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officials in the state department the pentagon u.s. agency for international developmen■ñ tes■4■;fi the pacis region. they also considered some of the challenges the island nation face including climate change, e and china's presence in the region. the senate foreign relations committee hearing is just over 90 minutes. [background noises]■

this hearing of the senate foreign relations committee will come to order. for thousands of years pacificfq islanders have been masters of the seat navigating oceans by canoe guided only by the stars. with climate change and globalization h@yitting their sh innovators on how to save their heritage. there are over a million and a half americans and pacific from freely associated state serving in the united states armed forces. this put people to people ties at the heart of our reliohi a ps been a vital and strategic interests of the united states. during world war ii u.s. navy built an airstrip what is now nation. but today it is the people's republic of china that is planned to rebuild the f beijing is signaling is -- policing deals to provide cybersecurity and community policing assistance in the

since the islands change their recognition from taiwan to china, prc nationals have moved to the islands. market with low-cost goods. distracting timber and fish and other resources. bringing in tours and practices that threaten the natural environment. in some cases setting up transnational criminal operations that in the limited capacity of global law enforcement. all of this compounds t forces that drive young people to search for economic opportunities elsewhere. developments are deeply concerning to the united states and region like australia, new zealand, and japan. at the same time pacific island nations on the front lines of the climate crisis. many are only a few feet above sea level. this makes them particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events on climate chae.not onlye uninhabitable in the coming decades a serious threat to installations.

earlier this year's series of extreme waves of damage and military base at the marshall islands. and missile test range for the united states the department of defense and some of the army's most sophisticated tracking equipment. pleased by the administration is to prioritize our engagement in the region. building new embassies is not easy we all know that. especially wetland in the domestic capacity is limited ocean levels are rising. but i want to encourage the department to be creative and q. beijing will not slide out its efforts to gain influence in this important region, neither should w congress recently passed and funded for all three free association nations we are glad it was for more than 40 years agreements have governed the critical relationships printed by the administration has called the b■grock o pacific. i want to thank senator manchin,

barrasso ranking member for their bipartisan leadership in getting th signed by the president also want to acknowledge the leadership of senator schatz and her ohno in regard to that agreement. i wish the same spirit of cooperation applied toward china bill and the administration outcompete china's proposal which ps year's budget. the u.s. competition with china concerns almost every single member of our committee as well as most members of the united states senate. i appreciate the staff on both sides getting us about 80% there but we now need to reach the finish line. if we are serious about countering china i asked the ranking member to work with me and every member of this committee to finish the job the next work. i also want to thank our witnesses for appearing before f witnesses i look forward to your presentations. i hope you will speak on about how we can spe up t expansion of a diplomatic presence, how we work with

australia, new zealand and japan and others to support and foster economic opportunities in the i. what we can do to climate proof our military installations to defend our national security interest in the years to come re finally asked cutely at what is at stake for the night six military in a region we failed to engage. i look forward to your let me th ranking member senator risch. >> thank you very much start myd remarks let me say on the china issue, like the issues we are talking about this is a bipartisan issue. on a favorite six as you know i wrote you a letter we had a response but we privately and wl continue. we had a long history of friendship in this hearing just

last week congress acted your new free association as you noted mr. chairman. they are a compact countries. micronesian of the marshall islands. we partner with them to advance economic. to provide for u.s. military and nation. to provide cooperation of law enforcement and training and much more. further security partnership with the states way a way of cross causing significant american in those decades we stay for years to come. there strategic investments in and our partners in the end of pacific region. however in order to maximize the partnerships, the administration

must adjust the policies to demonstrate u.s. focus and re not going anywhere. first diplomatic presence in this region's only serious work. we've been too slow to get our diplomats firmly on the ground to pushíx influence. i am also concerned about the lack of support for the diplomats we do have in the pacific.e evidence in the solomon islands. by the time a state of parma start paying attention china was already signing a major security agreement. the department asked for personnel for the post it did fc affairs officer to push back against the chinese propaganda. this is a large globe. there's a lot of countries but my staff has been monitoring this particular region for numerous important reasons that i just mentioned. this is not just about getting our people on the ground once there they must be able to do their job and advance u.s. interests i ing at the speed of bureaucracy and not the speed of

relevance. i've sent five letters to secretary blinken urging a approach to expansion for it and encourage using the flexibilities that my secure embassies construction and counterterrorism act provides to stand up our diplomatic presence and creating a management platform to improve to these commissions. the solomon islands example brings me too a second issue, security cooperation. in addition■ to greater chinese military law enforcement other nations continue to explore security arrangements with china. in 2022 pacific island countries came together and rejected china's push for regionwide security agreement. that was pof of what dedication to sovereignty and unity can achieve. last year's been approached by china about a new security

arrangement. chinese and police are present note chinese set insight on other nations i like the departments of state and defense to disss pack and help the committee understand how this agreement serves our interest regionwide. i would also like it updatehiney cooperation initiatives are causing the greatest concern and how we are working with our partners to address it. i would especially like the defense department to discuss australia's role in security for the pacific islands. we all know there is certainly more to it than that. like it ud economic development in this region. i'm aware of our work from illegal fishing but want to kno. i want real details on this not just descriptions about creating and enabling stakeholder networks et cetera, et cetera. we note some chinese projects

