1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:02,229 I'm Zack Cooper from the American 2 00:00:02,229 --> 00:00:04,451 Enterprise Institute . I'm joined today 3 00:00:04,451 --> 00:00:06,673 from the Pentagon with Deputy assistant 4 00:00:06,673 --> 00:00:09,100 Secretary of Defense Chest Baraza . So 5 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:11,550 happy to have you here a few ground 6 00:00:11,550 --> 00:00:13,780 rules before we begin . After a brief 7 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:15,558 introduction , Deputy Assistant 8 00:00:15,558 --> 00:00:17,780 Secretaries Brad I will walk us through 9 00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:19,891 some of the highlights of this year's 10 00:00:19,891 --> 00:00:19,790 report and then we'll begin a 11 00:00:19,790 --> 00:00:22,012 discussion . We also have an incredible 12 00:00:22,012 --> 00:00:24,640 number of China experts on this assume 13 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,730 call and a lot of other national 14 00:00:26,940 --> 00:00:28,718 national security expertise and 15 00:00:28,718 --> 00:00:30,662 audience , and so we'll be looking 16 00:00:30,662 --> 00:00:32,773 forward to taking your questions . At 17 00:00:32,773 --> 00:00:34,940 the end . You can enter questions into 18 00:00:34,940 --> 00:00:37,107 the Q and A function via Zoom , or you 19 00:00:37,107 --> 00:00:39,273 can tweet them using the hashtag China 20 00:00:39,273 --> 00:00:42,660 Military Power 2020 now onto our guest 21 00:00:42,670 --> 00:00:44,770 for today chats . A barrage of it 22 00:00:44,770 --> 00:00:46,492 serves is the deputy assistant 23 00:00:46,492 --> 00:00:48,659 secretary of defense for China and the 24 00:00:48,659 --> 00:00:50,714 office of the Assistant secretary of 25 00:00:50,714 --> 00:00:52,603 Defense for Indo Pacific Security 26 00:00:52,603 --> 00:00:54,326 Affairs . In this role , he is 27 00:00:54,326 --> 00:00:56,103 responsible for advising senior 28 00:00:56,103 --> 00:00:57,770 leadership within the Defense 29 00:00:57,770 --> 00:00:59,992 Department on all matters pertaining to 30 00:00:59,992 --> 00:01:02,103 the development and implementation of 31 00:01:02,103 --> 00:01:04,214 defense strategies , plans , policies 32 00:01:04,214 --> 00:01:06,270 and bilateral security relations for 33 00:01:06,270 --> 00:01:08,326 China . Previously , dusty surprises 34 00:01:08,326 --> 00:01:10,326 served as the director of the China 35 00:01:10,326 --> 00:01:09,990 Research Group for the U . S . Marine 36 00:01:09,990 --> 00:01:12,310 Corps , has also served as the deputy 37 00:01:12,310 --> 00:01:14,421 director of the China Strategic Focus 38 00:01:14,421 --> 00:01:16,310 Group that the U . S Indo Pacific 39 00:01:16,310 --> 00:01:18,477 Command and Country Director for China 40 00:01:18,477 --> 00:01:20,477 Taiwan in Mongolia under the J five 41 00:01:20,477 --> 00:01:22,532 strategic Planning Policy director , 42 00:01:22,532 --> 00:01:25,680 and from 1985 to 2012 he served in the 43 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,680 U . S . Marine Corps , where he led 44 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:29,847 Marines up through the battalion level 45 00:01:29,847 --> 00:01:31,958 and deployed across the Middle East , 46 00:01:31,958 --> 00:01:34,180 Africa and the Indo Pacific . He's also 47 00:01:34,180 --> 00:01:36,236 been a marine attache at the U . S . 48 00:01:36,236 --> 00:01:38,513 Embassy in Beijing . So as you can see , 49 00:01:38,513 --> 00:01:40,569 a daisy surprise has done just about 50 00:01:40,569 --> 00:01:42,513 everything possible on the defense 51 00:01:42,513 --> 00:01:44,680 focused world on China . We're so glad 52 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,569 to have him here today to talk us 53 00:01:46,569 --> 00:01:48,791 through This really important report is 54 00:01:48,791 --> 00:01:50,847 the 20th anniversary . I know you've 55 00:01:50,847 --> 00:01:52,847 got a lot , so walk us through . So 56 00:01:52,847 --> 00:01:52,700 does do you surprised over to you to 57 00:01:52,700 --> 00:01:54,256 make some opening remarks ? 58 00:02:04,590 --> 00:02:07,200 Thank you , Jack . Good morning . Very 59 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,490 appreciative , certainly thanks to you 60 00:02:09,490 --> 00:02:11,860 personally and thanks to AI for hosting 61 00:02:11,860 --> 00:02:14,082 the event , it's important certainly is 62 00:02:14,082 --> 00:02:17,240 an aspect of the secretary's desires to 63 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,400 be transparent and fully share the 64 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,370 information in the report . As you 65 00:02:21,370 --> 00:02:23,670 mentioned , the Department of Defense 66 00:02:23,670 --> 00:02:25,860 has provided the shot a military power 67 00:02:25,860 --> 00:02:29,840 report for about two decades now on its 68 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:31,618 long served as a Touchstone for 69 00:02:31,618 --> 00:02:34,490 authoritative information for Congress 70 00:02:34,670 --> 00:02:36,726 and the reports , other audiences as 71 00:02:36,726 --> 00:02:38,948 well . This year's report is almost 200 72 00:02:38,948 --> 00:02:41,630 pages long . I won't certainly try to 73 00:02:41,630 --> 00:02:43,574 summarize it all , and I certainly 74 00:02:43,574 --> 00:02:45,690 would ask those online today to 75 00:02:45,690 --> 00:02:47,579 monotonously quiz me . I have not 76 00:02:47,579 --> 00:02:49,801 memorized the entire report yet , but I 77 00:02:49,801 --> 00:02:51,801 strongly encouraged the audience to 78 00:02:51,801 --> 00:02:53,912 read it . Um instead , I will briefly 79 00:02:53,912 --> 00:02:56,630 discuss while why this year's report is 80 00:02:56,630 --> 00:02:59,010 particularly important , and I'll offer 81 00:02:59,010 --> 00:03:01,940 a view of what the major changes are 82 00:03:01,940 --> 00:03:04,340 were made and why . Aziz . The 83 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:06,284 Department of Defense continues to 84 00:03:06,284 --> 00:03:08,451 address the strategic challenges posed 85 00:03:08,451 --> 00:03:10,562 by the People's Republic of China and 86 00:03:10,562 --> 00:03:12,562 continues to implement the national 87 00:03:12,562 --> 00:03:14,784 defense strategy , in which China's the 88 00:03:14,784 --> 00:03:16,940 principal focus Secretary Esper has 89 00:03:16,940 --> 00:03:19,162 made it clear that we , as a department 90 00:03:19,230 --> 00:03:21,397 must deepen our understanding of China 91 00:03:21,810 --> 00:03:23,866 and the People's Liberation Army and 92 00:03:23,866 --> 00:03:26,032 the China Military Power Report is one 93 00:03:26,032 --> 00:03:28,088 of many ways in which we can support 94 00:03:28,088 --> 00:03:31,910 that goal . Given the growing focus on 95 00:03:31,910 --> 00:03:34,132 China , it's important that this year's 96 00:03:34,132 --> 00:03:36,132 report provide an authoritative and 97 00:03:36,132 --> 00:03:38,640 sober explanation of China's national 98 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,700 strategy as it relates to security 99 00:03:41,010 --> 00:03:43,232 issues involving China and developments 100 00:03:43,232 --> 00:03:45,510 within China's armed forces . To do so . 101 00:03:45,510 --> 00:03:47,566 The report explains the relationship 102 00:03:47,566 --> 00:03:49,621 between the Communist Party of China 103 00:03:49,621 --> 00:03:51,677 strategy , it's ideology , political 104 00:03:51,677 --> 00:03:53,788 and governing systems and the party's 105 00:03:53,788 --> 00:03:55,954 view of China's external environment , 106 00:03:55,954 --> 00:03:58,066 particularly systemic Calvary and the 107 00:03:58,066 --> 00:04:00,066 international strategic competition 108 00:04:00,066 --> 00:04:02,066 that's underway . These factors are 109 00:04:02,066 --> 00:04:04,066 drivers of China's foreign policy , 110 00:04:04,066 --> 00:04:06,820 military , civil fusion strategy , 111 00:04:06,830 --> 00:04:09,260 defence policy and military strategy . 112 00:04:10,020 --> 00:04:12,630 These relationships are essential for 113 00:04:12,630 --> 00:04:14,686 understanding the current and future 114 00:04:14,686 --> 00:04:16,630 course of the PL A , including its 115 00:04:16,630 --> 00:04:18,797 evolving roles and missions in support 116 00:04:18,797 --> 00:04:20,960 of China's strategy and its long term 117 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,440 goal to become Quote world class 118 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,370 military by 2049 for the report 119 00:04:27,870 --> 00:04:29,814 for the report to provide the most 120 00:04:29,814 --> 00:04:32,070 accurate assessment of China's strategy 121 00:04:32,070 --> 00:04:34,237 possible . We felt it was important to 122 00:04:34,237 --> 00:04:36,459 use very authoritative sourcing over my 123 00:04:36,459 --> 00:04:38,681 career . I've always found that there's 124 00:04:38,681 --> 00:04:40,292 no better starting point for 125 00:04:40,292 --> 00:04:42,292 understanding China's strategy than 126 00:04:42,292 --> 00:04:45,120 China itself . This report carefully 127 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,000 and deliberately use , uses 128 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,650 authoritative Communist Party documents , 129 00:04:49,650 --> 00:04:52,470 writings , speeches to provide a more 130 00:04:52,470 --> 00:04:54,720 complete and accurate picture , an 131 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,609 account of China's strategy , its 132 00:04:56,609 --> 00:04:59,060 ambitions and political and governing 133 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,350 systems as articulated and understood 134 00:05:01,350 --> 00:05:03,650 by the party itself . This requires 135 00:05:03,650 --> 00:05:05,983 obviously careful working and attention . 136 00:05:06,130 --> 00:05:08,241 On one hand , we don't want to nestle 137 00:05:08,241 --> 00:05:10,408 amplify the party's false narratives . 138 00:05:10,408 --> 00:05:12,630 Propaganda are hollow rhetoric . On the 139 00:05:12,630 --> 00:05:14,852 other hand , we in the United States at 140 00:05:14,852 --> 00:05:17,019 large can sometimes fall into the trap 141 00:05:17,330 --> 00:05:19,386 of dismissing too much of what China 142 00:05:19,386 --> 00:05:21,700 says as indecipherable political 143 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:25,670 rhetoric . And if you ignore what China 144 00:05:25,670 --> 00:05:27,837 says about itself , it can places at a 145 00:05:27,837 --> 00:05:29,559 greater risk of relying on the 146 00:05:29,559 --> 00:05:31,810 caricatures of China . Strategy and 147 00:05:31,810 --> 00:05:33,977 misunderstanding is strategic intent . 