On the recordNovember 19, 2019
Madam President, I rise today to speak about the greatest threat the United States faces in the next century, the threat of Communist China. I have been saying, for months, Communist China is not our friend. They are stealing our technology; refusing to open up their markets to foreign goods as required by the WTO; militarizing the South China Sea, even after promising President Obama they wouldn't; holding over 1 million Uighurs in prison camps just for their religion; harvesting the organs of detainees against their will; and Communist China is intentionally pushing fentanyl into the United States, killing Americans every day. Communist China continues to strip the people of Hong Kong of their basic rights. I was the first Senator to visit Hong Kong since the protests started nearly 6 months ago. I had the opportunity to meet with the protestors--students, parents, and grandparents--who are fighting to regain the freedom they were once promised. I heard their stories, horrible and frightening stories of police brutality, threats against individuals and their families, and mysterious disappearances. Six months in and no signs of Communist China loosening their grip-- their efforts to crack down on the protests in Hong Kong reflect their commitment to denying basic human rights and snuffing out any opposition to their totalitarian goals. We cannot stay silent. General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi is trying to be the dominant world power.…





