Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Chair, if you think that unilateral sanctions on 200 members in China is going to work, I got a bridge to sell you. Nothing is going to work--unilateral, none of it. All it will do is drive us against some of our Indo-Pacific friends, colleagues, and allies. H.R. 3334 is a deliberate effort to undermine all of what we are trying to do. It would rupture the U.S.-China relationship. It would create collateral damage that would impact American workers, families, and companies. It would make America look like the instigator and divide us from our partners. It would make a conflict more likely by undermining the ability to have open lines of communication with the PRC civilian and military leaders about Taiwan or the South China Sea. Shutting down communication channels is not what diplomacy is about. That is not what this committee is about. Shutting down communication channels, specifically with the PRC, is not a strategy for success. American officials, diplomats, and military leaders must be able to engage directly with their PRC counterparts in Washington and elsewhere to address concerns and reduce tensions. Ambassador Burns, who was recently here, urges communications even between Members of Congress and members of the PRC, not to back down from them but to make sure they understand what we say and what our positions are. Dialogue and conversation, that is diplomacy.…”