John Kerry: “Let me say, very quickly, that the sale of weapons measured against the policy decisions in a set of relationships that…”

“Let me say, very quickly, that the sale of weapons measured against the policy decisions in a set of relationships that are critical to the balance of power and the threat and danger and so forth has never been translated into a jobs program. If you want it to be--$6 billion spent on these upgrades--Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and a host of companies will benefit from that $6 billion and may benefit from the sale of weapons down the road. This is a policy issue. The policy question is whether the President of Taiwan can speak for Taiwan as the Senator from Texas speaks for Taiwan. It is whether we are going to be adequately meeting the needs of the TRA and the foreign policy priorities of an administration that, it seems to me, given the statements of the President of Taiwan, not only don't violate it but sustain the relationship of the TRA. I have proudly voted in support of Taiwan for the entire time I have been here, 26 years. I believe I am voting for them today, even as I oppose this amendment but support the administration's $6 billion program for upgrade and those 145 F-16s--and maybe we will sell them some others. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has elapsed.”