▶ 0:17:08>> of the foreign relations committee will come to order. We are going to do this in a little unorthodox way today. We have a business meeting, we are going to need more members here for the business meeting so we are going to go ahead and start the nominations hearing and then when we have the numbers here, on both sides, both majority and minority, particularly these days and they are all busy and we have other places we have to be, and so we need to accommodate everybody as
▶ 0:17:38Best we can to see that we get them where they need to be. Anyway, let's go ahead and start with the nominations hearing. We will start with -- we have two people we are going to hear today. We are going to hear senator david purdue and Mrs. monica crowley and we do have some introductions.
▶ 0:18:08Senator daines is going to introduce. Are you going to introduce?
▶ 0:18:17Sen. Daines: Chairman risch, thank and ranking member shaheen, members of the committee, it is truly my honor to introduce a very good friend of mine and former member of this committee, senator david purdue as president trump's nominee for ambassador to china. Welcome back, david. In fact, david purdue once served as chairman of the subcommittee on state department oversight.
▶ 0:18:47Sen. Daines: I've known david for over 10 years as a friend, a colleague, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and we welcome his family were here and those who are also watching today. David had a successful career as a businessman.
▶ 0:19:09Sen. Daines: Having worked at several large companies he served as senior vice president of operations for senator lee, ceo of the reebok brand, and is part of his work, he frequently traveled to asia and europe, but most extensively to china.
▶ 0:19:29Sen. Daines: And ironically back in the 1990's, he lived in hong kong and singapore at the same time I lived in china when I worked for procter & gamble. And even though our paths never crossed back in the 90's, we both gained significant perspective on the relationship between the united states and china.
▶ 0:19:50Sen. Daines: In fact, it wasn't until we found ourselves in the same freshman class of senators in 2015 that we discovered our shared history. We became fast friends," he, working together on many consequential projects.
▶ 0:20:10Sen. Daines: Most notably in 2019, in fact it was september, a trip I will never forget, david and I traveled to china where he was instrumental in helping negotiate the phase one trade deal that president trump and xi jinping signed in 2020. With president trump back in the white house and with new challenges and opportunities facing us in the indo pacific, the united states ambassador to china is one of the most consequential foreign policy posts in the administration.
▶ 0:20:43Sen. Daines: The economies of the united states and china together make up about 43% of the global gdp. To put it simply, this is a relationship that is too big to fail. Now more than ever, we need an ambassador advocating for american producers, american companies, american manufacturers and expanding our market access. Notably, the united states is facing unprecedented drug war.
▶ 0:21:12Sen. Daines: Last year nearly 100,000 americans died due to fentanyl poisoning, so where is this coming from? It's mexican drug cartels primarily to manufacture the sleep drugs, but it's chemicals coming straight from china that are manufacturing the drugs. China must do its part to stop exporting these raw materials across the globe.
▶ 0:21:39Sen. Daines: These challenges are daunting and we need an ambassador who is clear eyed about the geopolitical realities we face and one who also possesses a deep understanding for the culture and the customs of the chinese people. And that person is david purdue. A husband, father, grandfather, a man of faith and a man of character.
▶ 0:22:04Sen. Daines: He loves his country, people put america first at home and abroad. David and bonnie, thank you forgetting back in the arena and thank you for being willing to serve our great country. >> thanks so much. The senator who is going to introduce you isn't here yet, so again, I want to apologize.
▶ 0:22:33Sen. Daines: We are going to do things a little differently. >> we are good to go, we have a quorum.
▶ 0:22:43Chair Risch: We are going to adjourn the hearing and go to a business meeting briefly. Please meet with us, we have one holdover from the last business meeting we had, and that is Mr. reed rubenstein, so I will call the business meeting to order. Is there a motion to report Mr. rubenstein to the floor? >> move.
▶ 0:23:05Chair Risch: Moved and seconded. >> thank, Mr. chairman. I just want to say a few words about the nominee who has been chosen to be the legal advisor for the state department, Mr. rubinstein. I believe each nominee should have a chance to make his or her case and a hearing before this committee, and Mr.
▶ 0:23:27Chair Risch: Rubenstein was given that chance, but at a time when this administration is showing disregard for the law and the constitution, I find it deeply troubling that this hearing he would not commit to upholding the law.
▶ 0:23:45Chair Risch: This shouldn't be a difficult question especially for an attorney with his history cannot be a position that attracts a lot of attention, but the person filling this role has enormous influence over the direction of our nation's foreign policy. The role advise the secretary of state and the entire state department on everything from the law of war to issuing the says to arms sales to keeping congress informed.
▶ 0:24:12Chair Risch: I support nominees who are experienced and deserving of senate confirmation regardless of who nominates them. But I don't believe that Mr. rubenstein should be confirmed, particularly at this moment in time for such a consequential position when he couldn't even say that he would uphold the rule of law. So I intend to oppose his nomination and I hope my colleagues carefully consider as I know they always do with their votes.
▶ 0:24:41Chair Risch: Thank you, senator shaheen, we appreciate that. Is there further debate on the nomination? Being none, the clerk will call the role. [calling roll]
▶ 0:25:31Chair Risch: >> aye, clerk can report.
▶ 0:25:35Chair Risch: The motion has carried. We will adjourn the business meeting and return to our nominations hearing. With that, senator cruz having arrived, you care to introduce this crowley? >> thank, Mr. chairman, ranking member, members of the committee. It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce the leader, a patriot, and my longtime friend.
▶ 0:26:04Chair Risch: I've had the pleasure of knowing monica for decades now. In fact she was one of the very first people to have me on her radio show some 20 years ago when I was the sg of texas, and we had been friends, she later became one of my very first supporters when I decided to run for senate, so for everything I've done wrong to you, you can blame monica, it is her fault. >> this is not good.
▶ 0:26:30Chair Risch: >> I may be lobbying for votes against you on both sides of the aisle, I apologize for that. Apart from her to stay which character enter exemplary leadership, monica has all the credentials for the position of chief of protocol. She has multiple masters degrees and holds a phd in international relations for columbia university. She is a new york times best-selling author, and she has had an extremely successful media career. On top of that her work -- she's worked for two presidents.
▶ 0:27:03Chair Risch: I just way too she was hired as a research assistant under president richard nixon, and she remained quite close to president nixon and I will say to this day both monica and hugh human are angry at me because I wrote a book chapter blasting nixon as a crook. I apologize, monica, but he was a crook. She later served as assistant secretary of the treasury during president trump's first term.
▶ 0:27:28Chair Risch: Monica is dedicated to service and has been a leader in the academy, in media and government. Once again she is stepping forward to serve our nation at the highest level of diplomatic engagement and she is well-qualified to represent the president and the interest of the american people overseas and at home. Mr. chairman, ranking member, members of the committee, I highly encourage you to support the nomination of monica for assistant secretary of state, ambassador and chief.
▶ 0:27:58Chair Risch: Thank you very much, senator cruz. What we will do now is I'm going to make a few opening remarks, and then yield to my distinguished colleague to do likewise. We will then hear from the two nominees. We will then open it up to a round of five-minute questions if there is a desire to do so. Let me say that today we will consider two more of president trump's nominees. Ms.
▶ 0:28:28Chair Risch: Monica crowley to be the state department's chief of protocol and Mr. david purdue to be the ambassador to china. Senator padilla, I might say about -- perdue, I might say that many of our nominees that we see here that they have a big job ahead of them. That goes really very strongly for you. China is our biggest challenge over the century, we all know that they challenge us in many ways.
▶ 0:28:58Chair Risch: And I would say that president trump and I agree that china is america's greatest long-term competitor to put it as kindly as it possibly can at this moment. But as you know, the previous ministration treated china like an ally who we disagreed with rather than an authoritarian aggressor that takes advantage of america and our allies at every level. The chinese government is funny mentally different than that of the united states.
▶ 0:29:25Chair Risch: Where america promotes free markets and innovation, china clamps down on business, steals ip, and dumps products, distorting american markets. Where america believes every person is created equal and has god-given, inalienable rights, the chinese government is committing genocide against muslim uighurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in china and harassing people in the united states living on american soil who disagree with the chinese communist party.
▶ 0:29:56Chair Risch: And where america believes in protecting a free and open indo pacific, the chinese government coerces its neighbors and pursues the opposite. China isn't acting alone here, but rather it is building an authoritarian alliance with russia, iran and north korea to undercut the united states. To its belt and wrote in addition, china looks to recruit nontraditional allies around the world, lowering them in with predatory investments to draw them farther away from america.
▶ 0:30:26Chair Risch: In this administration, in his first term, it will be tough on china and he will do the work to get results. I look forward to hearing about how you will execute on his vision and dress the myriad of economic military, technological and ideological threats that china poses to the united states of america.
▶ 0:30:48Chair Risch: Particularly, I hope to hear how you will compel the chinese government to address the flow of fentanyl into the united states and stop china from financially popping up companies that produce it. I know that with president trump at the helm, the days of endless dialogue to no effect are over. I hope you make it clear to your chinese counterparts that they won't be able to sweettalk their way out of making real change.
▶ 0:31:15Chair Risch: This crowley, at this turbulent time in foreign policy you will be at the center of many important conversations, difficult negotiations and of course, happy celebrations that will mark this administration. As chief of protocol you will be charged with reading an environment that is conducive to working with our allies, and countering our adversaries all to advance president trump and secretary rubio's foreign policy. I look forward to hearing how you will work to foster cooperation that advances american interests.
▶ 0:31:44Chair Risch: I appreciate both of you for being here today and I appreciate both of you the ambling to serve under what are going to be difficult circumstances as we move forward and with that, I will turn it over to my distinguished ranking member senator shaheen.
▶ 0:31:57Senator Shaheen: Welcome to today's nominees, and to your families. We appreciate your willingness to continue to serve the country. Around the world right now, china is stepping in as we are stepping back, sadly.
