John McCain

I want to thank the Chairman for having it.

No, no ma'am. He's a decent family man citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not.

America's national interests in the Asia-Pacific region are deep and enduring.

We will fly, sail anywhere. Then he stated, quote, after all, turning an underwater rock into an airfield simply does not afford the rights of sovereignty or permit restrictions on international air or maritime transport.

It is an option that has not been exercised in 3 years.

I welcome the witnesses. Secretary Shear, it is nice to see you again and thank you for your continued outstanding service, including as our Ambassador to Vietnam.

The South China Sea does not belong to China.

We only encourage miscalculation when there is a gap between our words and our actions.

No country has benefited more from a peaceful regional order in the Asia-Pacific region than China.

We must uphold the principle of freedom of the seas for commercial and military purposes on, under, and below the water.

Unfortunately, we increasingly see a pattern of behavior from China that suggests that some of our highest hopes for our relationship are not materializing.

That we freely operate in the South China Sea is a success? It is a pretty low bar, Mr. Secretary.

I am confident in our ability to take the fight to China, if it should come to that, and I certainly hope it does not.

The best sign of respecting freedom of the seas is not to de facto recognize a 12-mile limit

I would like to hear from the witnesses on what the Department believes is the best way forward to address this activity and whether current efforts are sufficient to deescalate tension and convince the Chinese Government to pursue a legal…

We need to develop options and act on them to deter these admittedly unconventional threats.

Well, thank you, Admiral.

I am also quite concerned with North Korea's recent rhetoric that it is improving its nuclear arsenal in, quote, quality and quantity, further contributing to the heightened tensions in the region.

We must remain clear-eyed about the implications of China's rapid military modernization.

China's military modernization continues with its emphasis on advanced systems that appear designed to project power.

We just ask this Committee to walk alongside us.

Thank you for a very eloquent statement that I think brings into focus the emotional stress that has been unnecessarily placed on you and all of your fellow members of the Navajo Nation.

So far no one has been held responsible except 'the agency.'

Someone is responsible for the accident that happened. An accident happened. A river was polluted and people were not notified.

So it took two days to notify the Navajo Nation. Has anyone been fired for the Navajos complaint that notification and emergency response was not adequate?