like a hospital in fiji did it backfire. this means the u.s. and t partners need to get our act together more quickly. with that i turned back to the chair. lex thank you for opening comments we will always attempt to work together on all issues. including this region. hearing.o welcome all three of i will introduce you that will have approximate five minutes give your opening statements for your entire statement without objections will be made pt o re. welcome assistant secretary. he is a career member of the senior foreign service andmer 9 1994. he has served in numerous post in the end of pacific region including most recently as former u.s. ambassador to vietnam. assistant secretary, welcome. assistant secretary of defense for indo pacific security affairs and also along with this

committee under then chairman biden's you get special privileges you can speak for [laughter] he has also served as a senior advisor on china to the secretary of defense. administrator who is no stranger to this committee and we welcome his return st 419 his capacity usaid to talk about his work on the pacific island region for it againe you an extra 15 seconds because you network together when i was chair of the subcommittee. he is a former senior advisor and counselor in the foreign relations committee covering issues related to the end of pacific. in theory should be able to anticipate and answer every one of our questions. he also brings an abundance of experience prior to his service from the senate foreign relations committee where he served as deputy assistant secretary of defen for east asia program officers of the stanley foundation responsible

for the foundation asia program. with that will start production mr. chairman, in it for just a moment? i like to note is actually from nebraska so maybe he should get 10 seconds for that? [laughter] absolutely the committee's getting a little out of hand. [laughter] understand, mr. secr? >> secretary? >> mr. chairman good morning. ranking member and members of this committee, thank you very much for convening this hearing and the opportunity to testify on your strategy and is strategically important pacific island region. defense and usaid today and understand my good friend pacific island is here as well and honored by his prenc well. the united states is a pacific nation. we share long-standing historic and cultural ties to the pacific island neighbors. the history are inextricably

lied and security depend on the region free and open prosperous and secure and resilience. pacific islands are important partners in a issues, standing together at the un on human rights in opposing russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of ukraine to contributing to global secur■aiy peacekeeping operations and tackling the climate crisis as well as combating illegal unreported and unregulated fishing. the pif challenges to their security and their prosperity including climate change and economic shocks making the region more vulnerable to influence from the prc. as secretary blinken has said the prc is the only country with both the intent to reshape in increasingly the economic diplomatic military and technological power to do it. that certainly holds true in■ te pacific. through foreign assistance, at least cap short robust public

messaging campaign prc has moved the pacific islands.rt itsel i in addition, in recent years three pacific island countries has switched diplomatic ties from taiwan to the prc. 2022 asd ranking member noted signed an unprecedented security agreement with the prc the details of which have not been publiclylea. of course, as we have often said we are not in the business of forcing countries to choose. neither in the pacific nor anywhere else. we do it to ensure countries in the pacific have a choice and the ability to make their own sovereign decisions free from under the administration and a pacific strategy and pacific partnership strategy of the nine states has expanded diplomatic and development engagement wh president biden has convened two summits to engage with pacific island leaders on shared priorities including climate change, trade investment, and a free and open pacific region. since he first pacific island

summit in 2022 we have announced plans to work with congress to provide over a billion new fund. we open embassies in the solomon islands in 2023. we will open an embassy lady year. we also continued to work with the governments on our plan to open an embassy there. we recognize the cook islands as sovereignet states. peace corps volunteers have returned to fiji we plan to return later this year end 2025. we appoint to the first-ever u.s. envoy to the pacific islands form to enhance cooperation with the region leading foreign-policy presence and assistance of the coast guard and maritime awareness programs. in 2023 signed a defense cooperation agreement engage wie region's most populous country. we also work with partners to increase internet access in the pacific. together with ausalia for pacific island countries.

we've announced her intention or 10 years beginning with fy 24 request in support of a new economic assistance agreement related to the south treaty which is critical to the economy has been a cornerstone of our relationship in the region for over three decades. our multilateral for 2020 united states australia japan new zealand and the united kingdom launch the partners in the blue pacific and infoordinan initiative guided by pacific priorities. since its inception the grouping has expanded for additional partners andtives on disaster r, resilience, cybersecurity and ocean and fishery research. u.s.ationships the republic of the marshall islands and the federated of micronesia. economic assistance would provide in support of those compacts are key to maintaining

stability and prosperity of our partners and safeguarding our shared long-term defense and strategic interests in the region. i want to sincerely thank the committee for approving the compact agreements and authorizing the necessary funding authorities on a bipartisan basis. that will allow steadily ahead and our partnership with is vitally important countries. in conclusion i wish to reiterate the pacific region critical importance to the and our long-term strategic interests. i look forward to work with congress this committee to continue our renewed engagement across the pacific in a competition. thank you very much. >> chairman cardin, distinguished members of the committee. thank you for inviting me too testify about how the department of defense is contributing to peace and security acros the pacific island. here is my good friends two

underscore government approach. from a national security perspective the pacific islands form an essential part of a strategically vital region.6e are crucial to the logistics and region moreover hundreds of billions of dollars and maritime trade flow to the pacific islands continental united states and allies across the in the pacific. strengthening our accident and sety ties dod plays a significant role in deepening these partnerships defense presence. this also posture in hawaii and guam, to highlight a few areas doubling down on freely

associated states. building capacity to security sy cooperation and conducting humanitarian disaster were partners in new zealand. attention and resources reflect the significance of this region. i like to take a moment to underscore the importance of a compacts of free association micronesia on the marshall islands. for decades economic assistance delivered under the compacts. including critical leadership but members of this committee on

the 2040s to the appropriation last week. last year france at the state department negotiated strong deals providing necessary funding was one of the most important things congress can do to advance our priorities inic. defense experts, diplomats all agree and because of you we did. the compacts ensure maintain a military presence i states serve u.s. military. these agreements provide assured access for and would be adversaries from accessing sovereign land airspace in territorial waters. part of the end the pacific that is larger than the continental united states.