148 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,653 So by assessing China through this lens , 149 00:05:36,940 --> 00:05:39,162 the China military power report is able 150 00:05:39,162 --> 00:05:41,107 to provide some , I think , better 151 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:43,162 insights . For instance , it's clear 152 00:05:43,162 --> 00:05:45,107 that in recent years the party has 153 00:05:45,107 --> 00:05:47,162 become increasingly confident in the 154 00:05:47,162 --> 00:05:48,996 superiority of its political and 155 00:05:48,996 --> 00:05:51,107 governance systems and its ability to 156 00:05:51,107 --> 00:05:53,218 manage China's challenges towards the 157 00:05:53,218 --> 00:05:55,384 strategic ends . This confidence , for 158 00:05:55,384 --> 00:05:59,100 example , is manifesting what is often 159 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:00,989 described as China's increasingly 160 00:06:00,989 --> 00:06:02,933 assertive international behavior . 161 00:06:02,933 --> 00:06:05,100 Moreover , it's clear that the party's 162 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:08,160 leaders , rather than risk adverse uh , 163 00:06:08,170 --> 00:06:10,003 rather than being risk averse or 164 00:06:10,003 --> 00:06:11,880 reactionary , view themselves as 165 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,330 modernizers of a certain stripe who are 166 00:06:14,330 --> 00:06:16,497 confident that they have struck upon a 167 00:06:16,497 --> 00:06:18,608 formula that works and works better . 168 00:06:18,608 --> 00:06:20,163 China's economic and social 169 00:06:20,163 --> 00:06:22,386 transformation under the party over the 170 00:06:22,386 --> 00:06:24,219 past 40 years of particular have 171 00:06:24,219 --> 00:06:26,163 generated greater confidence , not 172 00:06:26,163 --> 00:06:29,350 timidity , As this report describes , 173 00:06:29,610 --> 00:06:31,832 China's strategy seeks to achieve quote 174 00:06:31,832 --> 00:06:33,943 the great rejuvenation of the Chinese 175 00:06:33,943 --> 00:06:36,870 nation unquote by 2049 China's main 176 00:06:36,870 --> 00:06:38,970 national and state . This strategy , 177 00:06:38,970 --> 00:06:41,192 led by the party , entails a determined 178 00:06:41,192 --> 00:06:42,970 pursuit of political and social 179 00:06:42,970 --> 00:06:44,859 modernity and includes efforts to 180 00:06:44,859 --> 00:06:47,380 expand China's national power . Perfect . 181 00:06:47,380 --> 00:06:49,380 It's covered in system , revise and 182 00:06:49,380 --> 00:06:52,000 revise the international order . The 183 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,500 Communist Party leadership 184 00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:55,722 characterizes their strategy to achieve 185 00:06:55,722 --> 00:06:57,770 miniter maternity as a national 186 00:06:57,770 --> 00:06:59,937 endeavor that will transform China and 187 00:06:59,937 --> 00:07:02,180 certainly , in turn the world . It's 188 00:07:02,180 --> 00:07:04,069 important to acknowledge that the 189 00:07:04,069 --> 00:07:06,180 Communist Party does not pursue these 190 00:07:06,180 --> 00:07:08,291 strategic ends mechanically , or have 191 00:07:08,291 --> 00:07:10,124 necessarily a detailed plan that 192 00:07:10,124 --> 00:07:12,236 stretches out decades . Rather , what 193 00:07:12,236 --> 00:07:14,350 the party does is it sets long term 194 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,304 national objectives that the party 195 00:07:16,304 --> 00:07:18,530 drives the party state in the Chinese 196 00:07:18,530 --> 00:07:21,710 society towards um and certainly adapts 197 00:07:21,710 --> 00:07:23,432 to challenges and failures and 198 00:07:23,432 --> 00:07:25,690 successes along the way . While party 199 00:07:25,690 --> 00:07:27,579 leaders have consistently pursued 200 00:07:27,579 --> 00:07:29,579 national rejuvenation as its goal , 201 00:07:29,670 --> 00:07:31,503 they have demonstrated degree of 202 00:07:31,503 --> 00:07:33,503 adaptability and execution to seize 203 00:07:33,503 --> 00:07:35,503 opportunities and manage threats to 204 00:07:35,503 --> 00:07:38,030 their strategy and interests . Moreover , 205 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,818 China's strategy is not without 206 00:07:39,818 --> 00:07:42,520 deficiencies . China's strategy entails 207 00:07:42,940 --> 00:07:45,162 numerous contradictions between China's 208 00:07:45,162 --> 00:07:47,384 desires to continue benefiting from the 209 00:07:47,384 --> 00:07:49,384 current peace and prosperity of the 210 00:07:49,384 --> 00:07:51,660 current international system in order 211 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:53,827 to advance China's development towards 212 00:07:53,827 --> 00:07:56,340 its national rejuvenation . At the same 213 00:07:56,340 --> 00:07:58,507 time , China's strategic ambitions and 214 00:07:58,507 --> 00:08:00,618 political governing systems , coupled 215 00:08:00,618 --> 00:08:02,562 with growing means and opportunity 216 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:04,811 induce it to adopt him were assertive 217 00:08:04,811 --> 00:08:07,890 in revisionist policies , which of 218 00:08:07,890 --> 00:08:10,057 course threaten the peace and security 219 00:08:10,057 --> 00:08:11,680 it desires . In many ways , 220 00:08:12,580 --> 00:08:14,358 contextualizing China's defence 221 00:08:14,358 --> 00:08:17,090 ambitions is another key part of this 222 00:08:17,090 --> 00:08:19,312 report . The report does not claim that 223 00:08:19,312 --> 00:08:21,312 China's military is currently 10 ft 224 00:08:21,312 --> 00:08:24,020 tall nor , I think , certainly does 225 00:08:24,020 --> 00:08:27,260 China either . The Pale faces a number 226 00:08:27,260 --> 00:08:29,427 of challenges in Beijing is working to 227 00:08:29,427 --> 00:08:31,440 overcome those which is really an 228 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:32,440 important point 229 00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:37,720 at the center is that the party 230 00:08:37,730 --> 00:08:39,619 constant ? The Philly , I think , 231 00:08:39,619 --> 00:08:42,130 ultimately to be 10 ft tall . Ambitions 232 00:08:42,130 --> 00:08:44,408 matter here and over the past 20 years , 233 00:08:44,408 --> 00:08:46,186 what we've seen is that China's 234 00:08:46,186 --> 00:08:48,186 ambitions drive the pill a sweeping 235 00:08:48,186 --> 00:08:50,352 modernization and reform efforts which 236 00:08:50,352 --> 00:08:52,310 this year see NPR has catalogued 237 00:08:53,110 --> 00:08:56,440 clearly , as have previous editions in 238 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,273 which , for the national defense 239 00:08:58,273 --> 00:09:01,250 strategy identifies , uh serves as a 240 00:09:01,250 --> 00:09:04,930 critical source um from which , uh , 241 00:09:05,210 --> 00:09:07,510 we may re face eroding competitive 242 00:09:07,510 --> 00:09:10,070 military advantage , the comments party 243 00:09:10,070 --> 00:09:12,170 stated . Goals are to transform the 244 00:09:12,170 --> 00:09:14,370 pill a into a world class military by 245 00:09:14,370 --> 00:09:17,960 mid century . While China has not 246 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,300 defined exactly what world class 247 00:09:20,300 --> 00:09:22,244 military means , it is likely that 248 00:09:22,244 --> 00:09:24,244 China will seek to build a military 249 00:09:24,244 --> 00:09:26,244 that is equal to , or in some cases 250 00:09:26,244 --> 00:09:28,670 superior to the U . S . Military or the 251 00:09:28,670 --> 00:09:30,837 military of any other great power that 252 00:09:30,837 --> 00:09:33,059 China perceives as a potential threat . 253 00:09:33,059 --> 00:09:35,003 Given the context of the Communist 254 00:09:35,003 --> 00:09:36,614 Party's strategy of national 255 00:09:36,614 --> 00:09:38,837 rejuvenation , it is unlikely the party 256 00:09:38,837 --> 00:09:40,948 will seek to end seek an end state in 257 00:09:40,948 --> 00:09:43,360 which China remains in a position of 258 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,249 military inferiority visa via the 259 00:09:45,249 --> 00:09:47,450 United States or any other rival . A 260 00:09:47,450 --> 00:09:49,228 permanent condition of military 261 00:09:49,228 --> 00:09:51,394 inferiority is anathema to the party's 262 00:09:51,394 --> 00:09:53,228 goal of transformation that , to 263 00:09:53,228 --> 00:09:55,600 transform China into a quote great 264 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,650 modern socialist country unquote , 265 00:09:59,810 --> 00:10:01,588 the party views China's growing 266 00:10:01,588 --> 00:10:05,020 strength as useful only to the extent 267 00:10:05,030 --> 00:10:07,197 that the party state can mobilize it . 268 00:10:07,197 --> 00:10:09,363 Party is modernizing and reforming the 269 00:10:09,363 --> 00:10:11,363 P L . A . To support its strategy , 270 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:14,451 while the advancing military 271 00:10:14,451 --> 00:10:16,673 capabilities are important . We want to 272 00:10:16,673 --> 00:10:18,784 emphasize , and I think it's clear in 273 00:10:18,784 --> 00:10:20,562 the report that the pill is not 274 00:10:20,562 --> 00:10:22,618 intended to be merely a showpiece of 275 00:10:22,618 --> 00:10:24,396 Chinese modernity . The CPC has 276 00:10:24,396 --> 00:10:26,340 Communist Party has spent the last 277 00:10:26,340 --> 00:10:28,700 several years completely tearing out in 278 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:30,920 rewiring the pill , organizationally 279 00:10:31,270 --> 00:10:33,381 with the gold to transform into um or 280 00:10:33,381 --> 00:10:35,603 joint force that is increasingly combat 281 00:10:35,603 --> 00:10:38,460 ready , innovative and global . Finally , 282 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:40,404 the report highlights that China's 283 00:10:40,404 --> 00:10:42,571 investments in and reforms of the pill 284 00:10:42,571 --> 00:10:44,682 A are intended to transform it into a 285 00:10:44,682 --> 00:10:46,550 more practical instruments of 286 00:10:46,550 --> 00:10:48,680 statecraft . And that is certainly 287 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:50,791 called out within the report that put 288 00:10:50,791 --> 00:10:52,958 the party has called for the P L . A . 