Political Quotes

For the record, Mr. Secretary, since my time has expired would you respond to that question for me, what are we doing to get the Solomon Islands to be aligned with us, particularly in our security partnership with Australia?

We do not have any free trade agreements being promoted in the region. We have a behemoth of an economic challenge with China in this region.

If we do not have a robust trade agenda in the Pacific Island countries that they will not by desire, maybe, but by default ultimately deal with the Chinese.

So is it also fair to say that since China is the economic force within that region that we are challenged in terms of our own national interests in meeting that economic force with one that can compete with it?