a decision for themselves about where 
     they want to stand.

  In July, President Biden's climate czar, John Kerry, said that he is 
``genuine friends with China'' and continued to praise President Xi.
  Let's get this straight. Russia and China both stand against the 
United States. Neither country is our friend--period. Both seek to 
expand authoritarian world order and diminish American leadership. The 
key difference is that Russia is a small bully, but China is a huge, 
huge threat.
  China's growing economy affords its growing ambition. China became 
the world's largest exporting nation in 2009, and today, China controls 
the world's supply of titanium, rare earth metals, shipbuilding, and 
clothing manufacturing, among others.
  China seeks to control the South China Sea and all the trade that 
flows through it. China wants to replace the dollar as the global 
reserve currency and aims to exceed the military might of the United 
States.
  And there is no secret--there is no secret at all--that China wants 
Taiwan's semiconductor industry.
  Semiconductors power our everyday life. If it has an on-and-off 
switch, it has a chip. Chips are even found nearly everywhere, from our 
credit cards to our phones, to the processors in our weapons, and even 
in our satellites.
  For the sake of our national security, we need to increase domestic 
investment and produce these chips on American soil.
  Currently, the Taiwan-based Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is 
responsible for over 90 percent--90 percent--of these chips, one small, 
little island.
  Over the last decade, China has made investments in their domestic 
semiconductor industry, but Chinese-produced chips don't match the 
quality of those in Taiwan.
  While Taiwan's semiconductor industry is second to none, American 
markets have experienced a surge in private sector investment and 
domestic production.
  In the past year alone, private sector investment in domestic 
semiconductor manufacturing increased to $127 billion, with all signs 
indicating continued growth and investment in the years to come here in 
the United States.
  And that is the way growth and innovation should happen, through the 
private sector, not Federal funding. Continued reliance on offshore 
suppliers for these chips poses too great a threat and risk to the 
supply chains from the CCP.
  As we saw with Putin in the years prior to his invasion of Ukraine, 
Chinese leaders are clear about their plans for Taiwan.
  Just last year, the CCP warned of ``drastic measures'' if Taiwan 
declares independence. Taiwan is independent. Beijing refuses to 
recognize and reckon with reality.
  To deter Chinese aggression, the United States must have our forces 
in the Pacific modernized and ready at any time. That is why it was a 
major win that last year's NDAA secured funding for a robust missile 
defense system for Guam to counter CCP-launched cruise or ballistic 
missiles. Guam is our first line of defense from these, home to 160,000 
Americans who are forward-deployed to defend the west coast and our 
country. Guam is the first island to defend.
  However, as the CCP has continued to grow its military capabilities 
over the last decade, our own military has been hampered by cuts to 
defense spending, leaving our artillery antiquated and our defense 
capabilities weakened.
  President Biden has been no different, offering up disappointing cuts 
to defense priorities in both of his first two budgets. These cuts most 
certainly caught the attention of our adversaries. This is yet another 
example of how sorely out of touch with reality the Biden 
administration is when it comes to defense. We cannot--we cannot--
continue to ask our men and women in uniform to do more with less, 
especially with China watching everything that we do.
  While the world focuses on Eastern Europe, we must remain focused on 
Beijing. China is watching every move we make with regard to Putin, and 
they are taking notes.
  We cannot allow Vladimir Putin's war to set a dangerous precedent. We 
must not make the same mistakes with Taiwan that the administration 
made with Ukraine, and that begins by sending a strong, clear message 
to our allies and adversaries that America will always be the world's 
most foremost superpower.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.