'The Puppet Master Here Pulling The Strings': Barrasso Slams CCP's Aid To Russia, Iran & North Korea

4 months ago

Prior to the Congressional recess, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) questioned Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell about Chinese support for Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

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Transcript

00:00Brasso well, thanks. I'm mr. Chairman. Thank you very much for being here today

00:05We had a briefing last week that many of us attended on the committee on basically who's who's helping who's

00:11Helping Russia and what roles there are in that and I wanted to go along that area of questioning because I'm concerned about

00:19China's support for our adversaries

00:21Clear China's actively helping both Russia and Iran evade u.s. Sanctions in fact oil revenues from China are propping up

00:30Russian and Iranian economies they get to buy them as a discount

00:32So China benefits from that and then Iran and and Russia get the money from from China

00:37I view China's using Russia as a wrecking ball. I'm sorry China using Russia as a wrecking ball

00:44You know Iran right now is exporting almost 1.3 million barrels of oil to China every day

00:50When there's supposed to be sanctions in place the Treasury Secretary says well, they can't do any more

00:54But the New York Times pointed out just how much oil we're allowing that the u.s. Is allowing and the the sanctions that are be evading

01:02The Chinese Communist Party providing the materials of the technology the components that Russia and Iran need to wage their wars

01:08So it just seems to me the administration has failed to prevent China from purchasing Russian and Iranian energy resources. Do you agree?

01:16So first of all, let me just underscore. I completely accept your proposition

01:22increasingly we're seeing

01:24Group of nations and nations of aggrieved actors that are challenging the United States and its partners

01:32Globally and that includes China Iran North Korea

01:38Occasionally others associated with that effort

01:41My own sense is the most important arena senator that we need to contest that

01:47Frankly is currently in Ukraine and you mentioned this

01:50But what China has done in

01:53Supporting the Russian defense industrial base is the subject of deep concern now

01:59We've sanctioned hundreds of firms, but the most important sanctions frankly are around financial institutions

02:05and I do I would just have you note that if you look at the

02:09Trajectory that Europe has traveled in just eight to ten months eight to ten months ago

02:14Almost no mention of what China is doing in Russia

02:20Look at the NATO

02:22Statements that took place in Washington with many senators supporting that effort and being deeply engaged in the 75th anniversary

02:31Increasingly

02:32Europe is on side and taking their own steps with respect to sanctions

02:38And I believe that this is an arena that our efforts are paying off

02:43I think it is absolutely clear what you're describing

02:48This

02:50Association between Russia North Korea China and Iran

02:55increasingly

02:56purposely

02:57Challenging us everywhere. I think our primary answer. Yes, we have taken sanctions

03:04But senator I would tell you that the most important thing that we have done is build a comparable group of allied nations

03:11Working together. So I would just simply say not only is NATO probably stronger than ever before

03:17I think you have to give credit to the previous administration

03:23focusing on

03:25On investing in the military and we followed through with that and a lot of countries are now at 2%

03:32Well over half approaching two-thirds

03:35It's deeply important the connections though between Europe and the Indo-pacific

03:41What countries are supporting Ukraine to the hilt now, Japan?

03:47South Korea, Australia

03:50This is unprecedented and that's largely through the support and encouragement of the United States

03:55So I would simply say that I think the best remedy to the challenges that you accurately

04:01Described is our ability to work with allies and partners earlier in the discussion

04:06We talked about bringing new partners into the fray countries like India

04:12Vietnam others in Southeast Asia. I'm proud of the work what we've done in the Philippines

04:17But this is something that we're gonna have to contest across the board

04:21Well, let me just add to that because I agree with what you're saying

04:24I mean

04:25I view China as the puppet master here pulling the strings with what's happening in Iran and North Korea as

04:30well as as Russia in their efforts and the concern is that with our involvement in number of

04:36locations around the world whether it's Ukraine whether it's in Israel that this is an effort by China to ultimately have us engaged in a

04:43number of places and

04:45Ultimately make it easier for them to take Taiwan, which I believe is a one of their

04:50Goal, I would just say this though

04:52You know the relationship between these authoritarian countries is very complex center

04:59And I would only offer to you is don't

05:03Underestimate Russian agency here Putin is a master at even playing the weekend. He has his own interests

05:11He's been very effective at maneuvering China in this respect

05:15And and but but I would simply say each are playing

05:18their

05:20You know subtly trying to advance their interests for the United States

05:24We need to realize that our associations are deeper. They're based on democracy largely people to people a large

05:32consensus of the of the people that elect the leadership these countries are animated by leaders who are

05:40Distrustful often deeply distrustful and they're often subtly maneuvering against each other like I'll give you an example

05:47China and Russia are competing now with North for

05:51Influence in North Korea and China is anxious about some of the steps that Russia has taken with North Korea

05:58China is competing with Russia in the Arctic and the stands. It doesn't mean that there's a

06:05Division or Gulf, but it just means that there is a complex diplomacy

06:10Among these various countries that are aggrieved by us and we have to keep that in mind as we construct our own

06:18Diplomacy towards them. Thank you. Mr. Chairman

'The Puppet Master Here Pulling The Strings': Barrasso Slams CCP's Aid To Russia, Iran & North Korea

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