WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee nomination hearing. The nominee included The Honorable Kurt Campbell to be deputy secretary of State.
Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks:
“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Campbell, it is good to have you here today and thank you for being willing to do this job.
“Over the last few years, the geostrategic landscape has shifted and the United States has lacked the policies necessary to respond to the emerging threats and challenges. We need strong leadership that addresses these global challenges, rather than focus on promoting policies that appeal to certain domestic audiences.
“Between Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, China’s bid to dominate the Indo-Pacific and exert malign influence, and efforts to undermine the very existence of our close ally Israel, the threats to U.S. interests and our credibility are dangerously high.
“I have been particularly concerned by State’s lack of focus on China, its disorganized efforts to stand up new embassies in the Pacific, and lack of robust support to our allies in the region. With almost 30 years of experience in the Indo-Pacific, I want to hear from you how you plan to address our greatest challenge – China.
“I believe the president’s current policy is headed in the wrong direction. The administration assures us it is not falling into the traps of the past, but the economic relationship can NOT stabilize all of U.S.-China relations. Meanwhile, China continues to expand its influence throughout the global south, including in our own hemisphere.
“The recent focus at the APEC summit on reestablishing working groups with China allows them to weaponize against us. Beijing wants to tie us up in these mechanisms and use them to constrain our policies, as we’ve seen time and again.
“On the military-to-military front, the administration claims – maybe even believes – talks will help avoid miscalculation. If we were dealing with a good-faith actor, that should be true, but we aren’t. Just days after China agreed to these talks – and everyone happily shook hands – it conducted aggressive acts at sea and in the air, risking the lives of U.S. and allied sailors. This effort is off to a bad start, and I’m concerned that China has no interest in doing what should be done.
“Treatment of U.S. diplomats in China should be another warning sign. During COVID, China exposed U.S. personnel and their families to extreme, unsafe, and degrading testing and treatment protocols, and senior department leadership allowed such treatment to persist. That is unacceptable. I want your commitment that you will work with other Department leaders to investigate what happened and pursue accountability.
“And after the most recent climate summit, I am worried the Department will now support Chinese “cooperation” – so called cooperation – on climate at the sub-national level. This is really dangerous. The administration is giving China a legitimate entry point to peddle its influence in U.S. cities in ways that undermine our national policy. Why would the Department support Chinese efforts to undermine our system of governance?
“While you are an Asia expert, you must also provide leadership on other policy matters in the world. In Europe we need to maintain support for Ukraine while ensuring proper oversight of taxpayer dollars. We’ve been doing that, but vigilance is most important. Ukraine is fully capable of achieving victory, but until the administration gets over its fear of giving them what they need to win, its future and that of Europe will remain at risk. U.S. credibility among our allies in Asia is dependent on our success in Europe.
“Secretary Blinken’s comments about China playing a role in peace discussions in Ukraine are troubling. China must not be allowed to use Ukraine as a way to anchor itself in European security issues because of some misguided belief that it can calm Russia down.
“The United States also needs to ensure there is a well thought out plan for Ukraine’s reconstruction that supports its path to self-sufficiency and protects its economy from foreign influence.
“I support the secretary’s comment in October stating that the U.S. needs legal authorities to seize sovereign Russian assets in the U.S. for Ukrainian reconstruction. My bill, the bipartisan, bicameral REPO Act, would provide these authorities. I hope to work with you and the chairman to get this bill passed quickly and get these authorities in place.
“In the Middle East – the Hamas attacks against Israel and Iran’s undeterred attacks against our troops are a clear signal that this administration’s Iran policy is failing.
“The administration’s fruitless nuclear negotiations, unfreezing of funds, weak oil sanctions enforcement, and failure to maintain regional deterrence have emboldened Iran and Iran’s terror proxies. U.S. credibility is being weakened. It is time for the U.S. to dramatically change course and firmly respond to restore deterrence.
“We must return to a policy of economic isolation and deny the regime resources to support regional terrorism, especially Chinese purchases of Iranian oil. I have been deeply troubled by the efforts by the administration to provide billions of dollars of fresh cash to the Iranians.
“I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of these important issues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
These remarks have been lightly edited for clarity. Witness testimony is available on foreign.senate.gov.
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