▶ 0:32:14Senator Shaheen: China is replacing cancel american child nutrition programs in cambodia, china's rescue workers are responding to the earthquakes in myanmar before the united states, and chinese disinformation is going to fill the vacuum that has been left by efforts to eliminate radio free asia and voice of america. And at the same time, the threats of tariffs and trade wars are undermining trust in the united states as a reliable partner to china's advantage.
▶ 0:32:43Senator Shaheen: Just this week, two longtime allies, japan and south korea met with china to deepen trade ties in response to president trump's terrace. This is a trend that extends beyond asia, sadly. From greenland to the panama canal, saber rattling to extract concessions will be from the government around the world to hedge their bets with the united states, to explore closer relationships with china in the long term, take the republic of
▶ 0:33:13Senator Shaheen: Georgia, for example which canceled a port contract with western firms. Recent reports indicate that it intends to award the project which is on the black sea to a chinese company. This is an issue that both chairman risch and I have worked very hard on to try to move georgia forward, and it is deeply disappointing to see this opportunity slip away. Senator padilla, I know you are aware of the challenge that china poses. We had a very good conversation on that.
▶ 0:33:45Senator Shaheen: I know that presidents of both parties have also recognized this threat and that president trump certainly has articulated this threat, but I'm afraid that despite recognizing the threat, we are actually weakening our hand by our actions. Congress's failure to extend the global engagement center last year was a serious setback for our ability to counter disinformation. Meanwhile china is spending billions of dollars on propaganda.
▶ 0:34:15Senator Shaheen: We need more tools like the global engagement center, not fewer. Beijing sells itself as a reliable anti-colonial answer to america, but of course we know that is not true. The chinese communist party ruthlessly targets diaspora communities and human rights groups. They leverage corrupt investments to influence decision-makers from africa and latin america across the nation and they tried to buy off politicians in australia and new zealand to undermine democratic elections.
▶ 0:34:47Senator Shaheen: Beijing is not afraid to use hard power. China's coast guard harasses philippine forces. Beijing is stepping up military exercises over the taiwan straight including just this past week. And in ukraine, china and north korea have been actively supporting putin's war machine. In light of president trump's tariffs, Mr. chairman, I would like to enter the record a fort affairs article by stephen brooks who is a professor at dartmouth college in new hampshire.
▶ 0:35:18Senator Shaheen: It's titled the real china trump card, a case against decoupling.
▶ 0:35:23Chair Risch: That will be in the record.
▶ 0:35:25Sen. Shaheen: It says and I quote that a peace decoupling would cost washington one of the strongest tools it has to deter chinese aggression. Senator padilla, you certainly have your work cut out for you. I look forward to hearing your plans for what you hope to achieve if confirmed to lead the U.S. mission in the people's republic of china. The dismantling of U.S.
▶ 0:35:46Sen. Shaheen: Foreign assistance, ending support for independent media, and the erosion of alliances means you will go into a position if you were tools to counter the p.r.c. So I'd like to understand how you plan to manage one of the greatest adversaries about time in this context.
▶ 0:36:07Sen. Shaheen: Miss crowley, I'm sure you noted that I have focused the bulk of my remarks on the issue of china, but I also want to hear from you on how you would approach the post of chief of protocol should you be confirmed. Thank you, and think he was the chairman.
▶ 0:36:21Chair Risch: Thank you, senator shaheen. Are you sure you still want to do this? Had added, you've got five minutes to tell us why. We would ask you both to keep your remarks to five minutes. Anything else you would like to put in the record?
▶ 0:36:43Sen. Perdue: Chairman risch, breaking never shaheen, members of the committee and staff, good morning. And thank you for this opportunity to meet with you today. Senator daines, thank you as well for that generous introduction. It is my high honor to have been nominated by president trump as a country's 14 ambassador to the people's republic of china. I have to tell you, it feels very strange sitting over here instead of sitting over there.
▶ 0:37:13Sen. Perdue: Supporting here today is my wife , whom I met in first grade, that's a true story. Our sons, their wives, my grandsons are all watching from home. They have other responsibilities today. Unexpectedly, also joining me today is my other family, past alumni of my senate staff are here. I think they are here, but I don't want to embarrass them.
▶ 0:37:45Sen. Perdue: As a fortune 500 ceo and as a U.S. senator and ex-pat living in europe and asia, I developed a global perspective on the relationship between our two countries. As chair of the sf rc and the sask seapower subcommittee, I witnessed firsthand the complexities of their relationship with china which is the most consequential diplomatic challenge of the point for century. Since establishing formal relations with the p.r.c. In 1979, the U.S.
▶ 0:38:15Sen. Perdue: Is open its markets to china and has supported economic rise. More than 2 million chinese students have been educated at american universities. With U.S. support china has taken full advantage of our nation, wto membership and developing nation status. But has often failed to live up to commensurate responsibilities.
▶ 0:38:39Sen. Perdue: China has also expanded its authoritarian influence in international organizations like the united nations, nato, the world bank -- not nato, w.h.o., and the world bank, sorry. Marxist nationalism is reshaping china and their global ambitions threaten the current world order. Since 2000, china has doubled its nuclear arsenal, grown its military at a place unseen since world war ii. The militarized south china sea and violated their agreement in hong kong.
▶ 0:39:11Sen. Perdue: Their social credit score system and extensive policing capability are designed to enforce domestic state control. Their belt road initiative and the made in china 20 25 statements demonstrate their global ambitions. They speak of a global "community of common destiny for all mankind." put simply, they want a world order more in line with their authoritarian principles.
▶ 0:39:39Sen. Perdue: Complicating the current situation, unfettered globalization like minimal national security constraints has led to the situation today where many of america's key strategic supply chains are in the hands of our adversaries. President trump's america first strategy is not isolationist, just the reverse. America will be a stronger ally and partner by rebuilding our strategic supply chains at home and with our friends.
▶ 0:40:05Sen. Perdue: It is not inconsistent that while we are negotiating fair trade, we are also seeking to strengthen our ties with our allies. I relationship with members of the caucus will continue to be extremely important. The chinese respect strength, and president trump strategy is focused on making america safer, stronger, and more prosperous. That means reciprocity in the U.S.
▶ 0:40:31Sen. Perdue: Security should be considered in all dealings with china and the united states. Our approach to china should be nuanced, nonpartisan and strategic. I've two countries will naturally have areas of disagreement and we should actively engage on these. We should seek areas where our interests align to develop better and safer working relationships.
▶ 0:40:55Sen. Perdue: As ambassador, I will support our strategy to lead with diplomacy, to ensure our own national and economic security remains uncompromised. I will remain committed to promoting democratic ideals in an open, free and fair international system. As ambassador I will support the united states one china policy guided by the taiwan relations act and the six assurances.
▶ 0:41:20Sen. Perdue: We remain committed to a peaceful resolution that is acceptable to the people on both sides of the straight. We oppose unilateral changes to the status quo. As ambassador, I will ardently communicate our objections to china's penetration into our power grid, our ports and our personal lives. Having participated in U.S.
▶ 0:41:43Sen. Perdue: Exercises in the south china sea, I've seen firsthand china's militarization and will work to support open and free navigation whenever international law allows. I will also ensure focus on our priority to eliminate fentanyl precursors and hold china accountable for human rights. I will work to increase the temper of diplomatic dialogue to get results and to achieve fair and pacific of trade between the two economies.
▶ 0:42:10Sen. Perdue: I will hold up, uphold american values, represent american interests and support strong partnerships with their friends. Finally if confirmed, I look forward to working with america's dedicated foreign service civil service personnel and their families who are at the tip of the spear promoting and protecting american interests in a very challenging environment in china. Mr. chairman and ranking member, I approach this nomination with a strong sense of responsibility.
▶ 0:42:40Sen. Perdue: I am energized and sober about the opportunity to impact the most difficult diplomatic relationship other time. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your comments and questions.
▶ 0:42:51Chair Risch: Thank you, senator.
▶ 0:42:53Ms. Crowley: Good morning and thank you Mr. chairman, ranking member shaheen and establish members of the committee. It's truly an honor to appear before you today as president trump's nominee to serve as chief of protocol. It was the honor of my life to serve in the president's first administration, and if confirmed, it will be an even greater honor to serve once again by representing this extraordinary president and our exceptional country.
▶ 0:43:20Ms. Crowley: I am deeply grateful to president trump for his faith in me and to this committee for its kind consideration. I also want to thank senator cruz for his kind words, support and friendship over the years. And it is a privilege to share this hearing with my fellow nominee and friend senator david purdue. I would not be here today without the unconditional love and encouragement of my mother patricia, my sister jocelyn, the rest of my wonderful family and my dearest friends, some of whom are with me here.
▶ 0:43:52Ms. Crowley: I love you and I am forever grateful to you. Above all, I thank god for truly blessing me as he has. I appear before you today as a proud patriot who loves america with her whole heart. I was born in arizona where my father proudly served in the united states army.
▶ 0:44:13Ms. Crowley: My mother, who is an awe-inspiring person, was a devoted elementary school teacher and later built a career in hospital administration while raising my sister and me as a solo parent. She's truly my heroin. My beloved grandparents went from experiencing near poverty during the great depression to building successful small businesses and sending the first generation in their family, my mother and aunt to college.
▶ 0:44:42Ms. Crowley: I believe in the american dream because my family and I have lived it with all of its blessings. While studying international relations at colgate university, I was profoundly inspired by one of former president richard nixon's best-selling books on foreign policy, which ultimately led to my first professional position as foreign-policy assistant to the former president during the last years of his life, which is a critical point to make, senator. The last years of his life.
▶ 0:45:12Ms. Crowley: I worked closely with him on his final two foreign-policy bestsellers and many influential policy speeches, joined his international troops, met with numerous chiefs of state and other high-ranking foreign officials, and served as a sounding board for his groundbreaking thinking on foreign affairs.
▶ 0:45:30Ms. Crowley: His extraordinary mentorship and unparalleled real-world experience were invaluable, particularly as I completed my graduate studies in international relations at columbia university, earning two masters degrees and a doctorate. I've also enjoyed a prominent career as an opinion journalist on politics and foreign affairs for many national platforms, and as a new york times best selling author.
