Small changes sometimes bring big results, Mr. Chairman.

I would just simply say that part of our challenge, which I recognize, if we are going to be intellectually honest, is that, with China as our banker, that is an increasing challenge.

Some would call that an act of war.

I want to know the standards, the material steps that China needs to take to demonstrate the kind of significant progress it would need to raise its ranking.

China is the epicenter of the problem, which is going to kill tens of thousands of Americans per year, unless we stop it.

I see much of the United States political and economic future depending on the Asia-Pacific.

the United States is alarmed by the ongoing crackdown on lawyers, religious adherents, civil society leaders, and by growing attempts to restrict internationally recognized freedoms, including the freedom of speech.

So let me ask you this, if their actions, as you say, are affecting their own interests, but they seem to be on a course that continues to affect their own interests in the negative...

It seems to me that instruments of national power--diplomacy, economic, intelligence, and military--are only useful when they are fully deployed.

Then secondly, there has to be accountability.

I hope that the State Department will accelerate their process here, because it seems that, to some degree, this is an aftermath of the thought.

If President Obama can rally his Cabinet ministers and sub-cabinet officials to fan out in support of his Cuba initiative, he ought to be able to do the same for struggling democratic countries who actually have an affinity for the United…