289 00:10:52,958 --> 00:10:55,180 To take an active role in advancing the 290 00:10:55,180 --> 00:10:57,180 PRC's foreign policy , particularly 291 00:10:57,180 --> 00:10:58,902 with respect to China's global 292 00:10:58,902 --> 00:11:00,736 interests and its aims to revise 293 00:11:00,736 --> 00:11:02,791 aspects of the international order . 294 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:04,951 Beijing very much intends or believes 295 00:11:04,951 --> 00:11:08,680 it will have to use this . I use this 296 00:11:08,780 --> 00:11:10,724 military instrument to advance and 297 00:11:10,724 --> 00:11:12,558 defend its conception of Chinese 298 00:11:12,558 --> 00:11:14,058 sovereignty , security and 299 00:11:14,058 --> 00:11:16,280 developmental interests . Zach , I just 300 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,447 wanted again reiterate my appreciation 301 00:11:18,447 --> 00:11:20,790 for the fourth today your efforts and 302 00:11:20,790 --> 00:11:22,957 certainly as well as the participation 303 00:11:22,957 --> 00:11:25,179 of the audience online and look for the 304 00:11:25,179 --> 00:11:27,234 questions . Wonderful . Well , thank 305 00:11:27,234 --> 00:11:29,401 you so much for walking us through the 306 00:11:29,401 --> 00:11:31,623 report . You're right . It's a long 200 307 00:11:31,623 --> 00:11:33,790 pages , but there's so much content in 308 00:11:33,790 --> 00:11:36,012 there , and so assed folks are probably 309 00:11:36,012 --> 00:11:38,123 reading through it at home . I wanted 310 00:11:38,123 --> 00:11:37,980 to take a little bit of time to jump 311 00:11:37,980 --> 00:11:39,980 through it . The some of the things 312 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:42,091 that jumped out to me in the report , 313 00:11:42,091 --> 00:11:44,180 Um , and the first is on the comment 314 00:11:44,180 --> 00:11:46,291 that you ended on about Chinese power 315 00:11:46,291 --> 00:11:48,760 projection and overseas objectives . So 316 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,816 this year's report discusses China's 317 00:11:50,816 --> 00:11:53,038 continue turn for US power projection . 318 00:11:53,038 --> 00:11:55,204 And it states that China's military is 319 00:11:55,204 --> 00:11:57,038 not only intended to be merely a 320 00:11:57,038 --> 00:11:59,140 showpiece of China's maternity or to 321 00:11:59,140 --> 00:12:01,084 keep it focused solely on regional 322 00:12:01,084 --> 00:12:03,880 threats . And , you know , so this is 323 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:05,950 very clear that this is a global 324 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,182 military , our military that would like 325 00:12:08,182 --> 00:12:10,127 to have global ambitions . And one 326 00:12:10,127 --> 00:12:12,182 thing that jumped out at me was that 327 00:12:12,182 --> 00:12:14,404 this report , unlike others , says that 328 00:12:14,404 --> 00:12:16,627 the PRC has likely considered locations 329 00:12:16,627 --> 00:12:18,404 for Peel , a military logistics 330 00:12:18,404 --> 00:12:20,430 facilities in Myanmar , Thailand , 331 00:12:20,430 --> 00:12:22,870 Singapore , Indonesia , Pakistan , Sri 332 00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:25,037 Lanka , United Arab Emirates , Kenya , 333 00:12:25,037 --> 00:12:27,130 Seychelles , Tanzania , Angola and 334 00:12:27,130 --> 00:12:29,400 Tajikistan . And the report also 335 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,570 mentions the existing base in Djibouti 336 00:12:31,570 --> 00:12:34,030 and , of course , some debate within 337 00:12:34,030 --> 00:12:36,420 Cambodia about China gaining access to 338 00:12:36,430 --> 00:12:38,652 re naval base . So I'm wondering if you 339 00:12:38,652 --> 00:12:40,880 can talk a little bit both about the 340 00:12:40,890 --> 00:12:43,060 logic of China's turn towards power 341 00:12:43,060 --> 00:12:45,170 projection and whether you think 342 00:12:45,170 --> 00:12:47,226 there's been an acceleration . Maybe 343 00:12:47,226 --> 00:12:49,337 over the last year , that this report 344 00:12:49,337 --> 00:12:52,070 focused on in China's looking outward 345 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,540 beyond its near sees towards more 346 00:12:54,540 --> 00:12:58,360 overseas objectives as act . That's a 347 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,693 great question . Thank you for that . I , 348 00:13:00,693 --> 00:13:02,650 um I will . I will reinforce your 349 00:13:02,650 --> 00:13:04,706 conclusion here , which is obviously 350 00:13:04,706 --> 00:13:06,706 also found in the report , which is 351 00:13:06,706 --> 00:13:09,080 that the Chinese do have . The Chinese 352 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,191 leadership of the Communist Party has 353 00:13:11,191 --> 00:13:13,880 an aspiration for great power status by 354 00:13:13,890 --> 00:13:15,390 virtually every measure of 355 00:13:15,390 --> 00:13:17,557 comprehensive composite national power 356 00:13:17,557 --> 00:13:20,310 that you that you could measure that 357 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,424 not least of which is the People's 358 00:13:22,424 --> 00:13:24,647 Liberation Army . And to achieve that , 359 00:13:24,647 --> 00:13:26,990 that means that they have to have , you 360 00:13:26,990 --> 00:13:29,400 know , a global convergence at at the 361 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,070 broadest scale possible for the P L . A . 362 00:13:32,070 --> 00:13:34,292 That means that they do have the intent 363 00:13:34,292 --> 00:13:36,348 to go out . I think that's certainly 364 00:13:36,348 --> 00:13:38,514 one of the aspects of what world class 365 00:13:38,514 --> 00:13:40,681 military means , which is the capacity 366 00:13:40,681 --> 00:13:42,903 to have influence at distance at a time 367 00:13:42,903 --> 00:13:45,070 and place of their choosing . And they 368 00:13:45,070 --> 00:13:47,970 certainly inspired to do that within 369 00:13:47,970 --> 00:13:49,970 the last year . There certainly has 370 00:13:49,970 --> 00:13:52,081 been an uptick in their aspirations . 371 00:13:52,081 --> 00:13:54,303 Aziz , they declare . Talk about them . 372 00:13:54,303 --> 00:13:56,526 I don't think this is necessarily a new 373 00:13:56,526 --> 00:13:58,748 objective that they have . It certainly 374 00:13:58,748 --> 00:14:00,748 port and intimately linked to their 375 00:14:00,748 --> 00:14:02,414 long term nationals strategic 376 00:14:02,414 --> 00:14:04,692 aspirations . But things were changing , 377 00:14:04,692 --> 00:14:04,430 and they're changing rapidly in China , 378 00:14:04,430 --> 00:14:06,652 and we see those developments unfolding 379 00:14:06,652 --> 00:14:08,652 right in front of our eyes . If you 380 00:14:08,652 --> 00:14:10,652 don't pay attention , if you're not 381 00:14:10,652 --> 00:14:12,763 attentive to them , is that you could 382 00:14:12,763 --> 00:14:14,874 miss those . Those basic facilities , 383 00:14:14,874 --> 00:14:17,097 as you notice , are important . They're 384 00:14:17,097 --> 00:14:19,208 testing their trying to explore their 385 00:14:19,208 --> 00:14:21,374 trying to understand they're trying to 386 00:14:21,374 --> 00:14:23,374 devise and come up with plans about 387 00:14:23,374 --> 00:14:25,430 what , where and what types of bases 388 00:14:25,430 --> 00:14:27,652 and how they might use those facilities 389 00:14:27,652 --> 00:14:29,708 overseas . Best . I don't think that 390 00:14:29,708 --> 00:14:31,708 they have reached necessarily final 391 00:14:31,708 --> 00:14:31,400 conclusions on any of those yet , 392 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,751 certainly with Djibouti , they have , 393 00:14:33,751 --> 00:14:35,751 um , but their aspirations were not 394 00:14:35,751 --> 00:14:37,807 small , and they're not limited to a 395 00:14:37,807 --> 00:14:39,862 single geographic location . This is 396 00:14:39,862 --> 00:14:42,029 global in scale , so we'll continue to 397 00:14:42,029 --> 00:14:44,029 modern to that . There's aspects of 398 00:14:44,029 --> 00:14:46,307 this that may be helpful in the future , 399 00:14:46,307 --> 00:14:48,251 but truly our eyes are on how that 400 00:14:48,251 --> 00:14:50,196 impacts the United States national 401 00:14:50,196 --> 00:14:52,251 security , our interests overall and 402 00:14:52,251 --> 00:14:54,140 that of our allies and partners . 403 00:14:56,940 --> 00:14:59,590 Wonderful . And another issue that is 404 00:14:59,590 --> 00:15:01,590 going to get a lot of attention , I 405 00:15:01,590 --> 00:15:03,810 think , is the reports . Statements 406 00:15:03,810 --> 00:15:06,600 about missile capabilities in 407 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,180 particular . In 2000 , the first China 408 00:15:10,180 --> 00:15:12,620 Military Power report assessed that the 409 00:15:12,630 --> 00:15:14,519 feel they lack the capabilities , 410 00:15:14,519 --> 00:15:16,630 organization and readiness for modern 411 00:15:16,630 --> 00:15:18,741 warfare . And this year's report says 412 00:15:18,741 --> 00:15:20,741 China has marshaled the resource is 413 00:15:20,741 --> 00:15:22,908 technology and political will over the 414 00:15:22,908 --> 00:15:24,852 past two decades to strengthen and 415 00:15:24,852 --> 00:15:26,852 modernize the peel and nearly every 416 00:15:26,852 --> 00:15:29,186 respect . Indeed , as this report shows , 417 00:15:29,186 --> 00:15:31,186 China's already ahead of the United 418 00:15:31,186 --> 00:15:33,200 States in certain areas . And the 419 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,256 report calls out three . I wanted to 420 00:15:35,256 --> 00:15:37,144 just talk about one of them for a 421 00:15:37,144 --> 00:15:39,200 minute , which is the conventionally 422 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,370 armed missile capability . Andi . Some 423 00:15:41,370 --> 00:15:43,426 of these air also nuclear capable as 424 00:15:43,426 --> 00:15:46,040 well . This year's report shows a 425 00:15:46,050 --> 00:15:48,880 pretty large increase in the estimated 426 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,040 number of intermediate intermediate 427 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,470 range ballistic missiles in China's 428 00:15:53,470 --> 00:15:55,692 arsenal . I assume some of those air de 429 00:15:55,692 --> 00:15:59,650 of 26 is , but I don't know , um , so I 430 00:15:59,650 --> 00:16:01,872 wanted to ask you , you know , that the 431 00:16:01,872 --> 00:16:03,817 increase in this report is up from 432 00:16:03,817 --> 00:16:05,928 something like 80 launchers last year 433 00:16:05,928 --> 00:16:08,610 to 200 estimated this year . So that's 434 00:16:08,610 --> 00:16:10,832 a pretty big increase , especially when 435 00:16:10,832 --> 00:16:12,721 the rest of the ballistic missile 436 00:16:12,721 --> 00:16:14,777 forces stayed relatively stable , at 437 00:16:14,777 --> 00:16:17,030 least as as estimated by the Defense 438 00:16:17,030 --> 00:16:19,350 Department . Andi , we've obviously 439 00:16:19,350 --> 00:16:21,710 just seen this capability tested last 440 00:16:21,710 --> 00:16:23,860 week in the South China Sea . So I'm 441 00:16:23,860 --> 00:16:25,916 wondering if you could talk a little 442 00:16:25,916 --> 00:16:27,971 bit about China's missile forces and 443 00:16:27,971 --> 00:16:30,138 how they're changing . And what do you 444 00:16:30,138 --> 00:16:32,360 think is behind some of these changes ? 