▶ 0:45:56Ms. Crowley: During president trump's first term, was honored to serve as assistant secretary of the treasury for public affairs. During my tenure, I am the team I led deceived, developed and executed communications strategies for the secretary, the department and the trump administration more broadly. Including four complex policies such as the tax cuts and jobs act, international economic sanctions, and the unprecedented economic response to the covid pandemic.
▶ 0:46:26Ms. Crowley: For exceptional service to the nation, I received the alexander hit alligator hamilton award, the highest honor bestowed by the department. I am now humbled to be nominated to serve as chief of protocol, an office with seven distinct divisions which carry out various elements of protocol-related programs. This is the historic blair house, ceremonial scum of diplomatic affairs, diplomatic partnerships, antigen, and major events.
▶ 0:46:56Ms. Crowley: Each division is responsible for planning, supporting and executing various aspects of diplomatic engagement for the president, vice president and secretary of state as well as other high-ranking officials. It's an incredibly important role to enriching our diplomatic partnerships and advancing our interests around the world and if confirmed, I will treat it with the committed dedication it deserves.
▶ 0:47:21Ms. Crowley: The office of protocol can, should and will showcase the very best of american leadership, strength, dynamism and diplomacy. As chief I will bring my considerable understanding of and experience in foreign affairs to the position and will first ensure that the office is managed with the utmost professionalism, serve the interests of the american people by helping to set the stage for robust, successful diplomacy,
▶ 0:47:53Ms. Crowley: Infuse our major events with patriotic vibrancy reflecting president trump's golden age of america, and forth, ensure that the talented and dedicated team of political appointees and career civil servants work together in harmony to accomplish this mission with excellence in every detail.
▶ 0:48:12Ms. Crowley: Throughout my career as a leader, I've believed in embracing a clear vision, hiring and empowering the best, listening to wise counsel, enforcing accountability and moving forward toward positive goals. If confirmed, I will follow those principles to help president trump set a new gold standard for effective diplomacy.
▶ 0:48:34Ms. Crowley: I pledge to be a faithful partner to this committee and to work with you to protect and advance our diplomatic partnerships and promote american values in service of a stronger, more secure and prosperous nation. Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:48:51Chair Risch: Thank you. We will now do a round of five-minute questions. As I said, if more people want to go back. Senator, let me ask your thoughts on the no limits partnership between russia and china. A course that is consuming and it needs to be watched.
▶ 0:49:15Chair Risch: I kind of thought of this when I want them to make that announcement, it kind of falls under the adage of there is no honor among thieves. These two are not natural allies by any stretch of the imagination and what we know about both of them if they will throw anybody under the bus for their own good. What do you make of this, how do you see this going forward?
▶ 0:49:42Sen. Perdue: First of all, I think this is primarily about trade between those two and the geopolitical position of china right now. About one third of russia's total revenue comes from china. China imports 73% of its oil. You haven't mentioned iran but I will go over this, it is a similar conversation, 90% of iranian oil goes to china. That money goes through russia, we now know how they use that money.
▶ 0:50:12Sen. Perdue: A lot of it go through iran, there are the largest perpetrator of terrorism in the world. That 80% of the dual use equipment right now, and technology in russia comes from china. The oil that is being researched and drilled in the arctic right now between these two is very troubling and it is why china wants to become an arctic power. What china and russia are doing right now is untenable relative to china's involvement in supporting the war in ukraine, supporting iran and its support of terrorism around the world.
▶ 0:50:44Sen. Perdue: As ambassador, if I'm confirmed, my rollover there would be to execute U.S. policy in order to make sure the chinese understand what our commitments are and what we are going to stand for.
▶ 0:50:57Chair Risch: I appreciate that. Certainly there is no question about that. Want to ask you about a specific item that is maybe going into the deeper than we usually do, and that is during the last of ministration, U.S. officials participated in events organized by the united front department. That a course of the chinese communist party key coordinating body.
▶ 0:51:26Chair Risch: They carry out influence operations inside and outside of china. The U.S. participated in some of these events.
▶ 0:51:39Sen. Perdue: This is a long answer and I apologize --
▶ 0:51:43Chair Risch: Give us the executive senator.
▶ 0:51:45Sen. Perdue: I will say this, there was a book written in 1998 by two colonels in china. I studied the war in iraq in 1991 and they came up with a strategy that basically has been execute by president jinping. One of the things that is a major tenant in that strategy is to communicate their propaganda through all the barriers into the country they want to influence. They are being successful with that today.
▶ 0:52:14Sen. Perdue: This is something that I believe that president trump realizes, one thing I'm going to do if confirmed as ambassador will be to stand up and try to inform people in the united states about the danger that is very subliminal and they are masters at it. They do not attack you frontally. This goes back to sun tzu and confucius. Their strategy, they will never tell you what they are going to do unless they decided that you don't have the wherewithal or the will to resist. We've got to china out of the power grid, the ports, and our personal lives.
▶ 0:52:45Sen. Perdue: And the way they are in there if their propaganda in a major way.
▶ 0:52:50Chair Risch: I appreciate that. And I agree with you that they do this in a very big fashion where people don't even know it is happening, so I appreciate that. The job you have is an important job, obviously, by the very fact that you take that job with the rank of ambassador.
▶ 0:53:21Chair Risch: We all know that you don't see much of the protocol people unless something goes upside down, and then is a problem. I'm assuming that you will have people around you who are detail people because that is going to be prickly important. Senators shaheen and I, when we first got here, I think it was the first state dinner that president obama did and we had a couple people get in who were not on the list. It was a wreck to end all wrecks.
▶ 0:53:54Chair Risch: But tell me, you mentioned there were seven divisions. You don't have to go into all of them, but tell me generally how that is broken down.
▶ 0:54:02Ms. Crowley: Thank you very much for the question, Mr. chairman. There are seven divisions that work together in harmony on protocol-related programs. Visits overseas, visits of foreign dignitaries to the united states making sure that they have everything they need to facilitate a conducive environment for the most successful diplomacy on both sides, but we are really here in the office of chief of protocol, if I'm confirmed I will ensure that we are here to serve the
▶ 0:54:32Ms. Crowley: President, support the president, his vision and his agenda. The office has visits, obviously president trump has had a number of chiefs of state already visit. So visits overseas, that particular aspect. The historic blair house welcomes visiting dignitaries and provides a five star hotel experience for them at the invitation of the president of the united states.
▶ 0:54:59Ms. Crowley: Blair house has been a wonderful asset for any of ministration to have to welcome guests the united states. Ceremonial's, oversee ceremonial duties for the president, the vice president, secretary of state. Diplomatic affairs overseas, relations with diplomatic corps, and if confirmed, I look forward to enriching that relationship because chief of protocol is the most critical liaison between the administration and the diplomatic corps.
▶ 0:55:30Ms. Crowley: Diplomatic affairs overseas, those relationships, and handles any issues that may come up with diplomatic corps. Diplomatic partnerships is all about making sure that the diplomatic corps has the access and information they need to do their jobs well, and that of course you have management which is the day to day management of the chief of protocol and major events, which overseas as in the definition, overseas major events including summits like
▶ 0:56:00Ms. Crowley: The g7, the g20, nato summits and so on.
▶ 0:56:03Chair Risch: John. Senator shaheen?
▶ 0:56:06Sen. Shaheen: Senator perdue, I have a long list of questions but I want to follow-up on something you said about information and information warfare because the first hearing that we did before this committee this year was on china and we heard testimony that china spent over $1 billion a year on propaganda, on trying to sow disinformation and misinformation around the world.
▶ 0:56:38Sen. Shaheen: So can you talk about what you think we should do to respond to that?
▶ 0:56:42Sen. Perdue: Well thank you, madam ranking member. Before I answer your question I want to make a comment to the chairman to thank the ranking member for your forbearance in my presence here today.
▶ 0:57:13Sen. Perdue: This would not have happened in any other administration that I know about, and you are doing something today that's never really been done before and they want to personally thank you. I will commit you as well that in the future I will remind our republican colleagues when the tables are turned what you did today. So thank you very much.
▶ 0:57:20Sen. Shaheen: Thank you.
▶ 0:57:21Sen. Perdue: It is very subtle, it is hard to recognize. There are two things that I would suggest, having lived over there and seen them doing it the last 30 years. What we have to do is defend that here at home. That means we have to have an education system about the dangers. Most people are not aware that they are in our power grid. They are not aware that they are collecting your data. They are not aware that our courts can be manipulated. So that is an education process.
▶ 0:57:50Sen. Perdue: The second thing, I don't think this is a unilateral issue. I think that if you look at the relationships we have around the world, people have got to wake up at the world is bifurcated and china is accelerating that bifurcation. You have totalitarian state on one side, democratic state on the other, and as that study just said, the one you referred to, 34% of the world global profit, the U.S. is responsible for that 34%.
▶ 0:58:21Sen. Perdue: The rest of the democratic world is about 32%. So they have about two thirds. China only has about 16%, and I will back that up with personal experience. We got to develop a relationship with these allies that will help us develop a message and communicate not just to china, to the people china is trying to propagate this on.
▶ 0:58:41Sen. Shaheen: And I certainly agree with that which is why I find dismantling the apparatus that we had to do that so disturbing. That we no longer have what was so important as we were able to help encourage the fall of the soviet union and provide factual information into those communist countries around the world that
▶ 0:59:12Sen. Shaheen: The administration is suddenly dismantled. All of that apparatus in ways that would not allow us to have that ability to provide factual information to counter with the chinese are doing. And I would ask you, Dr.
▶ 0:59:29Sen. Shaheen: Crowley, I know this is not part of your portfolio, but as somebody who has been very engaged in the media over the years, how important do you think it is that we are able to get across the differences between the united states and china to not just the prc, but for the countries that they are trying to influence around the world?
▶ 0:59:56Ms. Crowley: Thank you for that question, I appreciate the question and I also appreciate the importance of salt power which is what your question gets to as well. I think the question for the administration is how best to do that? The president won with a historical mandate last november and part of that mandate was to get out waste, fraud and abuse, make the government work more efficiently the american people and to protect the american taxpayer. I think those I think those are things that all americans agree on.