mr. chairman we also know prc is drawing from a range of coercive tools in an attempt to long-standing u.s. partnerships and advance china's own influence. in recent years these activities have included covid efforts to br officials, economic pressure against sovereign nation against taiwan and illegal unreported unrfishing te environment and the local economies. mr. chairman, our commitment to the pacific island ton the end of pacific region will endure. the department of defense looks forward to continued work with congress in this endeavor. what we have achieved but not of been possible without your support. delivering meaningful results in the years ahead we will continue urgency to resources and the strong partnership with capitol

hill thank you for your your yielded back to my alumni. >> were very mindful you know how to get on the good side of the committee. >> administrator there's no pressure on you on time. [laughter] ranking member risch, members of the committee thank you for inviting me too testify working the only way for us to tackle the complex problems diplomacy defense and development. drawing on whole of government approach is offered. we learn the hard way when without the other or is not a sustainable pathway to success. said passive partner key role in advancing free and open sec reg.

our relationship mutual respect shared history and shared values iversity fairness and freedom. and consistent with the pacific way it starts with listening. last august had the privilege of joining usaidtrator at the opening of pacific island mission in fiji intercountry representative office in papua new guinea. it was a critical milestone delivered on the promise made by the president illustrating usaid is on the ground to listen, partner and deliver together with the islands but we have demonstrated the united states has hurt our pacific partners loud and clear. our vision for the pacific inviting our first ever framework for the pacific islands proved march 2022 aspir. it's listening to the voices of the region and rolling up our sleeves to partner and deliver on our commitments.

are ensuring our engagement with the region is guided by the pacific islands respects existing architecture to pacific islanders. in contrast to the approach of the people's republic of china. we are clear art about prc and offered we have no objection in any country including prc. on the contrary if it helps■ generate a race to the top that is a good thing. however, in recent years we have a range of increasingly problematic behavior in region. predatory economic activities, including illegal unreported and unregulated fishing and investments underline good corruption.and promote usaid offers pacific island countries a different way a tailored development model responsive to their needs and their aspirations. rooted in economic trade and integration and inclusivity locally led solutions and the democratic v@>alues that can

positively transform our shared plan. usaid's work is designed to address with the region itself is defined as its own most pressing climate and health democratic governance infrastructure and economic growth meeting these goals depend on on enhancing oup countries as well specific led organizations including the pacific island for thisacn papua expanding access for renewable energy, protecting the country's environment, combating the aids gender-based violence, promoting peace and stability. we have partnered with australia and japan to support the development■wspur that will cone country to the world's longest undersea cable and increase reliable safe and secure internet bandwidthoeconomic gro. in the solomon islands >> apartments at all level students the country's economiciveness wc

emphasis on developing the agribusiness sector and improving natural resource governance. through five or $50 million for pacific island countries to access to ao climate finance from various cle fund for the adaptation fund and the global environmental facility. we are also responsle not responding directly to requests from governments for economic growth.[ president biden announced he would launch a flexible finance facility value at the $50 million to expand accessn to fair and competitive financing for micro small and medium enterprises in the islands. usaid the developed finance corporation are now bringing together comparative advantages to fulfill this commitment. lastly the united states remains one of theargest bilateral

humanitarian disaster donors in the pacific. preparedness, responsiveness and resilience to enable the pacific island nations to more effectively lead their own disaster responses across all these effort usaorks directly of like-minded allies and workers to a mechanism on the partner simply pacific. guided by the pacific islands. mr. chairman, senator risch, members of the committee usaid investment the pacific island regions a vision that animates■t around the world. thank you for your support and providing us the necessary resources to implement our strategy pacific. and the opportunity to share usaid in this important region of the world for a look frd

>> again i want to thank all three of our witnesses not just for their appearance here but for what you do. it is true the united states is a pacific nation with one island state the place order for questioning sender shots has been our leader on the pacific island issues. >> thank you very much mr. chairman ranking member and thank you all for being here. i also want to recognize secretary-general for our continued and productive engagement parties in the nd his finance minister of tonga, for being here. i want to start provided $4.5 million for the resilience facility. can you talk about the importance ofow you see it as a mechanism for the kind engagement secretary blinken have talked about?

we are all on a bipartisan basis in the middle of executing. but as i talked to prioritizing the pacific resilience facility. i want to talk about why we made the first investment and why investment. >> opportunity to be here today. i would underscore you said. to listen to the pacific island leaders with the top needs are to study the pacific island forms only strategy. and then to make sure we meet the needs that are outlined in that strategy. and the number one need existenl challenge of climate change. to show off support for it live. that initial investment is designed to build a local local combat change. capacity to

it is just the beginning of what we are doing and what we need to do. we will need to do going my colleague may have more details on the implementation on the ground. i cannot agree more with the . >> i am sorry, i want to pivot a little bit to something that you said. that you said in your about predatory economic arrangements with pacific island nation. at least in the last three or four years has been to really listen. to try to respond, to understand these are sovereign. are.are not colonies. and to be more sensitive to that. and understand as get to have whatever economic partnerships make the most sense to them. i would like for you to make the case of these economic

arrangements are in the end bad for some of our friends across the pacific. assistant secretary offered, sovereign and they can make more and should make their own choices. and just to support them in that process. and that is that we seek to do. but, as we look at behavior in the pacific, we see it we are violating a bit established by the international community. that negatively impacts the pacific island and the economic growth. so for example investment in the telecommunicatiotor in