445 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,582 Certainly , there's not a single causal 446 00:16:34,582 --> 00:16:36,749 factor for that . I think this touches 447 00:16:36,749 --> 00:16:39,410 on on Mary many aspects of how the 448 00:16:39,410 --> 00:16:41,521 Chinese perceive themselves and where 449 00:16:41,521 --> 00:16:44,350 they need to be , both as they met or 450 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,850 trying to meet 2020 markers , 2035 451 00:16:46,850 --> 00:16:49,290 markers and then ultimately mid century 452 00:16:49,290 --> 00:16:51,234 markers for the development of the 453 00:16:51,234 --> 00:16:53,012 nation at large and the Chinese 454 00:16:53,012 --> 00:16:54,790 military in particular . So the 455 00:16:54,790 --> 00:16:57,590 missiles air are certainly a 456 00:16:57,590 --> 00:16:59,840 consequential aspect of what they're 457 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,020 undertaking , and it has our full 458 00:17:02,020 --> 00:17:04,710 attention , as as you can imagine , not 459 00:17:04,710 --> 00:17:06,821 least of which is is the ration , the 460 00:17:06,821 --> 00:17:09,140 reasons and the rationale behind why we 461 00:17:09,140 --> 00:17:12,720 have in the past , you know , accepted 462 00:17:12,730 --> 00:17:15,130 and promoted limitations on those kind 463 00:17:15,130 --> 00:17:16,908 of systems for their inherently 464 00:17:16,908 --> 00:17:19,920 escalatory nature of what they provide , 465 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:23,930 but not having that , uh , 466 00:17:24,170 --> 00:17:26,337 having been constrained by that in the 467 00:17:26,337 --> 00:17:28,503 past . The Chinese just simply haven't 468 00:17:28,503 --> 00:17:30,337 been part of those international 469 00:17:30,337 --> 00:17:32,448 agreements or accords , have not felt 470 00:17:32,448 --> 00:17:34,503 the necessity to do so and pursued a 471 00:17:34,503 --> 00:17:36,560 much more escalatory path for them . 472 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:39,011 It's about technology , technological 473 00:17:39,011 --> 00:17:40,789 prestige , fielding in advanced 474 00:17:40,789 --> 00:17:43,710 capabilities and , uh , and forces , 475 00:17:44,060 --> 00:17:46,340 certainly not least of which is what 476 00:17:46,340 --> 00:17:48,284 they perceived to be an asymmetric 477 00:17:48,284 --> 00:17:50,340 advantage that they will have of the 478 00:17:50,340 --> 00:17:52,562 United States , particularly during the 479 00:17:52,562 --> 00:17:54,784 time when we had self imposed or agreed 480 00:17:54,784 --> 00:17:56,840 to limitations that we adhere to and 481 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,062 they have not . So in this case is it's 482 00:17:59,062 --> 00:18:01,118 a change of condition for them where 483 00:18:01,118 --> 00:18:03,229 they felt some advantage , a strength 484 00:18:03,229 --> 00:18:05,229 and area of potential strength that 485 00:18:05,229 --> 00:18:07,396 they might have in a potential area of 486 00:18:07,396 --> 00:18:07,060 weakness that the assessed that we 487 00:18:07,060 --> 00:18:09,920 might possess . So it is important that 488 00:18:09,930 --> 00:18:12,263 the change and the numbers that you see , 489 00:18:12,263 --> 00:18:14,319 of course , in any reporter , only a 490 00:18:14,319 --> 00:18:16,486 snapshot in time . They're dynamic and 491 00:18:16,486 --> 00:18:18,541 they change . They certainly changed 492 00:18:18,541 --> 00:18:20,819 since the previous report . In the end , 493 00:18:20,819 --> 00:18:22,708 alley will change as you see next 494 00:18:22,708 --> 00:18:24,763 year's report , but which we'll , of 495 00:18:24,763 --> 00:18:24,650 course next week , will begin 496 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,360 developing . So with that is the P . L . 497 00:18:28,360 --> 00:18:31,870 A . Has fielded approximately 200 I R B 498 00:18:31,870 --> 00:18:34,300 M launchers and more than 200 missiles , 499 00:18:34,470 --> 00:18:37,190 and we continue to modern monitor that 500 00:18:37,190 --> 00:18:39,246 very closely and look for other ways 501 00:18:39,246 --> 00:18:41,079 that to extend the United States 502 00:18:41,079 --> 00:18:43,134 advantage and that of our allies and 503 00:18:43,134 --> 00:18:46,830 partners . I do expect to Seymour on 504 00:18:46,830 --> 00:18:49,090 the horizon , but certainly the Chinese 505 00:18:49,090 --> 00:18:51,312 air , aware of the change of conditions 506 00:18:51,312 --> 00:18:53,534 that have happened over the last really 507 00:18:53,534 --> 00:18:55,534 about a year and a half in terms of 508 00:18:55,534 --> 00:18:57,701 constraints and limitations on those . 509 00:18:57,701 --> 00:18:59,757 And that may be a point of departure 510 00:18:59,757 --> 00:19:01,701 for discussions with them . That's 511 00:19:01,701 --> 00:19:03,923 fantastic . You know , one of the areas 512 00:19:03,923 --> 00:19:06,146 that I think is connected , obviously , 513 00:19:06,146 --> 00:19:07,979 toe I r B m force eyes , nuclear 514 00:19:07,979 --> 00:19:10,201 weapons And here , actually , one thing 515 00:19:10,201 --> 00:19:12,423 I really appreciate about the report is 516 00:19:12,423 --> 00:19:14,257 it's , you know , we're not just 517 00:19:14,257 --> 00:19:16,201 tryingto present . I think as much 518 00:19:16,201 --> 00:19:18,201 negative information about what the 519 00:19:18,201 --> 00:19:20,312 Chinese military is doing as really , 520 00:19:20,312 --> 00:19:22,257 very fact based . And there's some 521 00:19:22,257 --> 00:19:24,534 facts here that I think I'm a surprise . 522 00:19:24,534 --> 00:19:28,070 Some people eso . The report states 523 00:19:28,250 --> 00:19:29,861 that China's nuclear war has 524 00:19:29,861 --> 00:19:31,917 stockpilers in the low to hundreds . 525 00:19:32,460 --> 00:19:34,682 This is not a number that typically has 526 00:19:34,682 --> 00:19:36,682 been quoted in the China military , 527 00:19:36,682 --> 00:19:38,904 Power reported . And as you know , many 528 00:19:38,904 --> 00:19:41,071 of the outside reports suggested maybe 529 00:19:41,071 --> 00:19:43,293 that number was closer to the low three 530 00:19:43,293 --> 00:19:45,404 hundreds , or even or even higher and 531 00:19:45,404 --> 00:19:47,860 in some cases , much higher on DSO . I 532 00:19:47,860 --> 00:19:50,870 wanted to ask a little bit about about 533 00:19:50,870 --> 00:19:53,092 nuclear weapons . There are a couple of 534 00:19:53,092 --> 00:19:55,259 other interesting things in the report 535 00:19:55,259 --> 00:19:57,314 on nuclear weapons , one of which is 536 00:19:57,314 --> 00:19:59,370 that it suggests China is building a 537 00:19:59,370 --> 00:20:01,259 silo based nuclear capability for 538 00:20:01,259 --> 00:20:03,314 launch on Warning , which I think is 539 00:20:03,314 --> 00:20:05,314 going to come as a surprise to some 540 00:20:05,314 --> 00:20:07,370 people , at least in the community . 541 00:20:07,370 --> 00:20:09,592 Eso Can you talk a little bit about the 542 00:20:09,592 --> 00:20:11,537 Chinese nuclear force and how it's 543 00:20:11,537 --> 00:20:13,648 changing . Obviously , we've seen the 544 00:20:13,648 --> 00:20:15,648 last few weeks . Secretary Esper on 545 00:20:15,648 --> 00:20:17,592 others . The undersecretary of the 546 00:20:17,592 --> 00:20:19,814 Anderson , for example , mentioned that 547 00:20:19,814 --> 00:20:22,037 China hopes to double or maybe thinking 548 00:20:22,037 --> 00:20:24,203 about doubling this nuclear force over 549 00:20:24,203 --> 00:20:26,400 the next decade . So look forward to 550 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,511 your insights about where the Chinese 551 00:20:28,511 --> 00:20:31,060 nuclear capabilities airheaded . Yeah , 552 00:20:31,060 --> 00:20:33,393 that's great . They should be attentive . 553 00:20:33,393 --> 00:20:35,616 Certainly we are , and that's I think , 554 00:20:35,616 --> 00:20:37,838 the rationale for why we ensure that we 555 00:20:37,838 --> 00:20:39,782 included the best numbers and best 556 00:20:39,782 --> 00:20:41,782 understanding we could have in this 557 00:20:41,782 --> 00:20:43,893 report really stems from two issues . 