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1/ Secretary of Defense nominee Lloyd Austin at Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing:
"Globally I understand that Asia must be the focus of our effort and I see China in particular as a pacing challenge for the Department"
"Globally I understand that Asia must be the focus of our effort and I see China in particular as a pacing challenge for the Department"
2/ SecDef nominee Lloyd Austin on advance policy Qs
"Globally...most significant challenge I will face will be to ensure DOD's contd efforts to prepare & strengthen the US military for a dynamic, future security landscape driven by accelerating competitions w China & w Russia.."
"Globally...most significant challenge I will face will be to ensure DOD's contd efforts to prepare & strengthen the US military for a dynamic, future security landscape driven by accelerating competitions w China & w Russia.."
3/ SecDef nominee Austin in written answers says strategic competition w/ China & Russia primary challenges but "because of its ascent and the scope and scale of its military modernization, China is the top priority"
4/ SecDef nominee Austin in written answers on his assessment of the military threat posed by China...
5/ SecDef nominee Austin on whether the NDS needs to be revised notes: "For example, the pace of China’s military modernization, its increasingly aggressive actions in the INDO-PACIFIC and its ability to threaten the US Homeland are concerning and must be continually reexamined"
6/ SecDef nominee Austin in APQs emphasizes "strength of this network of defense relations" w/ allies & partners as crucial "especially in global competitions with China and Russia"
7/ SecDef nominee Austin in APQs on resources for non-DOD agencies: "imperative" they "receive sufficient funding"
"I do not believe current funding levels for security assistance & development programs are pacing the challenges posed by China and others in these areas"
"I do not believe current funding levels for security assistance & development programs are pacing the challenges posed by China and others in these areas"
8/ SecDef nominee Austin in APQs re DoD priorities in Africa: "countering
1) violent extremist organizations (VEOs) that
threaten the homeland and U.S. national security interests and
2) competitors such as China and Russia"
1) violent extremist organizations (VEOs) that
threaten the homeland and U.S. national security interests and
2) competitors such as China and Russia"
9/ SecDef nominee Austin in APQs re his assessment of Chinese & Russian goals in Africa.
(among other things, notes concern re their overseas basing plans)
(among other things, notes concern re their overseas basing plans)
10/ SecDef nominee Austin in APQs re US strategy to compete vs China & Russia in Africa.
Says must not just compete, but win. Reqs whole of govt effort & addressing mutual security concerns
Says must not just compete, but win. Reqs whole of govt effort & addressing mutual security concerns
11/ Will circle back to APQs, picking up on the actual SASC hearing....
12/ Sen. Reed asks re Pacific Defense Initiative & solidifying ties w/ Australia, Japan, South Korea, & expanding w/ other Pacific nations.
Austin: refurbishing alliances "critical", hopes to "build add'l capacity where possible"
"the region will be one of my first stops."
Austin: refurbishing alliances "critical", hopes to "build add'l capacity where possible"
"the region will be one of my first stops."
13/ Sen. Reed talks about "strength in numbers" & security cooperation w/ Pacific partners being the "best deterrent we could think of with respect to the aspirations of China."
Austin says he agrees.
Austin says he agrees.
14/ Sen. Wicker asks if he agrees w/ assessment that China's goal is to devp a military by mid-century equal or superior to that of US.
Austin says he agrees & "I wld intend to make sure that never happens."
Talks abt maintaining competitive edge.
Austin says he agrees & "I wld intend to make sure that never happens."
Talks abt maintaining competitive edge.
15/ Sen. Tillis asks re which strategic areas China might have a qualitative edge in.
Austin response:
Austin response:
16/ I am not going to add more China-related references from SecDef nominee Lloyd Austin's advance policy answers because frankly there are too many & not just in Indo-Pacific section but in every regional & functional section.
Link to document: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Austin_APQs_01-19-21.pdf
Link to document: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Austin_APQs_01-19-21.pdf
17/ Sen. Sullivan asks Austin re criticisms that he'll favor the army & doesn't have experience in the Asia-Pacific
Austin's response below. Also says: "We will present a credible deterrent to China and any other adversary that looks to take us on."
Austin's response below. Also says: "We will present a credible deterrent to China and any other adversary that looks to take us on."
18/ Sen. King asks re views on coalitions & shoring up rels w/ allies.
Austin's response
Austin's response
19/ Sen. King asks, what does China want.
Austin: "some of the things we have seen from them in the recent past in terms of coercive behavior in the region and around the globe lead us to believe they want to be a dominant world power"
Austin: "some of the things we have seen from them in the recent past in terms of coercive behavior in the region and around the globe lead us to believe they want to be a dominant world power"
20/ Sen. Scott asks: "How you will get up to speed and how important you think it is to get up to speed on the risk of communist China?"
Austin: "absolutely important"
Austin: "absolutely important"
21/ Sen. Scott asks re US support for Taiwan
Austin: "Our efforts will be to ensure we do everything to make sure that China does not make that decision [to invade Taiwan]...will make sure we are living up to our commitments to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself."
![21/ Sen. Scott asks re US support for TaiwanAustin: "Our efforts will be to ensure we do everything to make sure that China does not make that decision [to invade Taiwan]...will make sure we are living up to our commitments to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself."](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EsIZ8ZcXAAIXs4V.png "21/ Sen. Scott asks re US support for TaiwanAustin: \"Our efforts will be to ensure we do everything to make sure that China does not make that decision [to invade Taiwan]...will make sure we are living up to our commitments to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.\"")
Austin: "Our efforts will be to ensure we do everything to make sure that China does not make that decision [to invade Taiwan]...will make sure we are living up to our commitments to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself."
22/ Sen. Blackburn asks a question about a quote re "strategic patience" vis-a-vis China that she attributes to Austin.
Full question & Austin response...
Full question & Austin response...
23/ Sen. Hawley asks re China, Russia & what's the primary challenge
Austin: "China presents the most significant threat going forward because China is ascending. Russia is also a threat but it's in decline. It can still do a great deal of damage...But China is the pacing threat"
Austin: "China presents the most significant threat going forward because China is ascending. Russia is also a threat but it's in decline. It can still do a great deal of damage...But China is the pacing threat"
24/ Sen. Hawley asks re planning for a Chinese fait accompli vis-a-vis Taiwan
Austin's exchange with him on this...
Austin's exchange with him on this...
25/ To wrap up this thread re China references at SecDef nominee Lloyd Austin's SASC hearing, adding this separate tweet re his advance policy answer on India https://twitter.com/tanvi_madan/status/1351647821599027202?s=20