▶ 1:00:25Sen. Shaheen: I support waste, fraud and abuse being good to get rid of. I think we would disagree on what is constituted as waste, fraud and abuse, and I don't think that dismantling our way of responding to our adversaries constitute waste, fraud and abuse.
▶ 1:00:43Ms. Crowley: I think that the president is very interested in exercising soft power to your point, ranking member, and I think he is interested in making sure that american resources are directed in the most effective way to accomplish that.
▶ 1:00:57Sen. Shaheen: I hope so. I'm not convinced yet. Thank you.
▶ 1:01:03Chair Risch: Alright, well I'm up next. >> first of all, I want to thank both of you for your past service to our great nation and for your families service and your continuing desire to support us, thank you both and thank you to your families.
▶ 1:01:22Chair Risch: It confirmed, this is an immense challenge for you as well as for the united states referring to what we do about communist china who is not only an adversary, but really our largest existential threat in this country. Your tenure will take you past 2027, when xi jinping has told his military to be capable of taking taiwan by force. This becomes more real every day.
▶ 1:01:49Chair Risch: Just this week, the pla conducted live fire exercises around taiwan simulating a blockade around the island. Both to prevent war and to win this competition, our policy toward communist china must be rooted in three simple things. Strength, deterrence, and reciprocity. And it is the latter that I want to talk about right now, reciprocity.
▶ 1:02:16Chair Risch: This is where you could have a huge impact as ambassador and communicate to beijing what our desires are. And I'm going to start with some yes or no questions. Senator padilla, is it fair that american diplomats faced a litany of restrictions in communist china including the ability to travel freely which chinese officials don't face here? Is that fair?
▶ 1:02:41Sen. Perdue: Absolutely not, senator.
▶ 1:02:44Senator Ricketts: Is it fair that chinese social media apps can operate in the U.S. but american apps like instagram and youtube are banned in china?
▶ 1:02:56Sen. Perdue: Absolutely not.
▶ 1:02:59Sen. Ricketts: Is it fair that american movies must be approved by chinese cognitive party sensors to be released in china but chinese movies don't face that same restriction here?
▶ 1:03:07Sen. Perdue: It's not fair and it's not reciprocal.
▶ 1:03:10Sen. Ricketts: Is it fair that despite being the world psychological economy, communist china is considered a developing nation and certain international organizations?
▶ 1:03:20Sen. Perdue: Would you give me a little liberty here? They really didn't qualify to be a member of that in the beginning. It is the wto, they need to live up to the responsibility's of that and it is the developing nations status. This is the second largest economy in the world, our number one competitor, and I don't think that's fair.
▶ 1:03:45Sen. Ricketts: Is it fair that U.S. businesses have to compete with chinese businesses that receive massive subsidies in the chinese government?
▶ 1:03:52Sen. Perdue: No, it's not.
▶ 1:03:53Sen. Ricketts: Is it fair that chinese communist still forces technology transfers and steals intellectual property from U.S. companies?
▶ 1:04:03Sen. Perdue: Of course not.
▶ 1:04:05Sen. Ricketts: I could go on and on and I could talk about how you've already mentioned that communist china has attacked us, they fit our cell phone systems, our ports, our energy infrastructure. All these things where communist china is taking advantage of us and this double standard must stop. If confirmed, what would you take to ensure reciprocity with communist china?
▶ 1:04:31Sen. Perdue: Senator, thank you for that. That's a very thoughtful series of questions. First of all there are several things we need to do in this country. Number one is to stand up to china. Not just with reciprocity. We've got to get our finances in order. We got to rebuild our strategic supply chain. Rare earth elements, steel, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals. Chips. Quantum computing.
▶ 1:05:00Sen. Perdue: All of these we've acquiesced through this mobilization in the last two decades to basically china, and the reciprocal nature that we want with china I think president trump is all over that. Starting a conversation with trade, there are going to be many others. The treatment of how we treat their foreign service personnel in the united states and how they treat hours in china is a big one.
▶ 1:05:24Sen. Perdue: We've also got to make sure that these allies understand it is not just about trade, it is more of the tools in the toolbox. We need partners in this bifurcation that I'm describing to the ranking member earlier. That's where I would start. As ambassador, I would promote U.S. values, U.S. interest and the strategy that president trump is drawing up right now to bring our allies together to make a united front against the prc
▶ 1:05:49Sen. Ricketts: Thank you very much, and I would again just trust that reciprocity is going to be key to the relationship you mentioned earlier, how china respects strength. If we don't force them to treat us the same way as they are treating our people in their country, the way they treat us on the international stage, they won't respect us because that is not strength.
▶ 1:06:13Sen. Ricketts: Strength is saying to communist china you will treat us the same way as we are treating you, or we are going to change the rules. Thank you. >> I want to thank chairman risch and breaking them are shaheen for holding this hearing. Of course, thank you senator perdue for your willingness to continue to serve and thank you Dr. crowley for being here as well.
▶ 1:06:39Sen. Ricketts: And I want to build a little bit on senator ricketts comments about technology, critical emerging technology and senator purdue, you know there is no doubt that the prc is engaged in unfair trade practices to boost its own economy, to boost its standing internationally. In large part because of these harmful economic activities. The prc risks supplanting the U.S.
▶ 1:07:00Sen. Ricketts: In a number of critical spheres including ai, biotechnology, quantum computing, something we were all reminded of january with the rollout of deepseek which was a major wake-up call for the american tech sector. So senator perdue, how will you make sure that the U.S. maintains its quality across the spectrum of critical and emerging technologies including ai which is so important?
▶ 1:07:29Sen. Perdue: It's a great question, and one of the things that's already been mentioned today, we've got to protect what we are doing in this country better than we have the last 30 years. This is not a partisan observation. It goes back to reciprocity, senator ricketts. If you go back to the access we give to chinese phd's, chinese technologists into our private lands, into our military lands and into our education institutions, we don't get that same access over there.
▶ 1:08:01Sen. Perdue: We've educated 2 million chinese, 380,000 are in our schools today. The technology that has been forced to transfer through corporate deals made in china, I think a lot of those people in my experience have now come to rue the day that they ever did that. It's a false hope basically to enter china and get access.
▶ 1:08:21Sen. Perdue: The price has been too high in my experience and that would mean the corporations were funding a lot of this technological development will in fact begin to sober up about what they are having to give up in order to do business. >> we are going to keep talking about the prc obviously because they are doing a lot of bad things. Needless to say, and we have to defend tibet from prc aggression.
▶ 1:08:50Sen. Perdue: Not only defend ourselves, but prc aggression, tibet faces many challenges because of the prc rule. In addition to threatening tibet's religious and cultural heritage, but prc has weaponized their water resources in the region. Prc control over the water resources in the tibetan plateau at the potential to severely threaten the water and food security undermining the economic development in the region which is important.
▶ 1:09:21Sen. Perdue: It's why recently cement language to be included in the ndaa that would direct the department of defense to cover handily analyzed national security risks related to tibet including its weaponization of water resources. We know water is the key to life. If confirmed, can I have your commitment to work this committee to safeguard Sen.
▶ 1:09:52Perdue: I know we are about out of time. There are three things basically in memory that the chinese have made sweeping moves. They are moving in this water issue right now out west, but if you go back and look at the great leap forward, they killed 25 million chinese and that reportedly because they collectivized their agricultural capability and basically create starvation countrywide. The second thing with the cultural revolution again.
▶ 1:10:22Perdue: Tens of millions of people died in that great government move. Today we see them doing something similarly with state owned enterprises and these massive programs they have. The damage they could do to the local environment, the water supply that we have which is the basis of life is very dangerous. If confirmed as ambassador this is one of the time, that we will engage china on relative to president trump, this administration strategy.
▶ 1:10:47Perdue: >> reckless, aggressive, coercive activities to undersea infrastructure, because they sabotage undersea cables is a particularly alarming tactic. There are essential for global communications, they transmit 95% frantic, facilitate important financial transactions, there are security. It's not the same as the water that we drink but the undersea cables, how are we going to protect that?
▶ 1:11:15Sen. Perdue: It is a major threat and one that emphasizes the fact that one of the things that I talked about in terms of standing up to this threat, number one, realize it. Number two, educate people. Number three, get ready for it. The third one I would like to mention relative to that specific thing is that our military has been underfunded over a time coming and going.
▶ 1:11:39Sen. Perdue: We can talk about foreign aid later, but one of the things we got to do is focus not just on undersea damage to cables, but why are they doing it? What are they preparing for by being in our infrastructure? That gives me pause relative to what their capability is. We are awakening to that. Director ray said that they've got 200 backers for everyone that we have, that they are in here every 12 minutes filing a suit against something that china is doing.
▶ 1:12:09Sen. Perdue: We need to make sure the military is focused on this specific threat that you mentioned, one of the highest priorities I know as we get on here. >> thank you, I agree with you there. Thank you.
▶ 1:12:23Chair Risch: Senator hagerty.
▶ 1:12:27Senator Hagerty: Thank you, Mr. chairman. It's been a pleasure to know you this past decade. Your work at treasury I must say was exemplary and your foundation in foreign affairs dating all the way back to your time spent with richard nixon I think underscores your diplomatic prowess, your preparation for the job to come. I would like to first speak to a point that you just raised regarding soft power.
▶ 1:12:53Senator Hagerty: And say this, that the head of the harvard kennedy school has made that firm quite popular. He helped me in my previous role as U.S. ambassador to japan to think about how to deploy soft power, but one thing is very obvious. Soft power is only effective to the extent we have hard power underlining it. That means having our assets in place, that means having the right technology in the right interoperability in place.
▶ 1:13:21Senator Hagerty: And I know this ministration is working hard to get to that point. Back to the present, having spent time myself with president trump in the presence of xi jinping, vladimir putin, modi, both the european heads of state, certainly shinzo abe, I can say that the role of the chief of protocol is tremendously important.