558 00:20:43,893 --> 00:20:45,727 One is going back to some of the 559 00:20:45,727 --> 00:20:47,616 opening comments , which is as an 560 00:20:47,616 --> 00:20:49,616 aspect of try as long term national 561 00:20:49,616 --> 00:20:51,910 strategic aspirations and what those 562 00:20:51,910 --> 00:20:54,930 mean for China's strategic systems , 563 00:20:55,020 --> 00:20:57,076 conclude the P L . A . And what they 564 00:20:57,830 --> 00:21:01,380 what those capacities are is you will 565 00:21:01,380 --> 00:21:03,436 see the trend lines that are in play 566 00:21:03,436 --> 00:21:06,310 right now . So the report does contend 567 00:21:06,310 --> 00:21:08,532 that there's currently an estimated low 568 00:21:08,532 --> 00:21:10,310 to hundreds in terms of warhead 569 00:21:10,310 --> 00:21:12,570 stockpiles , and it's projected to at 570 00:21:12,570 --> 00:21:14,792 least double in size of the next decade 571 00:21:14,792 --> 00:21:17,014 as China expands and modernizes nuclear 572 00:21:17,014 --> 00:21:19,770 forces . I think it's also important 573 00:21:19,780 --> 00:21:21,724 that the report notes that China's 574 00:21:21,724 --> 00:21:23,391 expanding and modernizing and 575 00:21:23,391 --> 00:21:25,720 diversifies diversifying its nuclear 576 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,310 forces across the board is so just 577 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,542 looking at number of warheads by itself 578 00:21:30,542 --> 00:21:33,040 is not the entire picture or doesn't 579 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,262 paint a holistic understanding of where 580 00:21:35,262 --> 00:21:37,429 the where the changes are made , where 581 00:21:37,429 --> 00:21:39,540 they want to go . As the report notes 582 00:21:39,540 --> 00:21:41,540 within the next decade , China's on 583 00:21:41,540 --> 00:21:44,580 course to expand IDS ballistic 584 00:21:44,580 --> 00:21:46,691 submarine fleet and feel more capable 585 00:21:46,691 --> 00:21:48,858 of longer range sea launched ballistic 586 00:21:48,858 --> 00:21:51,024 missiles , complete development of its 587 00:21:51,024 --> 00:21:53,080 nuclear capable airlines , ballistic 588 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,024 missiles and field them along with 589 00:21:55,024 --> 00:21:57,200 associated bombers . Field additional 590 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,380 Road Mobile , I C , B M's and 591 00:21:59,380 --> 00:22:01,602 potentially expand its silo based I C B 592 00:22:01,602 --> 00:22:04,130 M force . So , as has been noted by 593 00:22:04,130 --> 00:22:07,450 others on Daz , the report contends , 594 00:22:07,910 --> 00:22:10,740 is that there's an aspect of that . 595 00:22:10,740 --> 00:22:12,796 They're obviously in pursuit of it , 596 00:22:12,796 --> 00:22:14,684 the full sweetened capacities and 597 00:22:14,684 --> 00:22:16,240 include the building out of 598 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,296 infrastructure for more modernized , 599 00:22:18,296 --> 00:22:21,990 capable and larger . The capacity in 600 00:22:21,990 --> 00:22:25,810 this areas wonderful . And 601 00:22:26,210 --> 00:22:28,420 I want to turn a little bit now , toe 602 00:22:28,430 --> 00:22:30,486 some regional issues and maybe start 603 00:22:30,486 --> 00:22:33,920 with a bit of framing about the fillets . 604 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,240 Global Role . The report states that 605 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,462 China's military strategy remains based 606 00:22:38,462 --> 00:22:40,750 on the cop concept of active defense 607 00:22:40,750 --> 00:22:42,750 and , as you know well , Taylor for 608 00:22:42,750 --> 00:22:44,861 Bella's written a book on this recent 609 00:22:44,861 --> 00:22:47,020 maybe came Out last year . Andi . He 610 00:22:47,020 --> 00:22:49,131 suggests that in the short term , the 611 00:22:49,131 --> 00:22:51,020 central focus of China's military 612 00:22:51,020 --> 00:22:53,320 strategy and strategic planning will 613 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,980 revolve around three areas . Taiwan , 614 00:22:55,990 --> 00:22:58,010 the Sino Indian border on the South 615 00:22:58,010 --> 00:23:00,240 China Sea . There's obviously a lot 616 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,680 happening on all three on . I want to 617 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,624 delve into them a little bit , but 618 00:23:04,624 --> 00:23:06,680 before I do , I want to ask a little 619 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:08,791 bit about the emphasis in this year's 620 00:23:08,791 --> 00:23:11,810 report on China's Desire Toe Act 621 00:23:11,820 --> 00:23:14,290 globally , which is really a main focus , 622 00:23:14,290 --> 00:23:16,290 at least in the first , a couple of 623 00:23:16,290 --> 00:23:18,457 dozen pages . You know , there's a lot 624 00:23:18,457 --> 00:23:20,679 of added texts that walks through where 625 00:23:20,679 --> 00:23:22,901 China came from , especially back going 626 00:23:22,901 --> 00:23:25,123 to 2000 and where , where it's headed . 627 00:23:25,123 --> 00:23:27,870 So can you talk a little bit about How 628 00:23:28,100 --> 00:23:30,044 have the Defense Department thinks 629 00:23:30,044 --> 00:23:31,989 about China's regional role versus 630 00:23:31,989 --> 00:23:34,240 global role and the degree to which the 631 00:23:34,250 --> 00:23:38,070 P A is sort of prioritizing one over 632 00:23:38,070 --> 00:23:41,270 the other ? Yeah , I can 633 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,800 e I think that that's ah really kind of 634 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,967 central point of a lot of our thinking 635 00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:48,133 here within the department , certainly 636 00:23:48,133 --> 00:23:50,730 within our office is is again going 637 00:23:50,730 --> 00:23:52,952 back to where trying long from national 638 00:23:52,952 --> 00:23:55,440 aspirations are is really the best tool 639 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:57,551 by which you can illuminate where you 640 00:23:57,551 --> 00:23:59,980 see their military developing eso in 641 00:23:59,980 --> 00:24:02,147 the near term . Certainly those things 642 00:24:02,147 --> 00:24:04,369 that are hot they're directing on their 643 00:24:04,369 --> 00:24:06,313 periphery , and particularly those 644 00:24:06,313 --> 00:24:08,258 things that involve their national 645 00:24:08,258 --> 00:24:10,480 interests of sovereignty , security and 646 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,424 developmental aspirations on those 647 00:24:12,424 --> 00:24:14,536 geographic locations that right along 648 00:24:14,536 --> 00:24:17,390 the periphery but will have been will 649 00:24:17,390 --> 00:24:19,620 and will certainly continue to remain 650 00:24:20,220 --> 00:24:22,498 priority efforts for them . But really , 651 00:24:22,498 --> 00:24:24,109 where China's eyes are on is 652 00:24:24,109 --> 00:24:26,220 understanding about how they're going 653 00:24:26,220 --> 00:24:28,387 to contend , potentially react through 654 00:24:28,387 --> 00:24:30,590 course of use of force for those but 655 00:24:30,590 --> 00:24:32,423 their eyes long from on a global 656 00:24:32,423 --> 00:24:34,670 capacity . When I was served as an 657 00:24:34,710 --> 00:24:37,100 attache in Beijing , just , uh , just 658 00:24:37,100 --> 00:24:40,200 over 10 years ago , just the thought 659 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,367 about the Chinese in terms of any kind 660 00:24:42,367 --> 00:24:44,589 of power projection globally was almost 661 00:24:44,589 --> 00:24:47,140 unthinkable . Just begun certainly had 662 00:24:47,140 --> 00:24:48,807 been undertaking peacekeeping 663 00:24:48,807 --> 00:24:50,973 operations on her human auspices for a 664 00:24:50,973 --> 00:24:53,084 long period of time . But just taking 665 00:24:53,084 --> 00:24:55,196 their first four raise you would note 666 00:24:55,196 --> 00:24:57,196 that when they would even do a very 667 00:24:57,196 --> 00:24:59,196 small sort of ships on some kind of 668 00:24:59,196 --> 00:25:01,196 world tour , that was a significant 669 00:25:01,196 --> 00:25:03,418 undertaking for them . Now , now that's 670 00:25:03,418 --> 00:25:05,473 a routine practice , So these things 671 00:25:05,473 --> 00:25:07,529 are changing in a very dynamic way . 672 00:25:07,529 --> 00:25:07,310 Long term . It's for those bigger 673 00:25:07,310 --> 00:25:09,520 aspirations , and so those those close 674 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:11,590 in issues that we study on a daily 675 00:25:11,590 --> 00:25:13,812 basis will become one of many . I think 676 00:25:13,812 --> 00:25:16,034 in the future that will necessity . And 677 00:25:16,034 --> 00:25:18,312 as you raise China's military strategy , 678 00:25:18,330 --> 00:25:20,470 the Chinese it's not clear that they 679 00:25:20,470 --> 00:25:22,980 have updated their strategy . They have 680 00:25:22,980 --> 00:25:25,147 Certainly Xi Jinping has provided very 681 00:25:25,147 --> 00:25:27,820 clear direction both in 2018 2019 to 682 00:25:27,820 --> 00:25:30,290 revise their military strategy . The pl 683 00:25:30,290 --> 00:25:32,234 A themselves have told me that the 684 00:25:32,234 --> 00:25:33,901 military strategy will remain 685 00:25:33,901 --> 00:25:36,123 predicated on active defense . You know 686 00:25:36,123 --> 00:25:38,346 that very term itself has modified , of 687 00:25:38,346 --> 00:25:40,800 course , across the course of of the 688 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,790 police history , it does appear that 689 00:25:43,790 --> 00:25:46,090 were either on the cusp , Bob or it's 690 00:25:46,090 --> 00:25:48,201 already occurred that the trains will 691 00:25:48,201 --> 00:25:50,368 have a new military strategy . What we 692 00:25:50,368 --> 00:25:52,479 anticipate is that this moment , this 693 00:25:52,479 --> 00:25:54,701 next military strategy from the Chinese 694 00:25:54,701 --> 00:25:56,646 or the ones in the near term we'll 695 00:25:56,646 --> 00:25:58,534 start to reflect the requirements 696 00:25:58,534 --> 00:26:01,240 commanding control frameworks of a much 697 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,040 more ah broader regional approach or 698 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,040 even a global approach . But that's 699 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,262 where we know that they want to go over 700 00:26:08,262 --> 00:26:10,484 the long term . And so we'll be looking 701 00:26:10,484 --> 00:26:13,390 for those and coming back now , Teoh to 702 00:26:13,390 --> 00:26:16,650 the region , and especially to you know , 703 00:26:16,650 --> 00:26:18,872 some of the more contested areas I want 704 00:26:18,872 --> 00:26:21,480 to ask first about Taiwan . Um , you 705 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,480 know so much news just the last few 706 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,910 weeks on Taiwan , of course . Yesterday , 707 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:27,920 Assistant Secretary of state , they 708 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,650 would so well declassified a set of 709 00:26:30,650 --> 00:26:33,100 documents about the six assurances that 710 00:26:33,100 --> 00:26:35,100 were provided to Taiwan all the way 711 00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:37,870 back in 1982 and that was obviously an 712 00:26:37,870 --> 00:26:40,350 effort toe decrease . A little bit of 713 00:26:40,350 --> 00:26:42,990 the ambiguities surrounding us , 714 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,056 previous statements on Taiwan and to 715 00:26:45,056 --> 00:26:48,130 Taiwan . Um , one thing that's notable 716 00:26:48,140 --> 00:26:50,196 in this report is that there's a big 717 00:26:50,196 --> 00:26:53,400 change in the cross trade balance and 718 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,040 ground forces , air and naval forces . 