Chairman Yoho on the hearing: “Even as crises like North Korea’s nuclear belligerence consume massive amounts of our diplomatic energy, the United States must keep working to advance our longer term strategic priorities in the Asia-Pacific. The new National Security Strategy reflects a return to great power competition, acknowledging that the U.S.-China relationship is fundamentally competitive. Fortunately, the United States isn’t alone in this competition. Our planning prioritizes an emerging diplomatic and security architecture for Asia that is made up of like-minded partners with shared visions for Asia’s future. The U.S.-Japan-India-Australia ‘Quad’ stands to be a robust bloc of committed democracies. Many Pacific nations including the United States are embracing a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ strategy that recognizes the importance of the Indian Ocean and rejects China’s desire for regional hegemony. ASEAN is growing in importance as the geopolitical center of Southeast Asia, but also struggling to advance its members’ individual and collective interests in the face of China’s rising power. In this hearing, the Subcommittee will examine these elements of Asia’s diplomatic and security architecture, and evaluate the administration’s plans for engaging with them. The discussion will identify priorities for the Subcommittee’s future work, and for upcoming budget oversight hearings.”

Opening Statements

Witnesses

Amy Searight, Ph.D.
Senior Adviser and Director
Southeast Asia Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Aparna Pande, Ph.D.
Director
Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia
The Hudson Institute
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Michael D. Swaine, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
Asia Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

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Hearing transcript (PDF)