▶ 1:13:49Senator Hagerty: Setting the stage for the engagement that need to happen, setting the stage for diplomatic success is going to be absolutely vital, and I think you've got a very strong team. Abby phillips on your team hails from tennessee. I look forward to the fact that you're going to be called upon in an extraordinary time to set the tone and to set the environment, so that critical national and economic security issues can be taking place.
▶ 1:14:16Senator Hagerty: I also look forward to the role you will play in that you had a 50th anniversary of our nation because c1 one thing I would like to ask is what use is the biggest opportunity should you be confirmed to lead it?
▶ 1:14:35Dr. Crowley: Thank you for your leadership and friendship. I appreciate you both very much. It's an important question. I take the responsibility and the role of chief protocol very seriously.
▶ 1:14:51Dr. Crowley: There are big responsibilities that go with setting the stage for a new gold standard, for boast -- robust, successful, effective diplomacy for this president, for his diplomatic vision and diplomatic and policy agenda. If confirmed, I look forward to leading the team of the office of chief of protocol which is incredibly talented and dedicated and is made up of really dedicated appointees and career civil servants.
▶ 1:15:21Dr. Crowley: I look forward to leaving that team together, making sure they all work in harmony for our shared mission, our shared goals and to ensure excellence in every detail. To create the proper environment so that the president, vice president, secretary of state and other high-ranking officials can carry out their diplomatic duties in service of the united states and the american people. >> the president has the highest expectations and I know you will rise to the occasion to meet those.
▶ 1:15:51Dr. Crowley: David, I would like to turn to you. Congratulations on your nomination. One of the things I wanted to point out was when I served as U.S. ambassador of japan, one of my top priorities was taking care of my staff and their families. One of the things I mentioned that's most disturbing about the treatment of our diplomats in china has been the way they have been treated. We discussed the fact they are not allowed to travel freely.
▶ 1:16:18Dr. Crowley: If I think about what happened during covid, they put some of our staff in containers and held them in isolation in moldy hotel rooms. They took stool samples from them. I think it's totally egregious what took place. In my view, it is wholly unacceptable and I note you will do everything you can to protect U.S. diplomats and their families in china.
▶ 1:16:41Dr. Crowley: Have you received reports of harassment or abuse, will you immediately report them to the trump administration so that we can act upon them? >> yes. I made a similar commitment then. >> in recent years, over 90% of iranian oil experts were purchased by china.
▶ 1:17:09Dr. Crowley: As I discussed, the biden administration's enforcement of sanctions against iran has provided that regime with over $100 billion to go out to the middle east. President trump intends to actually enforce sanctions against iran. The refinery was buying and refining hundreds of millions of dollars of iranian crude oil and it's the first time the U.S.
▶ 1:17:36Dr. Crowley: Has sanctioned chinese oil refinery. Some of this was imported to china. The same terrorists attacking U.S. personnel, commercial vessels and our allies of israel.
▶ 1:17:55Dr. Crowley: If confirmed, david, do you commit to conveying to the chinese government in the strongest possible terms that the united states will not tolerate chinese activities, especially the terrorist groups that attacked the united states and their allies. >> of course. This would be one of my top five priorities. Let me say one more thing about this. Our sanctions are beginning to not work.
▶ 1:18:24Dr. Crowley: The chinese-russian trade right now, the sanctions are not working there. Primarily because the transaction -- this is a perverse conversation you breaking up -- bring up. The consumption of china goods takes money to china. 70% of their oil consumption is imported. They buy it primarily from russia and iran.
▶ 1:18:54Dr. Crowley: Those dollars didn't go to russia and iran and we know how that money ends up in the ukraine. We have got to rebalance. This goes back to the tray conversation the president is on right now. It's all this big geopolitical strategy that ties in exactly to what you are talking about. >> thank you, Mr. chairman and thank you skin at her -- senator scott for letting me go out of order. >> we now have senator kunz.
▶ 1:19:25Senator Kunz: Great to see you again. I want to thank bonnie and your family for supporting the family and service. I will keep it tight and condense this to five minutes. Congratulations on your nomination, Dr. crowley. I had the experience of trying to deal with china, chinese ip theft, forced technology transfers.
▶ 1:19:52Senator Kunz: I assume that your awareness of the top priority -- >> absolutely. I have the senators I have the sen scarves to talk about that area -- scars to talk about that area. >> I hope you've consulted with nick burns who I think served well. >> could you repeat that?
▶ 1:20:19Senator Kunz: >> I hope you will have an opportunity to consult with nick burns. >> absolutely. We actually have that committed at this point. >> in your words, we are in the middle of a fight to ensure the free world stays free. I am increasingly alarmed by the close cooperation between china, russia, north korea and iran. Do you share that concern? >> absolutely.
▶ 1:20:43Senator Kunz: >> when north korea deployed thousands and thousands of troops and put them in the meatgrinder of russia's illegal invasion of ukraine, they did so to find the latest technologies on the battlefield and gain benefit for north korea. One of my core concerns is these theaters are interconnected. That our challenge with china requires allies, resources and attention.
▶ 1:21:10Senator Kunz: It's why I moved to partnering with senator mcconnell on the defense subcommittee. Our interconnected world means that when north korean troops are serving on the front lines in the war of aggression against ukraine and iranian sanctions aren't fully biting because china is offering a secondary offtake market, we have to deal with this. Some of my colleagues have claimed it was the U.S. withdrawal from afghanistan that precipitated russia's invasion of ukraine.
▶ 1:21:40Senator Kunz: I could debate some of that. But let me just agree that the world is interconnected and that when our credibility is harmed, dictators are emboldened and aggression is more likely. So, if ukraine is forced to surrender.
▶ 1:21:58Senator Kunz: If russia emerges victorious and our leadership is questioned in the world by our allies and those we have stood alongside, I think by the same logic, xi jinping will be emboldened to believe he can take his vision to reacquire taiwan, the philippines and the south china sea more aggressively, would you agree with that? >> that's a complex and great question.
▶ 1:22:26Senator Kunz: Withdrawal is not an option for the united states. By reaching and stepping forward in the area of trade, that addresses some of the questions you bring up there. You mentioned this, the ranking member wrote a couple of papers on it either last year or earlier this year, nato is another major player regarding china that we need to engage with in a way that we may be have not done in the past. >> I have a minute and a half.
▶ 1:22:54Senator Kunz: Does it strengthen us in our work to deal with china and the south china sea, to do with china as our pacing threat if we strengthen nato, strengthen our alliances and partnerships in the global south or if we weaken them and withdraw from them, which makes us stronger?
▶ 1:23:13Senator Kunz: >> the strong relations is one of the five things I mentioned earlier in answering another question, that our allies have to align and make sure we develop a cohesive strategy. Nato is very important. I agree Mr. senator that that's a major priority for us.
▶ 1:23:34Senator Kunz: >> I traveled with senator merkley and I was struck at how much they were grateful for our response during a devastating earthquake. I am heartsick now as I watched our national news of the response to the myanmar earthquake and it was p.r.c. Umana terrien teams that were leading the response and not americans.
▶ 1:23:58Senator Kunz: I will simply say that I thought near destruction of usaid and their ability to project our response to humanitarian crises is an un-first error -- unforced error and his knee capping us at the wrong moment.
▶ 1:24:17Senator Kunz: One of our greatest strengths as a nation has been demonstrated whether it's in the pacific island nations in cambodia, in the paul, africa -- nepal, africa, south america, that we are able to respond in a timely way to humanitarian moments of need. Do you see that as something we should restore our ability to continue to lead the world in humanitarian response? >> you know senator, I missed serving with you. I will give you a brief answer. Of course.
▶ 1:24:48Senator Kunz: That's one of the strategies I mentioned before. I think again, this is an awakening that america has got to come to. We are late coming to it. Let me respond, I will indulge in just a second and I won't go over because I know we are out of the senators time. Usaid has been brought up several times. I lived out there. I've gone to those places. I went to haiti. I've been in these places and I know you have.
▶ 1:25:21Senator Kunz: Obviously, it's important that we don't withdraw from that responsibility. Let me remind us all that every time -- every dime we spend in usaid is part of the way we have it set up. We spent $7 trillion and raised $5 trillion and our short $2 trillion. Of the $7 trillion we spend, only $2 trillion is discretion. That eats up every dime that we bring in as revenue.
▶ 1:25:51Senator Kunz: What we have to do is look at the allocation of every dime that we spend and that's what president trump has done. I will end it here. Everything has got to be consistent with our foreign policy. >> well said. >> thank you for your testimony and thank you to senator merkley. I apologize for going over. >> first off, congratulations to both of you.
▶ 1:26:20Senator Kunz: Congratulations for all of the success you've had and this is a big opportunity for both of you. Congratulations. We hear about urdu we hear about urerdogan's thugs beating up anti-erdogan people.
▶ 1:26:50Dr. Crowley: The office of chief of protocol does not oversee policy. It executes what the president's vision is in terms of diplomat elation ships, diplomatic partnerships. That would not be in my portfolio. If confirmed, I do look forward to following the direction of the president and secretary of state -- president and secretary of state on all policy matters.
▶ 1:27:16Dr. Crowley: >> as ambassador to china, what do you think you can do to put pressure on the regime to release this euro democracy?
▶ 1:27:27Mr. Perdue: I appreciated seeing the picture in your office. I lived in hong kong, as you know. When that was happening, I made a trip to hong kong. What we have to do is stand up for human rights in a way that's different. China has become very aggressive . All bets are off relative to what they are trying to do. It's become visible on a much larger scale.
▶ 1:27:58Mr. Perdue: The united nations, world health organization, wto and so forth about where they are trying to bring influence to change the border in their favor. What I'm going to do if confirmed as ambassador will echo the message from the administration and from the congress about how important this is to us. >> so senator, the communist party sends sentinel into the united states -- fentanyl into the united states which killed 78,000 people last year.
▶ 1:28:29Mr. Perdue: They treat the leaders horribly. They don't follow any trade rules. It's a despicable government. They clearly want to destroy our way of life.