719 00:26:56,050 --> 00:26:58,161 We see a little bit of a change . But 720 00:26:58,161 --> 00:27:00,820 on the ground side last year , in the 721 00:27:00,830 --> 00:27:03,280 2019 report , there was , ah , roughly 722 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,090 3 to 1 advantage on China's 723 00:27:06,670 --> 00:27:09,950 edge of active ground forces in the 724 00:27:09,950 --> 00:27:12,530 theater . And now that ratio is closer 725 00:27:12,530 --> 00:27:14,910 to 5 to 1 in theater between China and 726 00:27:14,910 --> 00:27:17,350 Taiwan . And if you look outside the 727 00:27:17,350 --> 00:27:19,572 theater , the ratio goes all the way up 728 00:27:19,572 --> 00:27:22,020 to 12 to 1 on . And I think this is 729 00:27:22,130 --> 00:27:24,241 going to be something that's going to 730 00:27:24,241 --> 00:27:26,408 obviously concern a lot of folks , not 731 00:27:26,408 --> 00:27:28,630 just in United States but in Taipei and 732 00:27:28,630 --> 00:27:30,630 elsewhere . Can you explain to us a 733 00:27:30,630 --> 00:27:32,686 little bit about what these changing 734 00:27:32,686 --> 00:27:34,800 dynamics mean for no potential time 735 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,180 horizons for trying to trying to 736 00:27:37,180 --> 00:27:39,013 actually launched the potentials 737 00:27:39,013 --> 00:27:41,610 invasion of Taiwan ? Do Chinese leaders 738 00:27:41,620 --> 00:27:45,510 think that the time horizon is that the 739 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,570 window is opening or closing for a 740 00:27:48,570 --> 00:27:51,010 potential invasion . And and I know , 741 00:27:51,020 --> 00:27:53,242 you know , obviously we're seeing a lot 742 00:27:53,242 --> 00:27:55,353 of reforms in Taiwan itself , and the 743 00:27:55,353 --> 00:27:57,890 report goes into those as well . Onda 744 00:27:57,890 --> 00:27:59,946 numbers I mentioned earlier , really 745 00:27:59,946 --> 00:28:01,960 only talking about active forces 746 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,220 because obviously the Taiwan military 747 00:28:04,220 --> 00:28:07,620 has shifted its structure 748 00:28:07,620 --> 00:28:09,787 itself , and that's part of the reason 749 00:28:09,787 --> 00:28:12,009 that we're seeing this change in the in 750 00:28:12,009 --> 00:28:14,064 the ratio of ground forces . But can 751 00:28:14,064 --> 00:28:16,231 you give us a sort of general sense of 752 00:28:16,231 --> 00:28:18,610 how you think Chinese leaders see the 753 00:28:18,620 --> 00:28:20,850 cross strait military balance and where 754 00:28:20,850 --> 00:28:23,890 that balance is heading ? That's a 755 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,420 great question , Zack . We might have 756 00:28:26,420 --> 00:28:29,340 to do about another five hours of your 757 00:28:29,340 --> 00:28:32,400 actions to discuss that fully . But But 758 00:28:32,410 --> 00:28:34,577 you know the starting point and really 759 00:28:34,577 --> 00:28:36,910 the starting point of the report itself . 760 00:28:36,910 --> 00:28:39,132 It is a very clear , very clearly draws 761 00:28:39,132 --> 00:28:41,243 from authoritative commentary in this 762 00:28:41,243 --> 00:28:43,243 case , the 19 party Congress report 763 00:28:43,243 --> 00:28:45,299 where they explain , as they have in 764 00:28:45,299 --> 00:28:47,243 the past , that the unification of 765 00:28:47,243 --> 00:28:50,150 Taiwan , Hong Kong and Macau is central 766 00:28:50,150 --> 00:28:52,372 component of China's long from national 767 00:28:52,372 --> 00:28:54,428 aspirations . So they very laid that 768 00:28:54,428 --> 00:28:56,539 marker down is that's the expectation 769 00:28:57,750 --> 00:28:59,694 in terms of U . S . Policy , U . S 770 00:28:59,694 --> 00:29:01,528 policy has not changed . I think 771 00:29:01,528 --> 00:29:03,430 Secretary Stilwell mentioned that 772 00:29:03,430 --> 00:29:06,080 yesterday as well is we have certain 773 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,302 communicated that to the Chinese is our 774 00:29:08,302 --> 00:29:12,140 policy remains consistent , and but we 775 00:29:12,140 --> 00:29:14,150 certainly have ah requirement to 776 00:29:14,150 --> 00:29:15,761 continue to communicate that 777 00:29:15,761 --> 00:29:17,872 effectively to the Chinese and others 778 00:29:17,890 --> 00:29:20,430 about what that policy is in terms of 779 00:29:20,430 --> 00:29:22,208 the cross strait balance . That 780 00:29:22,208 --> 00:29:24,319 certainly drives us that we know that 781 00:29:24,319 --> 00:29:26,208 in the opening aspect the opening 782 00:29:26,208 --> 00:29:28,041 chapters of the National Defense 783 00:29:28,041 --> 00:29:29,986 Strategy we talked about that as a 784 00:29:29,986 --> 00:29:31,930 motivating aspect of where current 785 00:29:31,930 --> 00:29:34,041 national strategy is national defense 786 00:29:34,041 --> 00:29:36,263 strategies . That which is the ultimate 787 00:29:36,263 --> 00:29:38,097 erosion of military capacities , 788 00:29:38,097 --> 00:29:40,319 defense capacities by the United States 789 00:29:40,319 --> 00:29:42,374 and the desire to close them . And I 790 00:29:42,374 --> 00:29:44,430 can tell you , is that the secretary 791 00:29:44,430 --> 00:29:46,763 and everybody in the department is , uh , 792 00:29:46,763 --> 00:29:48,874 intensely focused on doing so . Those 793 00:29:48,874 --> 00:29:50,763 lines of effort are clear . We're 794 00:29:50,763 --> 00:29:52,760 acting on them on , and there's 795 00:29:52,770 --> 00:29:54,980 certainly very powerful and strong 796 00:29:54,980 --> 00:29:56,924 indications of how those those air 797 00:29:56,924 --> 00:29:59,036 working and I think effectively , and 798 00:29:59,036 --> 00:30:01,091 certainly not least of which is from 799 00:30:01,091 --> 00:30:03,313 the Chinese themselves who who see that 800 00:30:03,313 --> 00:30:05,369 they see the systemic transformation 801 00:30:05,369 --> 00:30:07,480 that the department's undertaking the 802 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:09,702 Cross Street about balance is certainly 803 00:30:09,702 --> 00:30:11,758 a crucial element of that , um , you 804 00:30:11,758 --> 00:30:13,591 raised the numbers in particular 805 00:30:13,591 --> 00:30:15,647 certainly are caution is that number 806 00:30:15,647 --> 00:30:17,758 zehr one aspect of that . But this is 807 00:30:17,758 --> 00:30:19,610 part of holistic maternity . The 808 00:30:19,610 --> 00:30:21,777 Chinese themselves have reduced forces 809 00:30:22,740 --> 00:30:24,907 under the current reform efforts , but 810 00:30:24,907 --> 00:30:27,370 not as a a symbol of lessening 811 00:30:27,370 --> 00:30:30,130 capability , our capacities , but in 812 00:30:30,130 --> 00:30:32,270 fact making better investments long 813 00:30:32,270 --> 00:30:34,940 term about sharpening what those forces 814 00:30:34,940 --> 00:30:37,162 are with who they're composed of , what 815 00:30:37,162 --> 00:30:39,162 their mission sets are . So I would 816 00:30:39,162 --> 00:30:41,384 only caution the numbers have changed . 817 00:30:41,384 --> 00:30:43,496 They there are in the report from the 818 00:30:43,496 --> 00:30:45,607 Taiwan's perspective . It's certainly 819 00:30:45,607 --> 00:30:47,662 better to ask the Taiwan authorities 820 00:30:47,662 --> 00:30:49,773 about with their view of that is from 821 00:30:49,773 --> 00:30:51,829 our perspective is to ensure that we 822 00:30:51,829 --> 00:30:54,620 stand ready and any condition based on 823 00:30:54,620 --> 00:30:56,842 the president's direction . And I think 824 00:30:56,842 --> 00:30:59,300 that certainly we're headed the aim 825 00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:01,522 here . I think from all sides to do the 826 00:31:01,522 --> 00:31:03,411 Chinese is is that the worst case 827 00:31:03,411 --> 00:31:05,522 scenario is conflict , and that's not 828 00:31:05,522 --> 00:31:07,522 where anybody wants to go . I think 829 00:31:07,522 --> 00:31:09,522 certainly that's our view . I think 830 00:31:09,522 --> 00:31:11,689 that that's what the Chinese view is , 831 00:31:11,689 --> 00:31:13,633 and , uh , the best way to do that 832 00:31:13,633 --> 00:31:15,744 isn't sure that we're always prepared 833 00:31:15,744 --> 00:31:18,680 and ready . Absolutely , and it's uh , 834 00:31:18,690 --> 00:31:20,690 1 30 so I want to start bringing in 835 00:31:20,690 --> 00:31:22,912 some audience questions . We've got one 836 00:31:22,912 --> 00:31:24,857 on this specific topic from Bonnie 837 00:31:24,857 --> 00:31:26,912 Glaser over the Center for Strategic 838 00:31:26,912 --> 00:31:29,079 International Studies . She has . What 839 00:31:29,079 --> 00:31:31,190 is your assessment of the appeal ? Is 840 00:31:31,190 --> 00:31:33,301 current capability to seizing control 841 00:31:33,301 --> 00:31:35,134 Taiwan ? Do they have sufficient 842 00:31:35,134 --> 00:31:37,357 amphibious landing capability ? And can 843 00:31:37,357 --> 00:31:39,579 you talk at all about what deficiencies 844 00:31:39,579 --> 00:31:42,210 exist that the delay has yet to master 845 00:31:42,220 --> 00:31:44,331 for that type of convention ? See , I 846 00:31:44,331 --> 00:31:46,553 know some of this obviously is going to 847 00:31:46,553 --> 00:31:48,776 be difficult for you to talk about in a 848 00:31:48,776 --> 00:31:48,650 public setting . But whatever you could 849 00:31:48,650 --> 00:31:52,430 say , I think we appreciate Yeah , 850 00:31:52,430 --> 00:31:54,430 that's a great question . Certainly 851 00:31:54,430 --> 00:31:56,374 it's , uh , you know , the Defense 852 00:31:56,374 --> 00:31:58,541 Department gets paid to assess risk on 853 00:31:58,541 --> 00:32:00,541 a daily basis on DSO . We try to do 854 00:32:00,541 --> 00:32:02,374 that , and , uh , I think pretty 855 00:32:02,374 --> 00:32:04,486 successfully . It's , uh , it's not a 856 00:32:04,486 --> 00:32:05,986 simple question . It's not 857 00:32:05,986 --> 00:32:08,590 uncomplicated question , but what I can 858 00:32:08,590 --> 00:32:10,840 say in , you know , going back to some 859 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,007 of the opening comments is it's always 860 00:32:13,007 --> 00:32:15,173 based best and start by taking stock . 