Mitt Romney

But what are the other dimensions do you think of that key strategy?

I appreciate the fact that you have given me a heads up on this already today privately that we are going to make progress on the demonstration of the U.S. strategy vis-a-vis China, and again, its intent is to not confront but to help…

It is, I think, apparent to everyone that China goes to great lengths to try and convince other countries to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

But what are the other dimensions do you think of that key strategy?

It is important to have a strategy that goes beyond words.

I would think that China's calculation about action of a hostile nature against Taiwan would encompass not just military might but also the response diplomatically of nations around the world, but also economic impact.

I think it sends a signal to would be aggressors around the world of all kinds that we will stand by our commitments and that we honor and respect the rights of democratic people to retain their freedoms and their vision for their own…

I think Xi Jinping is an intelligent person, that military action is not the right path for him to consider for a lot of reasons.

That is their objective.

It would seem that they are succeeding in that effort, and we are probably not being quite as effective.

We stand for peace, stability----

It is important to have a strategy that goes beyond words.

I would think that China's calculation about action of a hostile nature against Taiwan would encompass not just military might but also the response diplomatically of nations around the world, but also economic impact.

I, for one, was surprised to see their treatment of Australia, for instance, and wondered how that could possibly be in their interest to offend a nation in their region as they did, obviously, a nation with which we have a close…

Some weeks ago I asked Taiwan's representative to the United States, what was the single most important thing we could do to convince China that it would be unwise to consider a military action of invasion against Taiwan, and the…

But what are the other dimensions do you think of that key strategy?

But I would note China invests in things that are going to help China down the road.

I think Xi Jinping is an intelligent person, that military action is not the right path for him to consider.

I would note that the law that was passed called for this to be presented to Congress, some in public, and then some classified, as opposed to just an in camera review. So I would expect that the State Department would follow the law as…

I am confident in our standing in these regions and what we offer.

China goes to great lengths to try and convince other countries to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

They have done a number of things which have weakened, from my perspective, their ties with those nations.

That is the objective.

I think it sends a signal to would be aggressors around the world of all kinds that we will stand by our commitments and that we honor and respect the rights of democratic people to retain their freedoms and their vision for their own…

I appreciate the fact that you have given me a heads up on this already today privately that we are going to make progress on the demonstration of the U.S. strategy vis-a-vis China, and again, its intent is to not confront but to help…