Rogers Urges Boost to Indo-Pacific Defenses as XI Seeks Third Term

Washington, DC, October 17, 2022
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Lead Republican of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement urging the U.S. and allies to boost defenses in the Indo-Pacific region as China's Xi Jinping seeks third term as dictator.
"Xi Jinping is a dangerous dictator. He and the Chinese Communist Party have made it clear that their long-term goal is the downfall of the United States and western democracy.
"The U.S. and our allies should not ignore the very real threat that the CCP poses to our world. In the near term, Xi has explicitly said the CCP must conquer the free and democratic island of Taiwan. The global economic ramifications of a CCP-controlled Taiwan would be devastating – affecting everything from commerce in the South China Sea to global semiconductor manufacturing. The CCP would be the main economic and military influence in Asia – threatening the United States' security and economic prosperity.
"Xi's intent to amass the most advanced army and navy in the world should be a wakeup call for the U.S. and our allies to boost our own defenses in the Indo-Pacific region. Specifically, the U.S. must increase the production of munitions, modernize our nuclear deterrent, increase the size of our Navy, and continue our work to get China out of our supply chain.
"Xi represents a system built on the bodies of millions the CCP has killed in purges, genocides, and COVID-19 – naivety regarding the CCP's intentions is not an option. Yesterday's speech was an open threat to free people everywhere and stands as another example of why the CCP should be isolated from the rest of the international community."