[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2132-S2133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 China

  Madam President, now on an entirely different matter, over the 
weekend, the Secretary of State traveled to Beijing and engaged senior 
Chinese officials, including President Xi, in meetings intended to 
reduce our differences. Managing and reducing tensions with America's 
adversaries is a typical responsibility, of course, for the Secretary 
of State. But this isn't necessarily an end in itself. It is a means of 
advancing other key interests.
  Reports of the Secretary's meetings suggest Beijing blamed America 
for increasing tensions. Well, I certainly hope Secretary Blinken 
responded by holding up a mirror to the PRC.
  Madam President, it is China that has increasingly threatened the 
people of Taiwan with military force. It is China that continues to 
test the limits of cyber espionage around the world. It is China that 
has stepped up threatening and unsafe interactions with U.S. vessels 
and aircraft operating legally in international waters. It is China 
that continues to do business with Iran, enriching the world's top 
state sponsor of terror. It is China that continues to provide cover 
for Russian aggression in Ukraine.
  It is China that continues to wrongfully detain innocent foreign 
citizens, including Americans, while repressing its own citizens. And 
as just reported today, it is China that wants to build a military 
training facility in Cuba, 100 miles from U.S. soil.
  China's conduct threatens stability across the Indo-Pacific. And it 
calls into question Beijing's willingness to behave responsibly, 
especially as the PRC rejected U.S. efforts to reestablish military-to-
military communications to deescalate and prevent incidents.
  These are the plain facts. One side is ramping up its provocative 
behavior. And this week, the Senate Armed Services Committee should 
reflect on Beijing's behavior as it considers the National Defense 
Authorization Act.
  The NDAA is our primary opportunity to set Congress's national 
security priorities. It is a critical chance to

[[Page S2133]]

determine how America should deter and defend against growing threats 
from the PRC.
  And it is the Congress's basic responsibility to establish 
appropriate funding levels for our Armed Forces. So our colleagues on 
the Armed Services Committee will be called upon to carefully consider 
the requirements identified by our commanders that have gone unfunded 
in President Biden's budget.
  They should think about the steps that could improve our ability to 
project power into the Asia-Pacific or the assistance that could 
support vulnerable partners in that region.
  So remember, threats of sanctions and stern diplomatic warnings don't 
deter Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. Words alone will not deter Chinese 
aggression in Asia. The Biden administration can continue to speak 
softly, but Congress must ensure that America carries a big stick.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority whip is recognized.