Mazie Hirono actually said...

"I think there definitely is a connection between setting certain standards and the spurring of developments that would help us meet those standards."

"The Southeast Asian allies and likeminded partners are going to be key going into the future."

"We need to provide a lot more of that kind of focused attention, face time, acknowledgement of the importance of those alliances."

"I would say the countries we are dealing with in TPP--they would be much better off in the kind of system that we are promoting as opposed to dealing with a huge, powerful entity like China."