They are efforts to, basically, make these nations economically, politically, and, eventually, militarily dependent on and vulnerable to China.

One of the first things autocratic rulers do, almost by definition, is they violate the human rights of their people.

What are your recommendations for the President, as far as how important that challenge is?

the major faultline in global affairs repeatedly is the competition, really a global competition between autocratic systems of governance and the democratic system

Defending human rights isn't just a good thing to do or just the right moral thing to do, which it most certainly is.

There is no equivalence between the promotion of democracy and Russian and other attempts to interfere in democracy.

Promoting democracy is in the vital national interests of the United States.

They have most certainly not embraced democracy. They have actually gotten more autocratic.

We have to start from the basis that we are in a competition.

I really do believe that the administration's decision on TPS is going to make that even more challenging.

I want to make sure I do not forget to get back to the point you just raised, because I think it is at the heart of what is happening in this region and all over the world.

The hearing of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues will come to order.