▶ 1:28:49Mr. Perdue: Would you recommend that any american citizen by chinese products or have any chinese apps on their phone or do any business with anything that's related to communist china?
▶ 1:29:01Mr. Perdue: I think the realization that our support of china over the last 30 years or more, going back to reagan in terms of the early investment in the economy, giving them access to -- those days are over.
▶ 1:29:22Mr. Perdue: I believe we've got to stand up, not just for our own protection but for the protection of the systems that have served us well since woods in 1944 that established the current world order. Going back to vane's recent trip over there, the only topic they talked about, the only major topic they talked about was fentanyl. >> you think she's going to change? -- xi jinping is going to change?
▶ 1:29:51Mr. Perdue: >> what is beneficial to their strategy? If you read what they been writing over the last one he five years -- he five years, I don't think he's going to change. The question is what will he be capable of doing? They can't feed their own population. The percent of the food that is in china is imported. I just said 73% of the oil is imported. They have a real problem with unemployment of people under 25, it's over 16%.
▶ 1:30:19Mr. Perdue: If you look at the economy, focusing on state owned enterprises is a problem. The realization of U.S. capitol that has been going to china for the last four years and not getting the return we should have gotten but gave up technology and a lot of other things that go along with it, that realization is going to really change.
▶ 1:30:35Mr. Perdue: >> if we stop buying the products, if we stop allowing them access without complying to sec rules, which we have a law that the s ec is not enforcing -- sec is not enforcing, if the american public would show up and say this is wrong, what would happen to the chinese economy and what would happen then?
▶ 1:30:56Mr. Perdue: You bring up a great point. If you believe this is a new kind of war, it's not a cold war or connecticut were, they described it to us in a book called unrestricted warfare in 1999, sometimes we will have to sacrifice. What we have been seduced by our the chief prices that we gave into over the last 30 years coming out of china.
▶ 1:31:25Mr. Perdue: That we are seeing in many cases things that are unfair because they were subsidized by the state. If foreign capital goes into china, we have a real problem. >> if america says enough is enough, what will happen to their economy?
▶ 1:31:43Mr. Perdue: It will collapse. >> thank you. >> Dr. crowley, congratulations on your nomination. It's good to have you here today. David, as I'm sitting here, I'm struck, I'm thinking 30 years ago as I look at you and bonnie, for all I know, we could have been on the star ferry crossing together in hong kong when we had two little ones born in hong kong.
▶ 1:32:14Mr. Perdue: Little did we know we'd be sitting here today some 30 years later talking about your nomination to be the united states ambassador to china and what a journey it's been. I can't think of a better nominee, somebody who better understands china. Some of the who has been a successful businessman, a united states senator.
▶ 1:32:34Mr. Perdue: A member of this foreign relations committee and who has a passion for representing america proudly in china and, in portly, has a great respect that you do of president trump and your respect, that mutual, strong relationship you have is based on years of working together. There's not a better guy to be going to beijing for the united states than david perdue. We discussed the trafficking fentanyl. Senator scott brought that up briefly.
▶ 1:33:06Mr. Perdue: Now, the precursors china is sending into mexico, canada and the united states, our threat to national security, our leading cause of death for 18 to 45 years year olds is fentanyl. It's a public emergency. We have a drug war going on in the united states with fentanyl. China, sadly, remains the single largest provider of these deadly chemicals.
▶ 1:33:36Mr. Perdue: We call them precursors. President trump has made this a priority to stem and stop this poisonous tide. David, how can you, if confirmed as a ambassador to china, work with both the american and chinese governments to stem the flow of deadly fentanyl into my state of montana and your home state of georgia and other
▶ 1:34:08Mr. Perdue: Communities across america? >> I wish I had known you 30 years ago. I want to apply what you've just done and what you continue to do since you've been not only in the senate but the house as well. People in china standing up to them and telling them what's important to us. I want to thank you.
▶ 1:34:38Mr. Perdue: I know you made a recent trip on this very topic. This fentanyl poising -- poisoning kills more americans in one year than died in vietnam over 20 years. President trump has made a top priority of stopping this flow of this deadly drug in the united states. It starts with the precursors in china and canada and mexico where this is being transported into the united states.
▶ 1:35:06Mr. Perdue: As an ambassador, I want to echo your priority and the president's party that this is one of our top priorities. The chinese don't like a lot of complaining unless they see action. President trump put two tariffs on this one issue. That is action. I believe we will see some response of that in the near future, hopefully. >> thank you. I want to shift gears and talk about the level playing field we need from american companies who are doing business in china.
▶ 1:35:37Mr. Perdue: We have american companies last year that did $500 billion with the business in china. Chinese companies in the united states did about $75 billion. I know we focused on the $300 billion trade deficit. We have a $400 billion revenue surplus because american companies are doing business. Selling to the chinese consumer.
▶ 1:36:02Mr. Perdue: It's important they keep winning over there because those dollars flow down to our next generation whether that's aircraft at boeing or so forth. For montana, we have to make sure we have access to agricultural products. It's 1.6 billion dollars market for the united states produces. The second largest market in the world is china. We are now facing some headwinds .
▶ 1:36:31Mr. Perdue: The chinese government did not renew export licenses to 394 processes in the united states. This will affect 90% to 95% of our beef export to china. This is a huge market. David, as ambassador, how would you work to make american companies as well as our farmers and our ranchers more competitive in that significant and huge 1.4 billion consumer chinese market?
▶ 1:37:00Mr. Perdue: >> we recognize the import 30% of their food. The second thing is, being from georgia, that's a little over half of our total gpt. I want to thank you for the work you did in the first administration getting the trade deal done in the first piece about ag. It would have happened without your leadership.
▶ 1:37:28Mr. Perdue: As ambassador, I will try to increase the dialogue pays to own these very important issues, to us and china. We want reciprocal trade. Fair and open reciprocal trade. That's what president trump is trying to do and hag is one of the major pieces of ammunition we have. >> thank you. >> Mr. chairman. >> thank you, centre dean's. Senator merkley. >> thank you.
▶ 1:38:00Mr. Perdue: Welcome, Mr. perdue and Dr. crowley. I wanted to focus on two things regarding china. One of those things is symbolized by the work marco rubio and I did here. We teamed up to pass the labor prevention act and legislation relating to hong kong. Really highlighting the massive abuses over human rights in china.
▶ 1:38:28Mr. Perdue: And the forced labor prevention act is the most effective measure in the world to say articles produced from slave labor in china cannot come into the domestic market. We hope canada -- do you support that act? >> yes. >> there is another foreign policy that I think is better symbolized by elon musk.
▶ 1:38:54Mr. Perdue: He built a factory in a province that china wanted that they are to rebut the concerns about slave labor. In exchange, they gave him a massive amount of chinese loans to build that factory. It's tesla's largest factory in the world. Those product are not imported to the U.S. under the forced labor prevention act. In addition, he has said things about china like china is more responsive to the happiness of people than in the U.S. that bothers me.
▶ 1:39:24Mr. Perdue: He said I am kind of pro-china and a number -- on a number of occasions. The truck and bided administration said what is going on is genocide -- trump and biden administration said what is going on is genocide. I am concerned about that.
▶ 1:39:42Mr. Perdue: I want to be shining a light on the abuses in china, the suppression, the oppression on the chinese diaspora around the world.
▶ 1:40:03Mr. Perdue: Which theme, the thing symbolized for marco rubio in putting a spotlight on the repression and human rights abuses, the genocide or the elon musk theme, he wants them to help government do more and more business in china, which theme are you going to represent? This topic --
▶ 1:40:28Mr. Perdue: This topic came up in there. I appreciate your heart on this. One of my top responsibilities as a spokesperson for the people of america and this administration is to make sure they understand how deeply we feel about the atrocities. There's no other word for it. I agree with you that he cannot turn a blind eye, not just in jenn johnson jenn jinjon, but everywhere we e it.
▶ 1:40:59Mr. Perdue: My view is if america doesn't stand up to that, no one else will. >> I appreciate your response. I hope when the pressure comes from very powerful american entrepreneurs that say we want you to help do more business in china rather than pointing out the human rights concerns, you will point out those human rights concerns. It sounds like that's where your heart is and I appreciate that. I want to turn to the U.S. agency for global media.
▶ 1:41:31Mr. Perdue: When it was shut down, chinese media said this was great. They really resented boys of america putting a spotlight on genocide. They resented spotlighting -- at the south china sea. Meanwhile, I am very confused.
▶ 1:41:58Mr. Perdue: Because trump and elon musk, president trump and whatever position elon musk holds, advisor mosque, -- advisor musk, they accuse them of promoting anti-american propaganda. I'm never seen them do anything but promote a spotlight on values. What am I missing?
▶ 1:42:24Mr. Perdue: It's a big question relative to how do we defend against their propaganda and get the free world's message out? What we've been missing is we have been doing this too much unilaterally.
▶ 1:42:38Mr. Perdue: If we engage our allies in a way that we maybe have not done in the past, we can develop a unified approach read going back to the funding of that, once we see the investment strategy of that -- of those funds is consistent with foreign policy, this strategy will be developed in my opinion as a voice, as ambassador of the united states in china. I will echo this dramatically. It's one of our top priorities and this is something we will not give up on. >> I appreciate that.
▶ 1:43:07Mr. Perdue: Because I feel like having voice of america helping to counter the disinformation and propaganda that comes out of the chinese government is really an important part of truth telling in the world. The chinese don't like it because they don't want truth telling in the world. I hope you will be a champion for truth telling. >> thank you, sir. >> I appreciate you both of you -- appreciate both of you being here.
▶ 1:43:37Mr. Perdue: I am a huge fan of both and consider you both not only friends but people I deeply admire. On a professional level and a personal level. Senator perdue, we will start with you. It's going to be contrary to my instinct to call you by anything other than your first names but I like to keep it formal in the hearings. To show my great respect for those who are willing to serve. We start with you, senator perdue.
