Political Quotes

“when the story of the 21st century is written, there will be a couple chapters about Vladimir Putin's Russia, most certainly chapters about radical jihadists, and perhaps a few chapters on some other things we have yet to fully anticipate. There still remains over 80 years in this century, but there is no doubt that the vast majority of the story about the 21st century will be about the relationship between the United States and China. China-- the most populous nation on Earth, the second largest economy, and soon to be the largest economy on the planet--is a country that cannot be contained. It will be a major factor, both economically and geopolitically, as it should be for a nation of that magnitude and a culture that deep, with such long history. However, there are imbalances developing in that relationship, which I believe are threatening, not just to our Nation but ultimately to the peace and security and the stability of the world. It is on that topic I wanted to come to the floor and speak today and perhaps about some of the things we need to do about it. There was a consensus--which I would admit I, perhaps, from time to time, was a partaker in--that China was a country that would, eventually, as it grew more prosperous, become not just more democratic but more willing to live by the rules the world has conducted itself by since the end of the Second World War. Perhaps I wasn't as strong an adherent to that as some others.…”