recent years. vulnerable to cyber security risks and other national security with like-minded and partnering with pacific island friends to ensure they have the options they need for fast, secure, and reliable connectivity. >> am sorry to. what is the catch here? when you go into a partnership with prc on harbor or whatever it may be, what i backend? what's the catch on the backend for the partners is often times the prc is not motivated by developing an economic viable and sustainable program. but is motivated other geostrategic considerations. and will work for a project this

not economic, not sustainable and leaves the partner saddled with debt. >> final question. thank you very much. final this is either yes or no or as quick as you can do. how important is it i guess it's not yes or no how important is it to ratify? will senator, i think secretary blinken spoke about this before. effective to our diplomacy in the region. maybe underscore my colleague's point where of course countries make their own decisions in r own choices. whom to make sure they can do that freely. often times they find it deals with the chinese can undermine ies sovereignty that undermines the position. >> thank you. >> thank you, mr. chairman.cribs challenges or irony or difficulties there arex&■i

ofattracting diplomats to serven the eap in an area you oversee? is i difficult? is it challenging? what is unique about it. >> the challenge to serve diplomats? >> two things here. because we need to make sure we have diplomats who are ready to serve her were truly creative and expeditionary and ns smallest environments. but i've been really gratified mr. ranking member thus far there's been a lot of enthusiasm for service in the pacific. as i noted, in addition to previously operating six embassies we open to new ones w more on the way. i've been gratified we have had people step up in every instance including both at the senior level and the working level. >> we appreciate that. we have tried to help. >> yes, sir. >> you know i pass the secure embassy construction counterterrorism act, i am's

assume you are familiar with that. in 2022 and provides a state with much needed flexibility to stand up. >> yes or precooked that's specifically useful in the pacific island parts and you are hearing your boss isn't, you had the opportunity to explain to me why he is only answered two out of the five letters i have written about the subject to him at one of those two he answered we just got this week. >> i see it. >> is benf time for. >> when you see them and tell me want to chat with him. >> i will look into that immediately we are grateful to you and other members of this committee for your support because of your support we have been able to open our two new embassies inecord speed and i am confident we will do the same in the very near future and we are still working but grateful for the support precook's

second, the law we discussed requires the secretary issue official guidanc implementing, that is not been done. don't suppose you can enlighten me as to when that might be done? >> i cannot but i will look into it. >> take that for the record please. >> yes, okay. i've been intrigued the chinese have been modestly successful and these agreements they have entered into wit of the countries. when we go out to try to work with the country we offer things in food or medical area, or education, or human rights, things like that the chinese focus on policinggreements.

i think i know why but can you enlighten us why the chinese focus on that? >> senator, i bied on policing s at the mechanism which which they can support and gainr hosts requests on the population itself would you agree with that? >> yes. >> that we thought about at all services? because certainly for the people who run the country obviously security becomes number one particularly their own security and hopefully being able to stay in office. attractive bait to put out there to get countries to bite you. have you guys thought at all about making some kind of offers like that? >> the defense department has a number of security cooperation activities and activities with countries in the pacific

islands we have not done internal policing and support in that regarduc programs there. >> i understand that by the way they are two different lanes the military and policing are very, obviously one is domestic one is not. >> i can speak to that very briefly. we have increased our law enforcement assistance in the region but perhaps even more importantly we work together with partners in the piffamily d new zealand who have a long-standing tradition of helping countries in the regione alternatives we think deeply all concerned about that. when they first started popping up, i would strongly suggest you guys efforts in

that regard and see how you might be able to make a more attractive so when they do bitee is not the chinese. so thank you, my time is up. quick senator menendez. >> secretary, is it fair to say china remains it is our hope and not the chinese. so thank you, my time is up. quick senator menendez. secretary,s fair to say china remains in important market natural resource exports. and tourism. >> yes senator that's an accurate statement. >> the belton road initiative with infrastructure development. i would not dispute it. i'm happy to look into that. i am pretty sure it's 10. >> yes, so is also fair to say since china is the economic within that region we are

challenged in terms of our own national i in meeting the economic force with one that can compete with it. >> senator, i would agree with that but i would say having engaged extensively with her island friends of the last couple of the demand signal for u.s. engagement is probably as strong as i've ever seen in any region. certainly there economic engagements with china that ared we are not asking countries to choose. but it is clear to of our pacific island friends to have options. they hav a desire to part of the united states we are doing everything we can be quick so i agree with you they would like to have options. the problem is, we provide them no option in terms of economic trade agenda. there is no trade agenda of consequence with the pacific

island countries. and, they therefore do not have an option for the economic vitality and well-being of their citizens they are somewhat hostage to china. >> we have certainly tried to meet their needs. >> how so? >> as i indicated sir our strategy is based on meeting of security, combating climate change, infrastructure investment and the like. our focus has been primarily in o promote good governance and people people ties as well. >> those are all worthwhile things mr. secretary and some of things've for for the better part of nearly two decades of being here in the senate in three decades of congress.d. realistic that if we do not have a robust trade agenda in the pacific island that they will, not by

desire but borten by default ultimately deal with the chinese. the urgency of climate change -- mike there is a lot more that we should be doing as it relates to climate change which is in our collective interest as well as a global interest that we have. it's reay aific island neighbors. and so i just hope the administration gets to a better place it is a nice framework. but is not deal with market access at the end of t without market access i think we are going to be at a competitive disadvantage with china. it's good tee the committee. i see you have adopted the state department's ways of expanding beyond the five minutes. i hope that's the only thing you adopt from that experience.