▶ 1:44:07Mr. Perdue: Let's talk about the panama canal for a second. Last month, ck hutchinson, this hong kong-based company managing ports at both ends of the panama canal, announced its intent to sell its port facilities at both ends to a U.S. led consortium. That's where things got tricky.
▶ 1:44:32Mr. Perdue: China has pumped the brakes, stepping in and claiming this would mess with antitrust concerns and implicate antitrust laws in china. Now, I don't profess to being an expert in chinese antitrust law. But I can say with a fair degree of confidence that they are using a very different definition of antitrust law, of competition policy then we would ever dream of in the united states.
▶ 1:44:59Mr. Perdue: It appears to me that this is an aggressive act on the part of the chinese communist party. And I suppose it's understandable why they would want that. Because, after all, china views its canal operations, understandably I suppose, as a source of geopolitical leverage. This, of course, is a problem. Because this verily directly implicates U.S.
▶ 1:45:26Mr. Perdue: Treaty range -- arrangements made decades ago to make sure that sort of thing didn't happen. My question to you, senator perdue, is how will you frame the importance of the panama canal, the importance to the united states to the panama canal in your interactions -- to your interactions in beijing?
▶ 1:45:54Mr. Perdue: This is the perfect example of a difference between a democratically led international system like we have the world order established in 1944 compared to an authoritarian influence world order. That's what china is trying to build. Where the government, the governor over there said the world economy should be state control. That would be the death of free-market capitalism.
▶ 1:46:22Mr. Perdue: The panama canal is a strategic issue for the night states. It was when we built it and over 50,000 people died there building it. And one of our presidents gave it away. There is some question about the legality of that. You are the legal expert. I would love to engage you on that. What troubles me are the two ports. Where were we when those two ports were purchased by ck hutchinson to start with. -- to start with? They have investment interest from the ccp, china.
▶ 1:46:53Mr. Perdue: What has happened is exactly what you said. The china government said we don't like that. You aren't going to make that transaction. In our world, in a free market enterprise, we would of course have that opportunity. This is a major priority for president trump. He has set in the campaign. He has set it since he got elected. As I'd opt to my new responsibility in china as an ambassador, I will echo how important that is for us.
▶ 1:47:20Mayor Bowser: Thank you. I appreciate -- >> thank you, I appreciate your insight on that. You have a great capacity to convey things concisely, clearly and diplomatically at the same time. Speaking of which, Dr. crowley, somebody who will be key to everything that the state department does, has within your portfolio something that will be enhanced by your presence.
▶ 1:47:50Mayor Bowser: So grateful for your willingness to serve. Let's talk about the 2024 olympics for a moment. If you watched the opening ceremonies at the 2020 four olympic games in paris, you may remember at least from the viewpoint of many people, including myself, it was nothing short -- the opening games -- opening ceremony was nothing short of blatantly pro-left-wing
▶ 1:48:21Mayor Bowser: , anti-family presentation that happened to contain a number of deliberate insults to the christian faith and I suspect people of many other faiths. At the time it happened, I sent a letter to a person who was himself set to lead the U.S.
▶ 1:48:40Mayor Bowser: Presidential delegation to the closing ceremonies, urging him to convey america's deep disappointment with their decision to use the opening ceremonies as an opportunity for mockery and faith. I never received a response. Instead, the biden idly by, staying silent, as this global forum or diplomacy and mutual -- for diplomacy and mutual respect
▶ 1:49:11Mayor Bowser: Was tarnished, and in the eyes of many americans, myself included. As we prepare to host the limbic's again, how do you plan to make sure the 2028 olympic games in los angeles will convey national excellence and not be co-opted as a platform for dei, progressive activism or anti-christian rhetoric?
▶ 1:49:40Dr. Crowley: Thank you for your question, kind words and long-standing friendship as well. At the president's direction if confirmed, I will take on additional responsibilities and serve as an administration representative to major events with big international participation, like america's 250th birthday. Like the fifa world cup which is coming to the united states exterior, and the 2028 olympic games in los angeles.
▶ 1:50:08Dr. Crowley: I look forward, if confirmed to drawing on my best broadcast of public affairs experience to speak to the american people as well as the global public about america's greatness and america's leadership. To your particular point, it's my understanding the olympic games, wherever they occur, are overseen by the international olympic committee and in los angeles, working in conjunction with the 2028 los angeles olympic committee as well.
▶ 1:50:37Dr. Crowley: Senator, I pledge to you if confirmed, I will be deeply involved in ensuring the old lipid games go off without a hitch. That the olympic committee in the united states is on message to the extent that we can have some influence there. And I look forward to showcasing the american spirit as well as the united states as a premier destination for international sporting events. >> excellent. I see my time has expired. I turn to senator van hollen.
▶ 1:51:08Dr. Crowley: >> thank you, senator. Congratulations to both of you. Senator, it is good to see you again. I enjoyed the conversation in my office. I'm going to cover a couple of topics here today. You mentioned in your response to a question that it was importance of our -- important of our friends and allies to stand with us on our policy in china.
▶ 1:51:37Dr. Crowley: One of the things we hear from our allies in east asia, japan, south korea, taiwan, is that what happens in ukraine matters to what happens with respect to taiwan.
▶ 1:51:52Dr. Crowley: Kristen xi jinping has one eye on what's happening in ukraine -- president xi jinping has one eye on what's happening in ukraine, do you think that's a fair statement?
▶ 1:52:08Mr. Perdue: That's a complex comparison. I'm not sure of what he's thinking except what he says. He has said the reunification is very important to him, the prc and the ccp. Our role is that we will continue to honor the one china policy as stated in the taiwan relations act and backed up in the six assurances.
▶ 1:52:34Mr. Perdue: The situation is more complex than making a binary comparison between ukraine antiwar between ukraine ant and taiwan. >> certainly there are differences. I wasn't suggesting otherwise but I was suggesting what our allies tell us. You said it was important to be united with our allies.
▶ 1:52:53Mr. Perdue: I can tell you what our allies have been telling this repeatedly is that what happens in ukraine impacts and influences the way xi jinping things about taiwan and the situation there. I think all of us, many of us have been concerned the way president trump through ukraine under the bus and president zelenskyy under the bus and called ukraine the aggressor.
▶ 1:53:22Mr. Perdue: At the same time, we know that china has been supporting russia. President xi jinping famously said the bonds of friendship between china and russia know no boundaries. The previous administration made clear if china was to supply military assistance to russia, that would result in some kind of sanctions or punitive response from the united states.
▶ 1:53:53Mr. Perdue: Do you agree that we should make clear to china that that kind of assistance would be unacceptable from our point of view? >> the situation, with regard to ukraine, I wouldn't characterize it as throwing them under the bus. I would personally disagree with that. >> I get that. If you could just answer the question.
▶ 1:54:20Mr. Perdue: Do you agree the previous administration's policy, that it would trigger sanctions from the united states if china were to provide particular military equipment to russia? Do you agree or disagree? >> I agree and we have sanctions on them on cross-border trade. We know that 80% of what russia has available to use comes from china and we know a lot of that is ending up in the ukraine. The strategy does the same.
▶ 1:54:52Mr. Perdue: >> I want to follow up on some of the questions senator merkley race. I think it is indisputable that elon musk has an enormous mount of influence on this administration. He has single-handedly gone about firing lots of federal employees. He said he was going to put a id through the wood chipper. -- aid through the wood chipper and said it was a criminal enterprise.
▶ 1:55:19Mr. Perdue: Others have pointed out including senator shaheen, that on a bipartisan basis, we thought aid has been an important part. We have seen where it has retreated in the last couple of months that china has worked to fill the void. I do want to just read a statement by vivek ramaswamy, elon musk's partner in the doge effort before he left. This is what he said in 2023.
▶ 1:55:51Mr. Perdue: "tesla is increasingly beholden to china." on his podcast, he said I have no reason to think elon won't jump like a circus monkey when xi jinping calls in the hour of need. He referred to must he referred to m elon musk as a chinese puppet.
▶ 1:56:16Mr. Perdue: Do you agree that we should have concerns that somebody with the amount of influence that elon musk has in this administration is getting briefings at the defense department -- doesn't it concern you that something like that might have an inordinate amount of influence?
▶ 1:56:39Mr. Perdue: I'm not going to comment but that individual -- comment on the individual but that individual was fired from doge for not doing his job essentially. What they are trying to do, we all would agree to. We have to find a way to get better use of the money we spend in federal government. When it relates to the breath of responsibility of what doge is doing, the president has said publicly this is 132 days.
▶ 1:57:10Mr. Perdue: They are well into that now. They had a press conference this week about results so far. When you go in, I've done this several times in the corporate world. When you go into it with this kind of effort, there will be some areas you have to come back and clean up. Even elon musk said that this week. I agree with you that it is a careful process. We need to make sure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. At the same time, I will relay my comment earlier about the debt funding.
▶ 1:57:41Mr. Perdue: The overhead of usaid is redundant in so many cases. I think the care does a great job around the world. It's about a billion-dollar benefit and we find one third of that. A friend of mine runs it. They only have 10%. If you have U.S.
▶ 1:57:56Mr. Perdue: Aid on top of what care is doing, you end up with an unacceptable -- >> this committee has not held a hearing so we can ask these questions.
▶ 1:58:22Mr. Perdue: -- elon musk called it a criminal enterprise which makes every member of this committee a co-conspirator in a criminal inner prize. >> >-- enterprise. >> what I said, I stand by. >> he said he wanted to put it through the wood chipper, not refer. We should be clear about what they are doing and not what they want us to think they are doing. . Thank you -- >> thank you. >> you have some more questions? >> I do.
▶ 1:58:55Mr. Perdue: I have a couple more questions for you, senator perdue. As several people have reference, we are witnessing increasingly threatening behavior from the prc. As recently as this week, prc worshipers are conjo worshipers are conj conducting t exercises.
▶ 1:59:20Mr. Perdue: How can we effectively signal our resolve and deter chinese aggression toward taiwan? >> senator, that's a great question. It's one I've had personal conversations with president trump about. I think we have to make sure they are very clear about what our commitment is behind the tower relations act and the sixth assurance as it goes back to reagan.
