I could not agree with you more on the imperative of this challenge.

We are not trying to contain China.

China represents the most consequential geopolitical challenge we face today.

not being a part of that is a self-inflicted wound.

The policy that administration after administration has pursued over 5 decades... has done very well.

We are not demanding that other countries 'choose' between us and China--but rather, are offering a more attractive choice.

It would reduce our efforts to engage and build the kinds of partnerships we need to push back against that influence.

Our budget proposal will allow us to further deepen our diplomatic footprint in the Indo-Pacific.

One of the concerns that we have going back some years is that Beijing no longer seems to accept the status quo in Taiwan.

We do not seek conflict with China, or a new Cold War, we are not trying to contain China.

We have already sanctioned a number of Chinese enterprises and entities, for engaging in the transfer of precursors for fentanyl.

What we have done every single step along the way is to try to adjust to where the war was, where the aggression was, to give the Ukrainians what they need to take back, yes to take back the land that had been seized from them.