let me just to say ouro get to . at the end of the day isn't what china often does through its initiative is to trap in debt diplomacy? >> that is exactly the behavior pattern that we have seen were e an attractive proposition. but the backside of debt and entrapment on the leverage and n additional openings for corrupt practices create serious problems on the line too. >> they entrap and not only in debt but entrapped them in their political diplomatic.>> yes. beijing is very, very skilled at using leverage it finds itself provokes family secretary ratner in march of 22 the islands of china signed a security

agreement aiming in part to address quote internal threatsie owned businesses in the country. in 20 through the two countries signed a deal on police cooperation is part of their while i certainly applaud lester's opening of the embassy and the sovereign islands, what tools is the united states using and utilizing to encourage the solomon island commitment to continue working with the united states and australnd partners? >> senator, again i would defer that particularly on the question but, as it relates to the department of defense role grout the pacific islands of much of our cooperation depends on thete and the resident for sister three pacific islands that have militaries we maintain a military to military relations with them and maintain status as

partner of choice there. we have section triple three capacity building programs we had dod state partnership programs through our national guard program. we do a number of regular exercises with pacific island islandpartners and we are deeply engaged with australia, new zealand, france, japan, and other partners. >> my time is expired but that's not the question or seeking the answer too. forhe record since my time has respire it would you respond for that question for me? what are we doing to get the islands to be aligned with ustr? >> thank you. >> think it mr. chairman. senator menendez i'm going to follow up on that as well with regard to -- if you could go into more details we have coveredolomon islands puppet

new guinea that have established china. can you talk in more detail what we are doing to say for example supply the international standards working with our allies from australia, new zealand to be able to counter some of the things prc is doing. n certainly understand countries wanting to have security. but i was to the blind influence the prc can do once they have a lotf sura6 apparatus. maybe you could hit upon what we are trying to do to counter it and also with the prc does. for example we he seen them extradite people from fiji of chinese dissidents and so forth. once the prc gets a holehat kinf malign influence they can exercise in those countries? >> thank you center for the question. as we indicated steeply concerning we see these agreements inc. they are opaque.

they cause concern within the individual countries and across the region as well. i think our most effective approaches we continue to engage with every partner in the pacific including those who sign these agreements. we are most effectively work with others in the region's to share those concerns. who could also quietly convey the depth of our alternatives. thus the crux of our entire approach. music of the countries option. countries? produce a counter china what can we do to counter tha■■g works of her own law-enforcement training programs active throughout the pacific. but providing us an explicit alternative and3 boots on the ground so to speak of security forces can help these forces as are partners like fiji, papua new guinea australia and new zealand have police forces on the ground and many of these countries. i think that's the most effective way forward and again

finding that solution that is comfortable with friends in the ■ú pacicffective way for it. including the countries i mentioned help to provide security even after prc picnics were offering training places like the solomon islands? >> i'd have to look at the details of each country but yes we do provide in the region. and again our partners in the pacific in particular are very active because they have police forces on tround in many of these places. >> can you also talk a little bit about prc linked organized crime in these places and how it undermined security can you talk about what we know about that and how that may relate to the security issues? >> senator i do not have a great deal depth on that i'll probably have to bring them back. but certainly we think about some areas were countries ought b leverage and the coercive

avenues that are opened up for the government but part of it is related to organized crime as well but for any details i have to take that back and i be happy to do so. >> >> can you talk any detail when security countries and how the prc then uses that to suppress who dissidents who may be there or anything like that?y clear concern voiced by partners, citizens of countries where these forces have been and others in the region. i am not sure if we have seen much of that yet but that is certainly the concern i think secretary ratner indicated when do this elsewhere often times are looking for an avenue to get in the door so to speak. and to expand security arrangements from tre and s that would be of deep concern to many in the region including ourselves. >> can you talk about, office ey switched diplomatic ties again

to the we have of that in the state department? august of this is not the% it has happened what are we doing to try to flip them backecognit? >> there is a history for some of these countries of flipping back and forth. so there is that precedentj. the excuses that were used by the prc including certain economic inducements and you and the general assembly resolution which was misused and misinterpreted. partners of taiwan and the region is again countries ought to be careful and clear about arranging into these arng will often make many promises that remain unfulfilled that have negative consequences. with the three remaining partners theormer dip we work vy and closely with them to make sure their needs are met.

close off any opportunities tha china could exploit. do they know they're going to do that right for the taiwan elections? >> there are concerns and we will work with partners to meet those. in this instance they decided. there is a history ands and goid forth and we will have to see. i will just say again we issued a public same rafters.every country is a solemn decision to make their own decision including recognition questions. we do encourage countries to be cautious and careful given a thetrack record of the prc. thank you, senator. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, and administrator i want to ask a question related to local media

information space. we talked a lot about the need for western engagement we recognize many cases china it mightbe the only player in towne prc is actively engaged in local media information.■q the is united states doing to counter that activity? >> mr. chairman, thank you, a very important question but i will mention two critical efforts at the outset. first and every place we have ge

sure there is alternati meag to the prc there. our partners in the region have a choice and have accurate info programs with short partners in the region with access to credible newswires and the like with the ap and others. so again, a newspaper for example on the ground and not completely dependent but has mee outset mr. chairman. addition tr project that i had talked about with state colleagues supporting free and independent press in the region. including through a number of

