WASHINGTON – In statements of support for the confirmation of Sen. Marco Rubio for U.S. Secretary of State, Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said combating communist China must be the United State’s top foreign policy priority.

He said China’s leaders have ambition to be the world’s leading superpower and are taking steps to achieve that.

Ricketts listed Chinese threats since the November election including computer hacking, damaging communication cables, deployment of war ships, naval drills targeting Taiwan and mobile piers suitable for an invasion of Taiwan.

Ricketts: “President Biden’s appeasement of dictators has made the United States weaker and less safe.  Combatting Communist China must be our top foreign policy priority. 

 To achieve that will require even more than an all-of-government approach. It will require a whole-of-society approach.”

 

  Office of Pete Ricketts

 

Ricketts said at Nebraska conference call that Rubio will help President Trump.

Ricketts: “He knows that a CCP-led world order would mean coercion instead of choice, tyranny instead of liberty, and dictatorship instead of democracy. He will help President Trump restore American strength and deter our adversaries.”

In confirmation hearings, Rubio said without a swift and substantive policy shift, China will remain the biggest threat to American prosperity in the 21st Century.

The Associated Press says Rubio is expected to easily win nomination.

 

TRANSCRIPT:

 

Senator Ricketts: “On Sunday, Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s National Security Advisor, said quote: ‘The American people are safer and the country is better off than we were four years ago.’ 

 “I don’t know who believes that.  

“I don’t believe that. 

“The election results show that a clear majority of Americans don’t believe that. 

“Nobody at home believes that after four years of high inflation. 

“Our friends around the world don’t believe that after four years of an appeasement-first foreign policy.  

“The opposite is actually true. 

“President Biden is handing President Trump the most dangerous threat environment our country has faced since World War Two. 

“Biden’s shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan was only the start. 

“His weakness prompted Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, starting the largest war in Europe since World War Two. 

“A war that continues to this day. 

“Biden’s pursuit of a second Iran deal funded Iran and its proxies’ attacks against Israel and our own troops in the Middle East. 

“He relaxed sanctions on Iran and enabled them to generate $100 billion in oil revenue. 

“Under President Trump - Iran’s foreign reserves were drained from $122.5 billion to less than $14 billion. 

“That meant Iran could not fund terrorists like Hamas and Hezbollah. 

“And let’s not forget – North Korea is more dangerous and aggressive than ever before. 

“But most concerning, Biden’s weakness has emboldened our greatest adversary: the Chinese Communist Party. 

“They are the head of the snake in a rising axis of dictators which aims to destroy our security, prosperity, and our very way of life. 

“CCP leader Xi Jinping wants to make his country the world’s leading superpower. 

“He’s taking steps to realize that goal. 

“Since the election in November – only two months ago – Xi’s country has stepped up their threats. 

“They’ve hacked our Treasury Department – including CFIUS. 

“This is part of a continuing campaign to hire Chinese companies to hack American assets. 

“They’ve continued what has been described as the ‘worst telecommunications hack in U.S. history.’  

“They’ve destroyed or damaged important communications cables in Asia and Europe. 

“They’ve deployed ships to the South China Sea and have harassed our allies in their own territorial waters – including in the Philippines. 

“They’ve simulated a naval blockade near Japanese Islands for the first time in history.  

“They’ve conducted the largest naval drills in decades targeting Taiwan and the broader Western Pacific. 

“They’ve revealed new mobile piers suitable for a Taiwan invasion. 

“They’ve launched new jets and a new warship. 

“And that’s just since the election. 

“Xi’s pursuit of Chinese dominance has put us in a defensive posture all over the world. 

“Jake Sullivan is completely wrong. 

“President Biden’s appeasement of dictators has made the United States weaker and less safe. 

“Combatting Communist China must be our top foreign policy priority. 

“To achieve that will require even more than an all-of-government approach. 

“It will require a whole-of-society approach. 

“That will take real leadership. 

“Today’s confirmation hearing reinforced why Marco Rubio is the right person to serve as our next Secretary of State. 

“He knows that a CCP-led world order would mean coercion instead of choice – tyranny instead of liberty – and dictatorship instead of democracy. 

“He will help President Trump restore American strength and deter our adversaries. 

“I will do all I can do to ensure Marco is confirmed on Day One of the new Trump administration.”