Opening Statements

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the Committee's hearing, titled, "National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activities in the Indo-Pacific":

‘Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and let me add my welcome to our witnesses. We appreciate you all being here today.

"I think, in a lot of ways, some of the most important statements were on the first page of the written testimony that Admiral Davidson submitted. Where he talks about what we've accomplished over the last several 70 years: liberating hundreds of millions of people, lifting billions of people out of poverty. What has helped accomplish that, or what has provided the foundation for that progress, is commitment of free nations to work together - which I believe is your engagement, Mr. Chairman- as well as the credibility of the combat power of Indo-Pacific Command and a robust and modern nuclear deterrent.

"On the next page I will read one sentence, ‘U.S. power underpins the post-World War II international system that help strengthen the essential foundations of a rule-based international order for economic growth and prosperity in the region for everyone.'

"I think that is absolutely true in the Indo-Pacific. I think it's absolutely true in the rest of the world, too. What I worry about is that we take some of those things for granted and could let them deteriorate, with consequences that will result in a darker, more dangerous world.

"Sometimes I think we just need to remember the basics. And part of the basics is, strong U.S. military presence and engagement are the key not only in this region; but maybe as importantly as anywhere, in this region given what we see coming with China and the other challenges. So, we will go down into a lot of details about what that means for 2020 bill, etc. but I just think it's important to remember that combat power, that nuclear deterrent, that engagement, have been very successful for 70 years and we should not take those things for granted. I yield back."