861 00:32:15,173 --> 00:32:17,284 Of what the Chinese think the Chinese 862 00:32:17,284 --> 00:32:19,229 had , 2020 is critical not only in 863 00:32:19,229 --> 00:32:21,451 terms of how many reports we've put out 864 00:32:21,451 --> 00:32:23,562 from the Defense Department that 2020 865 00:32:23,562 --> 00:32:25,562 served as a critical marker for the 866 00:32:25,562 --> 00:32:27,510 Chinese . The pill a themselves as 867 00:32:27,510 --> 00:32:29,677 directed by the party leadership . And 868 00:32:29,677 --> 00:32:32,260 that was a period which they started 869 00:32:32,260 --> 00:32:34,550 moving away from a requirement or 870 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,790 capacity limited to blockading to now , 871 00:32:37,790 --> 00:32:40,560 including the capacity to dio full 872 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:42,720 scale amphibious assaults on Taiwan 873 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,256 based on what they've mentioned , in 874 00:32:45,256 --> 00:32:47,422 fact , in their own 2019 defence white 875 00:32:47,422 --> 00:32:49,589 paper is that they still have not made 876 00:32:49,589 --> 00:32:51,756 the full transition into being able to 877 00:32:51,756 --> 00:32:53,867 reach that capacity . But in any case 878 00:32:53,867 --> 00:32:55,978 that that's what their pursuit of and 879 00:32:55,978 --> 00:32:58,033 they work very hard on . It's always 880 00:32:58,033 --> 00:33:00,200 difficult to lay out all the different 881 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,367 variables and how that might impact in 882 00:33:02,367 --> 00:33:04,478 any kind of scenario . I don't know , 883 00:33:04,478 --> 00:33:06,700 and I and I am certain that comfortable 884 00:33:06,700 --> 00:33:08,756 speculating on what those might look 885 00:33:08,756 --> 00:33:10,811 like , I do know is that the Chinese 886 00:33:10,811 --> 00:33:13,080 have an aspiration to have the complete 887 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,160 suite of coercion and compelling as 888 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,270 tools at hands to change the condition 889 00:33:18,270 --> 00:33:21,750 as they see fit . That's where we come 890 00:33:21,750 --> 00:33:24,270 in , which is to help ensure that those 891 00:33:24,270 --> 00:33:26,326 conditions don't change in the favor 892 00:33:26,326 --> 00:33:29,960 for them . Great . I'll turn now toe 893 00:33:29,970 --> 00:33:31,803 India . We've gotten a couple of 894 00:33:31,803 --> 00:33:34,240 questions on the Sino Indian border 895 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:35,740 standoff , which obviously 896 00:33:35,740 --> 00:33:37,962 unfortunately , looks like it's heating 897 00:33:37,962 --> 00:33:40,530 back up in the last few days on the 898 00:33:40,540 --> 00:33:42,460 report , I thought was quite 899 00:33:42,470 --> 00:33:45,000 interesting in this regard . Folks that 900 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:47,056 are just in the middle of reading it 901 00:33:47,056 --> 00:33:49,222 will have to remember that this is the 902 00:33:49,222 --> 00:33:51,389 2020 report , but it looks in China in 903 00:33:51,389 --> 00:33:53,444 2019 . So you're not going to find a 904 00:33:53,444 --> 00:33:56,640 big section on what's been going on the 905 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:58,584 last few months on the Sino Indian 906 00:33:58,584 --> 00:34:01,290 border . But nonetheless , you know , 907 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:03,607 there's there's a comment in here with 908 00:34:03,607 --> 00:34:05,829 Struck me , which is that in practice , 909 00:34:05,829 --> 00:34:08,051 the purest see often favors dialogues , 910 00:34:08,051 --> 00:34:10,107 a power play and as a means of using 911 00:34:10,107 --> 00:34:11,996 political , economic and military 912 00:34:11,996 --> 00:34:14,480 coercion rather than force . And you 913 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:17,130 know , this year we've really seen that 914 00:34:17,130 --> 00:34:19,297 shift pretty substantially on the Sino 915 00:34:19,297 --> 00:34:21,074 Indian border in a way that has 916 00:34:21,074 --> 00:34:23,670 surprised a lot of us . Uh and so one 917 00:34:23,670 --> 00:34:25,726 of the questions that we got asked , 918 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:27,744 How do you see India strengths and 919 00:34:27,744 --> 00:34:29,856 weaknesses of potential counterweight 920 00:34:29,856 --> 00:34:32,210 to China and know how does Beijing see 921 00:34:32,210 --> 00:34:35,040 India ? Andi , how is that playing into 922 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:37,207 this border standoff that's been going 923 00:34:37,207 --> 00:34:39,540 on for now ? I guess a couple of months . 924 00:34:41,260 --> 00:34:44,930 Yeah , the the as you lay out there , I 925 00:34:44,930 --> 00:34:47,780 think , very clearly is that the the 926 00:34:47,780 --> 00:34:50,002 line of control over the border issue . 927 00:34:50,002 --> 00:34:51,947 The disagreements over sovereignty 928 00:34:51,947 --> 00:34:55,010 claims by both sides is certainly part 929 00:34:55,010 --> 00:34:57,121 of a much more holistic picture about 930 00:34:57,440 --> 00:34:59,273 relations were at large and then 931 00:34:59,273 --> 00:35:01,440 certainly have those relations comport 932 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,551 with broader international activities 933 00:35:03,551 --> 00:35:05,718 and other relationships , not least of 934 00:35:05,718 --> 00:35:07,773 which is with the United States . So 935 00:35:07,773 --> 00:35:09,940 it's in the United States interests is 936 00:35:09,940 --> 00:35:11,829 that these matters air peacefully 937 00:35:11,829 --> 00:35:13,884 resolved . I think we've stated that 938 00:35:13,884 --> 00:35:15,940 very clearly . It certainly has been 939 00:35:15,940 --> 00:35:17,940 demonstrated through indications by 940 00:35:17,940 --> 00:35:19,884 leadership on both sides trying in 941 00:35:19,884 --> 00:35:21,996 India for an aspiration and desire to 942 00:35:21,996 --> 00:35:24,218 do so , not least of which , for what I 943 00:35:24,218 --> 00:35:26,107 watch is the Chinese expressing a 944 00:35:26,107 --> 00:35:28,218 desire to have peaceful resolution of 945 00:35:28,218 --> 00:35:31,240 this of the current tensions Long term , 946 00:35:31,240 --> 00:35:33,407 the Chinese have certainly endeavoured 947 00:35:33,407 --> 00:35:35,500 to cultivate India . I think for 948 00:35:35,500 --> 00:35:37,930 several reasons , one is to mitigate 949 00:35:37,930 --> 00:35:40,152 their own risk that they have and he is 950 00:35:40,152 --> 00:35:43,010 not a insignificant actor in the 951 00:35:43,010 --> 00:35:46,570 international environment , certainly 952 00:35:46,570 --> 00:35:48,681 butts right up against China in areas 953 00:35:48,681 --> 00:35:50,681 where the Chinese feel that they're 954 00:35:50,681 --> 00:35:52,514 both vulnerable . And I'm highly 955 00:35:52,514 --> 00:35:55,320 sensitive . Um , I think that they have 956 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:58,180 not . They have felt that the the 957 00:35:58,180 --> 00:36:00,291 Indians have not reciprocated to them 958 00:36:00,630 --> 00:36:04,000 as's fully , which , UM , there's good 959 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,830 reasons why . I would say we have 960 00:36:06,830 --> 00:36:09,610 certainly talked to the Indians and and 961 00:36:09,610 --> 00:36:11,221 I don't want to get into the 962 00:36:11,221 --> 00:36:13,443 discussions . There are aspects of what 963 00:36:13,443 --> 00:36:15,499 we said to them , but certainly writ 964 00:36:15,499 --> 00:36:17,721 large is there's very clear aspirations 965 00:36:17,721 --> 00:36:19,554 that we have is for improved and 966 00:36:19,554 --> 00:36:21,554 increased and expanded relationship 967 00:36:21,554 --> 00:36:24,000 with India . There certainly , ah , 968 00:36:24,010 --> 00:36:25,899 core element of the international 969 00:36:25,899 --> 00:36:28,010 environment , large ItT's partnership 970 00:36:28,010 --> 00:36:30,232 that we've always endeavoured to expand 971 00:36:30,232 --> 00:36:34,230 on and will continue to do so , Um , in 972 00:36:34,230 --> 00:36:36,286 the near term , there's certainly no 973 00:36:36,286 --> 00:36:38,397 desire by any part . I think , is the 974 00:36:38,397 --> 00:36:40,230 extent have this exacerbate , er 975 00:36:40,230 --> 00:36:42,310 escalating crisis for conflict . But 976 00:36:42,650 --> 00:36:44,872 But we're continuing to closely monitor 977 00:36:44,872 --> 00:36:47,039 that and watch that and certainly work 978 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:50,050 efforts on all sides to t bring this 979 00:36:50,050 --> 00:36:53,040 back to negotiate a settlement here 980 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:58,620 and then the final flashpoint that 981 00:36:58,630 --> 00:37:00,686 that's often discussed has been self 982 00:37:00,686 --> 00:37:04,480 trying to see . The report 983 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:06,536 mentions the South trying to see and 984 00:37:06,536 --> 00:37:08,702 goes through some of the challenges in 985 00:37:08,702 --> 00:37:10,813 detail . This is , you know , all the 986 00:37:10,813 --> 00:37:12,924 more interesting the last week or two 987 00:37:12,924 --> 00:37:15,036 because we've seen a lot of action in 988 00:37:15,036 --> 00:37:17,147 the South China Sea . We saw missiles 989 00:37:17,147 --> 00:37:19,370 shot into the South China Sea by by the 990 00:37:19,380 --> 00:37:21,960 P L . A . There's a new , interesting 991 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,280 South China Morning Post article , 992 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:26,447 which stated that Beijing had actually 993 00:37:26,447 --> 00:37:28,670 instructed the Chinese military not to 994 00:37:28,670 --> 00:37:30,892 fire the first shot against the U . S . 995 00:37:30,892 --> 00:37:33,230 Military . Whether that applied against 996 00:37:33,240 --> 00:37:35,407 China's neighbors , I think , was much 997 00:37:35,407 --> 00:37:38,100 less clear . And then , of course , 998 00:37:38,100 --> 00:37:40,160 last week the State Department and 999 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,160 Commerce Department put a series of 1000 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:45,270 restrictions on US exports 1001 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,890 Teoh CC CC , which has been involved 1002 00:37:48,890 --> 00:37:51,168 with much of the dredging in the south . 