journalism fellowships. particularly targeting journalists interested on natural resource management as it addresses a number of corruption and governance have. and then we also recently launched university of the south pacific digital cyber connectivity partnership. responsive to the request we are getting from our partners. to provide them the digital services they need control their own information. >> this is an area that we really need to work on. i am going to turn the gavel to senator kaine. i have to be on the floor in regards to nominee for haiti. we will be voting on the confirming ambassador for haiti which is extremely important in our foreign policy

decision-making. to let me thank you we will recognize senator romney. you know, i don't watch us as closely as a note you do to see what china is doing. but i mt admit i strikes me they have a very comprehensive plan to establish global leadership and replace us but that's international institutions, insinuate themselves in leadership, whether it is the movement awayn autocracy freedom house indicates the trend continues again. year they dominate certan raw materials for the raw materials of the future whether it is nickel, magnesium, or rarf those things. or the processing of than they put in place the rail lines get

the raw material tohe ports. they own the port and they have tiktok which allows them to gather data on the american people and to provide propaganda as they did in the taiwan election with the tiktok algorithm they likely have wall way. techd businesses whether to electric vehicles or solar panels which allow them potentially our fleet. you look at the things they do it is a comprehensive plan it's a very effective strategy. if we have a strategy to counter china it is not working. what's hiding two years ago or longer the chairman of this committee and i requiring the

state to gather internally and external input. view to create options andnts o develop a china strategy. we included that in legislation that was passed. provided to this committee and to the congress in june of 2022. so now call me old-fashioned i thought we passed a law and required the state department to do somethinghao it. in the state department has not where someone has not and i don't understand why. people sat were late, we will get it to you. but apparently the work has been done but this is not been provided. classified. but china from what i can tell has a game plan and is

succeeding. not have a game plat i recognize whether we do or not we are not succeeding. so why do we not in hand and when will we? you knew that was coming by the way. >> thank you, senator. a strategy we have talked publicly the pillars of that strategy invest, align, compete too. >> three wor d not make a strategy. >> it is a wonderful headline invest alliant compete but the secretargave a speech of that nature over two years ago, three years ago i said that's terrific that's exactly right but we need a comprehensive strategy.i3 in their strategy. we do not have that. at least it is not been provided to this committee are to the nine states congress or the american people and we are losing if you will on the strategic battlefield.

if you look at actions this administration has taken investg our sources, the aligned piece which is unprecedentedly successful, alignment with allies and partners in friends in world, and the actions we have taken to compete against china, including protects sources of economic strength at home and many other domains, i am confident we have a strategy or china strategy is succeeding, has been successful. this is an unprecedented challenge. i commit to being responsive to your request. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> senator duckworth. >> thank you to all of the witnesses for being here. to start, congratulations to

joseph yun. and team tha worked over two years with the republic of marshall islands. and palau. this is important to our na security. i am glad we can highlight it today. over a thousand citizens of previous associated states serve proudly in u.s. just good neighbors in the pacific, they serve alongside us, study, innovate and trade today with us, they suld position to doubt our commitment to continuing our decades long partnership or our ability the f the past, including compensation for damages caused by past nuclear testing, secretary ratner, i would like to dive in more. the fy2024, mandated an of

jtf microia. >> our plans and report recognize vastness of thed. we have reokay lined asset to honolulu to better meet heightened demand signal. alliances have vastness of scale of the senator. i will tell you that department is looking at the evolution of our command and control structures throughout indopacific not just current but potential, reforms of that. that looks like down the road is something we're taking a look back.

and will the national defense strategy is laser cu prc as pacing challenge that has informed a lot of our resourcing as it relates to pacific posture, initiatives in pacific islands and on going exercises, we're doing all we can to leverage our allies and partners who have great contributions to make down there, we have stepped up our gain, and places like paa new guinea. >> thank you. feel responsible e there is a strong interagency coordination to press national security challenges last week, i spoke with commanders of centcom and africom how

important it is. but also, the interagent to■@ ensure robust world nationa. cross defense functions in the region. >> thank you senator, i will refer tohe staffing, but 100% agree with your point, a broader point to make. even as it relates to issues wot state department is doing and other departments agencies are fundamental contributions to our security in the region, when we talk about concerns about china's influence, and about military resourcing and funding some of our economic programstically important, we work very closely with the state department and usaid, i know admiral, hosted regional

ambassador conference, attended we, talking every chance we get, opportunities to our military strategy with our assistance and diplomacy. >> that speaks strongly to thence of our presence in the region. staying on top of this. and contact of cofarc, we know our failure to pass budget on time did nothing to help the case. with leadership in the world, but now that coffa funding has passed your assessment of whether u.s. is providing a unified present in front of our allies and partners. in your opinion is u.s. -- strategy that project our strength but our values that makes case of united states isnsible pacific

power and democracy actually does deliver, you know that prc is making opposite argument. our investment need to be visibly american, what more can we do to enforce our reputation. >> thank you senator. on issue of interagency cooperation and the agreements, i am confident in work that we have done. together with your cogu house. our colleagues at department of interior as well. i am confident about that going forward. my oak -- my experience, i feel well aligned with most on the■- ground.