▶ 1:59:48Mr. Perdue: There can't be a misunderstanding about what's important to us. What is important to us is a peaceful resolution. I'm afraid in times past, comments have been made that maybe -- made me question the and confused other leaders. What president trump is trying to do in proposing the military and rebalancing the will trade is sending a message that this is an important issue in the united states.
▶ 2:00:18Mr. Perdue: >> the prc continues to pursue its initiative in europe as well as latin america, africa and asia. It threatens to derail the euro atlantic -- in countries that are not in the e.u.. Projects like the highway to nowhere which indented montenegrin to china.
▶ 2:00:48Mr. Perdue: It showcases how the prc takes advantage of the west slow walking across the seas. Those are conversations I've had with members of the e.u. Of with members of the e.u. About challenges and not expediting and thinking about how to move some of those countries from the western balkans into the e.u.
▶ 2:01:14Mr. Perdue: Given the terminations of our foreign assistance programs, many of these countries have nowhere else to go but china. I can remember talking to the former prime minister about the poor in greece. He said we were complaining about the chinese were taking over that port. He said I came to the united states looking for help and you couldn't help me. I came to europe looking for help and they wouldn't help me.
▶ 2:01:43Mr. Perdue: The chinese were the only ones who provided money. So, what are the tools that we can use to convince those countries that we are a better partner than the prc and that we are willing to step up and help them?
▶ 2:01:55Mr. Perdue: We have to engage with them. Let me comment on what you bring up. That is we have to educate these countries. Unconcerned about africa and south america great with regard to what china has been doing according to these proprietary loans. We have seen what they did in cambodia and sri lanka and pakistan, where they are already in djibouti. These people don't hire local labor. They bring chinese labor and some slave labor. >> I agree with you.
▶ 2:02:30Mr. Perdue: What I want to know is what our alternative to that is going to be. >> it's not just U.S. money. The alternative is parties that are not being discussed are the other democratic parties -- countries. Where is the e.u. In this? How much is coming out of that you and other democratic -- the e.u. And other democratic countries?
▶ 2:02:58Mr. Perdue: We have to face the reality this is a coalescing need we have in the democratic free world to stand up to these types of challenges. There are countries like pakistan that might be ruing the day they actually did that. We need to educate the negatives that are being realized by this over intrusive investment that china is doing. It's a propaganda use. One more comment.
▶ 2:03:26Mr. Perdue: If you go to places like turkey, we know china did not shutdown international traffic even though they had shut down domestic travel on airlines. And so we know that some of the infection came out of china and went into italy and turkey in places like that. You go to turkey and you see billboards explaining to people how china saved the world by issuing ppe to the rest of the world.
▶ 2:03:55Mr. Perdue: It's these types of examples that we need to have a platform. It goes back to our conversation . That doesn't mean we don't need a platform, it means we need to have one we all agree on. >> I couldn't agree more.
▶ 2:04:14Mr. Perdue: I fear that what we've done dismantling the global engagement center, usaid, our foreign assistance programs, we are putting the united states at a disadvantage and giving china a head start. It's when we are seeing the results of. Thank you, Mr. chairman. >> thank you. Senator, I agree with you when it comes to money.
▶ 2:04:39Mr. Perdue: It's a lot easier for a communist country where the capitol is owned in the government is -- they don't have a lot like we do that prohibits paying money under the table. All of these things put us at a disadvantage. As we have had this nuclear renaissance, there are people looking for appliance. The chinese are very active doing that. We need to compete.
▶ 2:05:11Mr. Perdue: Every time we talk to these people, they will tell you, as they told you, senator shaheen, they would much rather do business with us. The problem is china will use that communist money to do the job. We have to continue. We can't risk pushback. At the end of the day, they would much rather do business with -- >> senator cruz?
▶ 2:05:42Mr. Perdue: >> center purdue, let's start with you. I believe the chinese communist party poses a global threat and it has to be dealt with globally. I want to turn to africa. A region where china is making considerable influence. Undermining american interest in trapping african nations into debt traps.
▶ 2:06:14Mr. Perdue: I intend to hold a hearing on this issue at the africa and global health subcommittee but I want to ask you now, how do you view chinese maligned influence in africa? >> as I just said to the ranking members, it's one of the great threats that we have to address. Not only that, in south america as well and latin america. I'm glad to realize who's responsible for your eloquent capability. I have to give Dr. crowley that credit.
▶ 2:06:45Mr. Perdue: I'm glad to final realize that. What I'm concerned about is the maligned influence relative to what looks like on the front end is a helping hand which is not a helping hand. They don't hire locals. They think weak partners, they can foreclose on them. I am greatly concerned about that. We have military personnel at risk in africa today as you well know. These things tie together.
▶ 2:07:10Mr. Perdue: As ambassador to china, I think being U.S. ambassador of the united states to china gives me the portfolio to have influence with other ambassadors and other leaders around the world. I'm going to use that if confirmed. >> the united states is positioned to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with our african partners.
▶ 2:07:36Mr. Perdue: To strengthen america's strategic position on the condon and unlock economic prosperity across the continent. Your role as ambassador to china as you just described would be incredibly influential and highly consequential in curbing china's influence in regions critical to U.S. interest. The actions you take in beijing and elsewhere will inform U.S. policy globally on how to deal with chinese maligned influence.
▶ 2:08:01Mr. Perdue: How do you intend to coordinate the actions with the state to ensure we are synchronized in our efforts to compete with china globally? >> what I've gone through in the last four months, that's in very -- a very important question. I don't have all of the answers to that one. I've not been in this government, as you know. I was in the senate. I will use that portfolio to establish credibility with our host country. I think that is very important.
▶ 2:08:30Mr. Perdue: I will applaud the united states for maintaining as much of a nonpartisan approach to china as anybody over the last 20 years. And so, my focus is going to be on building a communication platform that we can make sure they don't miscalculate and they don't underestimate in the united states. >> as you said in your testimony, many americans strategic supply chains are in the hands of our adversaries. I am especially concerned about china's concern about the global supply chains.
▶ 2:09:02Mr. Perdue: We saw this play out during the covid-19 pandemic. It was a wake-up call to americans realizing how much of our economy is intertwined with china's in ways they have not seen before. I believe we must do everything we can to delink our economy from china. That means working lock in step with our allies and partners to achieve that goal. One critical area that we need to d-link from china is cripple news.
▶ 2:09:26Mr. Perdue: They affect every single part of our economy -- how our economy runs. The ccp knows this. And they have spent decades securing control over global critical mineral supply chains as part of their broader civil military fusion strategy to threaten our economic security.
▶ 2:09:49Mr. Perdue: Tell me a little bit about how you see china's dominance over critical minerals affecting america's economic interest and national security.
▶ 2:09:59Mr. Perdue: We allowed it to happen. We sat back, this is not partisan and allowed it to happen. In 2002, 80% of -- was processed in the united states. We have a couple hundred years of resources to pull on. You see what china has done, when the heat got turned up, they embargoed two of those critical minerals as you said.
▶ 2:10:26Mr. Perdue: We did 80% of the worlds commercial shipbuilding just two decades ago. Today, we will drop one hall. These critical industries that china has done their civil military fusion with as you described perfectly is critical. We have been asleep at the wheel for 30 years. I give president trump a lot of credit for stepping up and trying to communicate a difficult strategy that may not be as easy as everybody thinks.
▶ 2:10:57Mr. Perdue: There will be some pain in executing what we have to do to stand up and defend our own freedom. It's just that serious, senator. >> thank you. >> thank you, senator. >> I have two brief questions.
▶ 2:11:16Mr. Perdue: Senator perdue, there's a long-standing handicap that we have had to endure when it relates to china in the sense that across-the-board, china appears to be moving in a direction to exploit international institutions. China appears to be treated with kid gloves and called a developing country. What opportunity as an ambassador do you see that we could address that?
▶ 2:11:49Mr. Perdue: This response ability is the most humbling thing I've ever tried to consider. There are no topics that are off the table. I will only do one thing. That is execute the strategy of the president of the united states. I will create policy. I will execute and I will execute a. This topic and other topics, that would be my number one responsibility. >> Dr.
▶ 2:12:17Mr. Perdue: Crowley, -- given that many international events will be hosting -- hosted in the U.S.. That's a much better title than the semi quinn centennial. >> that name is still out there.
▶ 2:12:46Mr. Perdue: >> it's kinda fun to say but not really. We have to harness that as a self power exercise. How do you see that could be used as a force multiplier for president trump's america first agenda? >> thank you for that question.
▶ 2:13:12Mr. Perdue: I appreciate the importance of self power and the office of chief protocol is a crown jewel in the exercise of self power. If confirmed, I will take that very seriously. To your question, we have a number of major international events happening in the next several years including america 250, the fifa world cup and the 2028 los angeles olympic games.
▶ 2:13:41Mr. Perdue: The office of chief of protocol will play a key role. It's not just about maintaining partnerships around the globe but ensuring we have partnerships and set the stage for the most robust, successful diplomacy for the president, secretary of state and other high-ranking officials.
▶ 2:14:04Mr. Perdue: These events that will come to the united states and host foreign dignitaries from around the world will be an extraordinary opportunity for us to showcase american greatness. American leadership. American dynamism. The american spirit as well as the united states to be a supreme case supreme c place to host these international sporting events. I intend to use this office to showcase american greatness in every possible way.
▶ 2:14:34Mr. Perdue: Make sure that our foreign dignitaries and other guests have an incredible experience and also to work with diplomatic security to make sure these events come off without a hitch and that the united states will be the best and safest place to host these international evens. >> thank you very much. >> that will conclude our hearing. Thank you, both of you for your patience.
▶ 2:15:06Mr. Perdue: I will add letters to support the committee on behalf of the nominees to the record. I will note that record will remain open until close of business tomorrow for members to summit questions for the record which we will submit to you and we hope you will respond to them immediately if necessary. With that, the hearing is adjourned.