WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today released the following statement regarding the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China:
“After 70 years in power, the Chinese Communist Party continues a relentless campaign of brutal repression and censorship, seizing waters that don’t belong to it, and openly flouting global trade rules. As the regime seeks to further expand its economic and military might, an authoritarian China is perhaps the single greatest threat to freedom around the world. China’s grave human rights abuses, particularly the use of violence against protesters in Hong Kong and the internment of the Uighur people, underscore the urgency for the United States to partner with our friends and allies on a comprehensive strategy to address the rising China threat.”
Background:
As China asserts power through the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the U.S. must link arms with its allies and partners to serve as a counterweight. Last week, Senator Romney teamed up with Senators Hassan (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), and Cortez Masto (D-NV) to introduce the Indo-Pacific Cooperation Act of 2019, legislation that affirms that it is the policy of the U.S. to partner with allies in the Indo-Pacific region and Europe to develop a unified approach to address the rise of China. Only through expanding cooperation and coordinating strategies will the U.S., its allies, and its partners be able to address the challenges of an assertive China.