i could not agree more, thank you and this congress for lea passing coffa is one of most important things we could have. >> unders biden-harris administration, really linking together will elements■zur national security. community to be able to deliver to our partners, and as you offered senator duckworth, to present that unified face that demonstrates america's added value as a partner and a friend in the i offered earlierr approach has been to listen, partner and deliver. to your point, deliveryka is just as critical as any of

the other pieces. i think we have stepped up our game in past coupl of years -- >> if i could ask you to summarize we're overtime. >> my apologizes mr. chairman, i was going offer, president made commitments at recent pacific island summits state department, and usaidand department of the defense have moved out quickly to implement and make sure we're showing i apologize to senator hagerty. >> good discussion. >> thank you for -- mr. chairman, welcome. secretary ratner. good to see all 3 of you, i would like to talk with you about the investment strategy that we do undertake, each of you have different tools, you strategic that will i would

like to hear about. shiver you have microfinance program you are and the strategy documents that you put together. deeply concerned about our ability to show up, particularly with hard infrastructure. in the region. i may have shared it with some of you, when i was in my previous control, as ambassador to japan, i was reading in nikkei, asia about a bankruptcy u philippineh korean shipyard. two bidders names were of concern to me. and i reaed out to appropriate people, found out they were affiliated with the prc, trying to take strategic shipyard that was old u.s. navy.■ 80s.

i won't go into details, but, we put a tremendous ount of eor, that asset is now called agila shipyard, a u.s. asset, a asset for us, we got it done by me making a lot of phone calls. the state department, department of defense, on an adc basis. servers capital management in new york taking an important leading role and japanese government stepping up and helping us. we worked with philippine government japanese government and u.s. government it took better part of two years to get to work. the development finance corporation, i sthowt wo thought would be the tool was unable to participate in this. effort and elbow

participation, i start with you secretary ratner to talk about the new office for strategic capital is this a means a tool by which you might be able to do hard infrastructure, i know you are talking technology here there are tools to play a more direct role. >> -- will get back to you specifically on office of strategic capital as it relates to pacific islands, with infrastructure we have a number of mayor posture,he pacific islands. in the cova states in marshall islands and palau, we hects underway. and last year, concluded a defense cooperation agreement. and one indopaycom site

survey team. >> i would encourage you to look a philippines too. there are more assets there. we have should a great be happy with thet, i relationship that we built with philippine government and direct that is going, we have a lot of opportunity there. could you speak of your thought. as you prepare the strategic document, i would love infrastre piece would fit in. >> thank you for your leadership on philippines, still one of the best examples a success story, we're doing

right now is we're focused with other partners anda infrastructure in region, the sub sea cable is where we have been most active, the work on google cable and elsewhere we partnered with australia, coinnocence maritime infrastructure. we're focused on infrastructure issues, and giving countries option in region, and to is under swore the budget request. there is a 4 billion request and mandatory request mandatory in particular is designed to allow united states to be able to fund hard infrastructure projects. and to invest in what we call the strategicrojects in the region. >> thank you, all.

>> thank you. >> thank you to the witnesses. i'll do my questioning now then call onenator young. i am a big fan of the framework in indopacific, this announced framework by of years ago one powerful going forward, i have home state equities involved as well, pillar one submarine portion of deal involves a lot of work at shipyard in newport news, virginia, this is a thank you to this committee, secretary ratner about 10 days before the defense committee marked up in june, the pentagon sent a grt with me in the scif, said i are the chairman of sea power is up committee we need thishe nbaa wl you help us, i said no, none of this is i can't get it in the ndit is in foreign

relations committee weu/ worked together. really helped get the framework through foreign relations committee by time hite were able to atop of the legislative framework to defense bill on the flo, commite for working expeditiously to make it happen. we're still in process this in kay while nda has been signed. we have a supplemental bill that passed in house. one piece of that proven contros portion dealing with the ocus frame work to make surech r investment when aussies are putting in to enable to complete this part of the would like you to talk about

important of ocus framework in terms of stability if indopacific, i think we need to do more education of american public any others about it. >> thank you senator, this is an absolute top priority in so far as our capabilities critical to deterrents. we our ally partner to that is is morâ powerful deterrent, you mentioned submarine building president's budget request fory 4 billion toward submarine industrial base and national security supplemental on top of that, that is critical to keep pace with the challenge. >> one quick story about sub

ra marine building, navy stood up manufacturing centerf excellence in danville, virginia, my last visit it was hea classrooms and see not only u.s. shipbuilders from country but also aussies who have been dispatched here fromstralio learn side by side with our american counterparts, and i noticed each of the classrooms, also iluded a afghas who served bravely with u.s. in afghanistan, they moved to united states, they are looking for a new carr,e a shipbuilder, and watching the aussies and afghans and young people from danville with the conflicting accents, learns side by side, was really positive. the other piece of ocus is

the pillar 2 is anything on cybr security, a.i. and advance technology invasion, one of the opportunity for partrs between research universities in u.s., australia, and the u.k. and innovative companies, my sense is in same way that u.s. has alliances that are strong and that is seen by china's threatening, we have deep ties betweenur country and australia and the u.k. and other nations. and i think that is a kind of an alliance that is power full. from the state department■- poit pillar 2 what do you see as ways to cooperate with find new innovative.k. to technologies on which we can cooperate to promote stability in the region. >> agree with the way that you framed it, opportunity, under pillar 2 as well for -- corporations,

among our three and as you know, we have indicated we're open to potentially operating with other countries this is important area thank you. >> if the big 12 can have 16 teams, then quad can have 8 members or nations that whose names are not in title, ill go to sink you, chai. really encouraged you asked about pillar 2 of acus, that is what i was going to follow-up oemphasizing importance of that piece of the relationship the high-tech ,

are just really exciting to me, thank you to the state department for your emphasis on implementing that. i would like to turn to topic of illegal fishing china has by far been the leading aggressor in illegal fishing throughout the affected economies of each country that relies on this industry, china threw their illegal activities have of economic resources and therefore our armed forces have been doing their part to help with mission to counter about what we come to call illegal unreported and unregulated or iuu fishing. for what diplomatic effort has sta the chinese iuu fishing in the

