Opening Statements

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement at a hearing of the full committee titled, "DOD's Role in Competing with China."

"Thank You Mr. Chairman. I agree with you that this is an excellent panel, and I appreciate all our witnesses being here today. I have learned from them and from the organizations with which they're affiliated, or have been affiliated, for a number of years.

"I also agree that a hearing on China is a good way to start the year. We have a national security strategy, a national military strategy that places great emphasis on great power competition. And I think what that means is we have to pay more attention to countries like Russia and China. Not that they're the only thing that we have to pay attention to, as the events of the last week or two remind us.

"But if China is indeed the pacing threat, then part of the responsibility of this committee is think about the personnel and equipment and training that is needed to deal with that pacing threat- the assumption being that if we deal with that, we can deal with other lesser threats as well. So, I think this is a good way to start.

"And one other point: I read all the witnesses testimony, I think they had a number of specific items that this Committee and this Congress can act upon this year, that will help put us in better position to deal with the challenges coming from China. So, I hope that we can follow up on a number of the suggestions that they have. It's not just a theoretical thing, its work for us in fulfilling our job under the Constitution this year.

"So again, I appreciate them being here and look forward to their testimony."