US-China Relations and Global Impact

Guys, let me just say it to you this way 'cause

I think this is important, and I

used to have that job, too, in the Senate, so I understand it and I respect the

role that it plays in our system. Um, the United States and China

are the two largest economies in the world.

The United States and China are probably the two most powerful

militaries in the

world. The relationship between the United States

and China will define the

twenty-first century, what happens in that relationship.

The idea that we would not interact with them at the highest levels

is irresponsible. It's outrageous. We have to.

That doesn't mean we don't have strong disagreements. Of course we do.

But even at the height of the Cold War, even in the midst of the threat of

nuclear annihilation and the-- life ending on the Earth,

the United States had

communications and meetings often with Russian officials and thank-- uh, Soviet

officials. So we, we, we have an...

I think it's an obligation to, to be able to interact and speak to at

the highest levels. This is not some small country.

This is the second largest economy in the world and a pretty substantial

military that's undergoing the most rapid military buildup probably in history

and, um, and, uh, and, and by the way, a country that we also have very strong

points of friction with when it comes to trade

and supply chains and

critical minerals and things of this nature