region as any notable progress been made on ship rider agreements with our coast guard. >> important question. and that was where i was going first, i think our coast guard has been most effective with the ship riders in particular, i think our coast guards present in theeg illegal fishing, through ship rider arrangements helping countries in the region understand when is happening in their maritime to mains and defend their rights is purpose -- important, second we have done across the board we tried to increase partner maritime dom initiative, when country know what is happening they can better protect their domains and more we can do to shine a bright light on this activity, you are correct,

we believe that the prcis b thes out. the vast majority of illegal fishing in ways that is detrimental to the economies of the region. >> thank you if you could get information and list of ship rider agreements we'll take a look. >> then, by way of follow-up, when the chinese government does nothing to control its fishing fleets, engined■x -- engaged in illegal fishing, how does u.s. governmentsw our adherence. >> i'm sorry i didn't catch the last part. >> when they respond, they do nothing, to control the fishing fleets engaged, does this make it difficult to follow

international conventions on fishing and >> i understand, yes, sir. so, appreciate the question, i think there are two challenges there is ship rider agreements and other acts to help country control their maritime domains then also waters on the open sea that are over fished and over utilized. in ways it is detrimental to will region. shining a bright light on the issues, and second building a capacity of partner in region continued to that ng in addition to our own operations. >> coast guard is analyzingesoue to increase their presence and increase operational tempo in the western pacific. ective that i secured in recent coast

guard authorization. it can be come available and respected to congress and state department as we hit the end of this year. r commitment to review those findings as they are available. >> absolutely, and coast has been tremendous, in second pacific island summit, one of the most effectivead was at coast guard headquarters. >> thank you. we'll looks forward to those findings and any counsel you might have about how this committing can be helpful an ihose findings doing whatever is needed to empower state and our coast guard to help address illegal fishing4y so much. >> thank you, senator. >> sense. senator.

>> thank you, mr. chairman and thank you for your testimony and service, and amen to senator's young's questions we guarding maritime security and protecting fisheries. and i know a lot covered in this hearing already, i want to stress, i know you know, that when we're dealing wchina's influencc island region, it just can't be all down work with china, quite opposite we need to provide a better alternatives in terms of vision of future and material support.■x you kfnlt beat something with nothing. i want to just, encourage all of you to continue to use the tools thatour disposal. the economic tools to put forward you know proposals that support people. in this region. i do have a specific

question about kiribati. i know their involvement. one question is what are we doing to counter kiribati. but the larger question, how can we anticipate these kinds of challenges and not play whack-a-mole after they come up, how can we be proactive rather than reactive. >> senator thank you. fant question. i think that number one thing that we need to do is be present to bef these countrio offer alternatives in case of kiribati. our ambassador whose less -- to hear needs our

friends and determine the best way forward. i mentioned. we're following up on agreement that we're with with leadership, working on those alternatives from infrastructure to other areas across board, iage is ibati and across board in pacific, we have to be active and bring alternatives to the table. wehi designed to do that. >> i appreciate that. in terms of diplomatic

present, if we're not to the the game. . can you give a brief update on how we have■l our diplomatic present in the region and what more we need. >> we have identified 4 country in which we want to establish new embassies, successfully done so in salomon islands andc6 tonga, we will be in vanuatu and will below kiribati and for that, in two new embassies we have opened we opened quickly and now moving to build out staff. build out the permanent facilities in which our staff will be there and working on personnel side. to get open quickly, we had to find temporary duty personnel to you know boots

on the ground and plant your flag, now following up with full time staff and hope to be nomin ambassadors as well, there is no substitute for presence, i am confident we will be present in the 4 countries. >> thank you. and i do have one last implementation of cofa for you dr. ratner. i know that senator duckworth raised this issue. the work is work that a aid is the defense side, what kind of measures are you talking now that has passed. >> senator, we have a range of activities associated in

teres of exees operations operating through the compact states in terms of major investmenting under way we have a couple specific major posture, initiatives there and sites■. we have tactical radar in palau, challenge give the department -- which will give department and u.s. military a swath over the pacific. >> senatorqé cruz is on his way, i will give him two minuteses play quietly at your desk, if he is here

two minutes we'll continue, if not i'll gavel a close, i will say, the we had committee hearing before this two of the armed service members, this been which was very much focused on security agreements with cofa nations. i was a cosponsor think you are as well, that was included in ndaarc, i told senator that i coming tohis hearing focus on pacific islands and strategy, and it was to my recollection first time we had a hearing on this topic in this committed, senator glad said it was about time, there was happy armed knowing this hearing wasrs happening today. ranking member and i will wait for now, i think 62

seconds now. to see if senator cruz >> i'll do the homework, there may be manage members of committee submit questions in writing, we'll keep record of hearing hope until close of business -- open until close of

business 15. we would encourage you to respond promptly and thoroughly there is a vote on senate floor right now, won'h respect to our nominee to ambassador of haiti, with that, and members. okay. with we will be slightly graceful to a colleague said to be in theg, we'll wait a bit longer. >> have any money ocus jokes while we're waiting. >> i thought that story would be appreciated it is a great■@ initiative. good work moving out on it. >> thank you, so much for your support on on

that.ailors training. in nuclear power program to take nation only nuclearéw australia medical isotopes to go from that to ability to to operate, and maintain and build nuclear it will be great work to be able to do together. with that i'll decide that hearing is now to be committee for your appearance, follow-up on questions if submitted.

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