1003 00:37:51,168 --> 00:37:53,168 China's Teoh . So attention is just 1004 00:37:53,168 --> 00:37:55,334 continuing . There is , they have been 1005 00:37:55,334 --> 00:37:57,830 for the last six years or so . I'm 1006 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:00,007 wondering if you can talk a little bit 1007 00:38:00,007 --> 00:38:02,118 about the direction that China milk . 1008 00:38:02,118 --> 00:38:04,020 China's military readers might be 1009 00:38:04,020 --> 00:38:06,242 heading there . You know , there's been 1010 00:38:06,242 --> 00:38:08,464 a lot of discussion about the potential 1011 00:38:08,464 --> 00:38:10,298 for the announcement of straight 1012 00:38:10,298 --> 00:38:12,353 baselines around the Spratly Islands 1013 00:38:12,353 --> 00:38:14,580 about on air defense identification 1014 00:38:14,580 --> 00:38:16,770 zone that might cover cover parts of 1015 00:38:16,770 --> 00:38:19,210 the South China Sea . Obviously , we 1016 00:38:19,210 --> 00:38:21,266 haven't seen that in the last year , 1017 00:38:21,266 --> 00:38:23,210 but if you could talk a little bit 1018 00:38:23,210 --> 00:38:25,266 about the direction that things were 1019 00:38:25,266 --> 00:38:27,432 headed in the South China Sea . Andi . 1020 00:38:27,432 --> 00:38:29,654 Some of what Chinese leaders are trying 1021 00:38:29,654 --> 00:38:29,440 to do there . That would be great , 1022 00:38:30,450 --> 00:38:32,672 that that that's a great question . You 1023 00:38:32,672 --> 00:38:35,100 should be attentive to that . We 1024 00:38:35,100 --> 00:38:38,820 certainly are . Um , I I'll 1025 00:38:38,820 --> 00:38:40,931 start with Is there didn't used to be 1026 00:38:40,931 --> 00:38:42,931 this much time ? Ultimate Section C 1027 00:38:42,931 --> 00:38:45,110 it's This was really the result of the 1028 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,231 conditions that the Chinese undertook 1029 00:38:47,231 --> 00:38:49,453 both through their private endeavours , 1030 00:38:49,453 --> 00:38:51,342 as you mentioned the construction 1031 00:38:51,342 --> 00:38:53,564 company that helped manufacture islands 1032 00:38:53,564 --> 00:38:55,731 out of out of nothing that the refusal 1033 00:38:55,731 --> 00:38:57,620 of China to delimit its claims in 1034 00:38:57,620 --> 00:38:59,787 accordance with the U . N . Convention 1035 00:38:59,787 --> 00:39:02,230 on the Law of the Sea auspices and 1036 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:04,431 which would have been the right thing 1037 00:39:04,431 --> 00:39:06,653 to do . They have not have continued to 1038 00:39:06,653 --> 00:39:08,542 argue Ah and put forward claims . 1039 00:39:08,542 --> 00:39:10,264 They're just inconsistent with 1040 00:39:10,264 --> 00:39:12,320 international law . That's certainly 1041 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:12,010 one of the aspect that we've talked to 1042 00:39:12,010 --> 00:39:14,066 the Chinese about at multiple levels 1043 00:39:14,066 --> 00:39:15,843 within the department and other 1044 00:39:15,843 --> 00:39:18,590 departments , which is just inability 1045 00:39:18,590 --> 00:39:20,701 to follow international law rules and 1046 00:39:20,701 --> 00:39:23,450 norms , and further is that they seem 1047 00:39:23,450 --> 00:39:25,870 to not be able to honor the commitments 1048 00:39:25,870 --> 00:39:27,814 and arrangements they've made with 1049 00:39:27,814 --> 00:39:29,759 others , not least of which is the 1050 00:39:29,759 --> 00:39:31,926 negotiations about the code of conduct 1051 00:39:31,926 --> 00:39:34,092 down there are presidents , operations 1052 00:39:34,092 --> 00:39:36,620 are something and activities in the 1053 00:39:36,620 --> 00:39:40,160 South China Sea I've called and between 1054 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:41,938 with our leadership have called 1055 00:39:41,938 --> 00:39:44,220 repeatedly upon the Chinese the P l A . 1056 00:39:44,220 --> 00:39:48,140 The PRC writ large to to limit the 1057 00:39:48,140 --> 00:39:50,362 activities of what they're doing to not 1058 00:39:50,362 --> 00:39:52,529 militarise their features toe the halt 1059 00:39:52,529 --> 00:39:54,530 These really unlawful practices in 1060 00:39:54,540 --> 00:39:56,429 expectations they hold for us and 1061 00:39:56,429 --> 00:39:59,740 others . Uh , we have as a result , um , 1062 00:40:00,610 --> 00:40:02,940 increased the r d o d activity , 1063 00:40:02,940 --> 00:40:04,980 particular military operations and 1064 00:40:04,980 --> 00:40:06,980 activities in the South China Sea , 1065 00:40:06,980 --> 00:40:09,770 both by ourselves and in coordination 1066 00:40:09,770 --> 00:40:12,610 with others in the region on globally , 1067 00:40:12,910 --> 00:40:15,120 and will continue to do so because 1068 00:40:15,130 --> 00:40:17,340 really our commitments to the free and 1069 00:40:17,340 --> 00:40:19,810 open Indo Pacific writ large the free 1070 00:40:19,810 --> 00:40:22,170 and open international order . And when 1071 00:40:22,170 --> 00:40:23,892 we say we're committed , we're 1072 00:40:23,892 --> 00:40:25,892 committed and we're all in . I know 1073 00:40:25,892 --> 00:40:28,003 that doesn't make the Chinese happy . 1074 00:40:28,003 --> 00:40:27,910 They tell me that personally and 1075 00:40:27,910 --> 00:40:30,077 certainly others and leadership here , 1076 00:40:30,110 --> 00:40:31,888 but that's where we're at . The 1077 00:40:31,888 --> 00:40:33,888 expectation is that there's there's 1078 00:40:33,888 --> 00:40:35,999 rules of the Internet and laws of the 1079 00:40:35,999 --> 00:40:37,721 international system , and our 1080 00:40:37,721 --> 00:40:39,943 expectations are for the Chinese Stop . 1081 00:40:39,943 --> 00:40:42,166 Hold that to the degree that they don't 1082 00:40:42,166 --> 00:40:44,110 what they'll faces an increasingly 1083 00:40:44,110 --> 00:40:46,166 network region that response to them 1084 00:40:46,166 --> 00:40:48,221 high , hopefully in in collaboration 1085 00:40:48,221 --> 00:40:50,388 and coordination with them . But if if 1086 00:40:50,388 --> 00:40:52,610 need be to compete with them as exactly 1087 00:40:52,610 --> 00:40:54,777 what the heart of our strategy is , so 1088 00:40:54,777 --> 00:40:56,777 we'll see that more specific to the 1089 00:40:56,777 --> 00:40:58,888 exercise last week . The Chinese have 1090 00:40:58,888 --> 00:41:01,110 an ongoing national level exercise that 1091 00:41:01,110 --> 00:41:02,888 includes all five theaters that 1092 00:41:02,888 --> 00:41:05,054 includes activities in the South China 1093 00:41:05,054 --> 00:41:07,166 Sea , East China Sea , Yellow Sea and 1094 00:41:07,166 --> 00:41:09,277 Bohai Gulf . Those missile shots were 1095 00:41:09,277 --> 00:41:11,443 actually done as a component of a very 1096 00:41:11,443 --> 00:41:13,777 high level national level exercise , Um , 1097 00:41:13,777 --> 00:41:16,550 but certainly the one critical aspect 1098 00:41:16,550 --> 00:41:18,606 of that was the degree to which that 1099 00:41:18,606 --> 00:41:20,940 that sense not only broader message of 1100 00:41:20,940 --> 00:41:22,773 where China wants to go with its 1101 00:41:22,773 --> 00:41:25,660 military , but it's inescapable about 1102 00:41:25,660 --> 00:41:27,882 the closure areas and the missile shots 1103 00:41:27,882 --> 00:41:29,938 and the other high end activity that 1104 00:41:29,938 --> 00:41:32,104 they placed in that region didn't need 1105 00:41:32,104 --> 00:41:31,830 to be there . They've done that on 1106 00:41:31,830 --> 00:41:34,210 purpose , and certainly an element of 1107 00:41:34,210 --> 00:41:36,266 that is it's an unhelpful and really 1108 00:41:36,266 --> 00:41:38,700 intrusive elements of coercion 1109 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:41,760 from multiple actors , not least of 1110 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:44,920 which is other claimants in the trying 1111 00:41:44,920 --> 00:41:47,190 to see in Southeast Asia that we don't 1112 00:41:47,190 --> 00:41:49,412 understand why they're trying to choose 1113 00:41:49,412 --> 00:41:52,320 to do that , it's it seems , um 1114 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:55,400 uh to be really just not constructive 1115 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,990 toe where the they're steady . Claims 1116 00:41:57,990 --> 00:42:00,530 for their aspirations are reach 1117 00:42:00,530 --> 00:42:03,820 peaceful negotiations . But here we are 1118 00:42:03,820 --> 00:42:05,876 again with the Chinese , continue to 1119 00:42:06,060 --> 00:42:08,282 take those actions even after they were 1120 00:42:08,282 --> 00:42:10,393 cautioned , not do so and had pledged 1121 00:42:10,393 --> 00:42:13,870 to avoid doing Yeah , um , I'm gonna 1122 00:42:13,870 --> 00:42:16,140 turn now toe Siris of audience 1123 00:42:16,140 --> 00:42:18,084 questions on a couple of different 1124 00:42:18,084 --> 00:42:21,190 issues , So I know you'll have toe be 1125 00:42:21,190 --> 00:42:23,420 flexible with us as we jump around Eso 1126 00:42:23,420 --> 00:42:25,531 The first is from Eric Schmidt at The 1127 00:42:25,531 --> 00:42:27,198 New York Times . He knows the 1128 00:42:27,198 --> 00:42:30,070 possibility of f 35 sales , the U A . E . 1129 00:42:30,070 --> 00:42:32,230 And asked , How concerned are you in 1130 00:42:32,230 --> 00:42:34,397 the Defense Department that such sales 1131 00:42:34,397 --> 00:42:36,452 could risk the transfer of sensitive 1132 00:42:36,452 --> 00:42:38,890 technology to China ? Um , which is 1133 00:42:38,890 --> 00:42:41,150 obviously deepen ties with you A . In 1134 00:42:41,150 --> 00:42:43,094 recent years . What steps could be 1135 00:42:43,094 --> 00:42:45,800 taken to mitigate that risk ? Andi , 1136 00:42:45,810 --> 00:42:47,866 maybe if you could talk a little bit 1137 00:42:47,866 --> 00:42:49,699 more about the delays technology 1138 00:42:49,699 --> 00:42:51,810 transfer efforts , it's a big part of 1139 00:42:51,810 --> 00:42:53,920 the report . That's ah gets a large 1140 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:56,970 section appropriately . So s over to 1141 00:42:56,970 --> 00:42:59,160 you on that issue . Yeah , that's a 1142 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:01,160 great question . I think that's one 1143 00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:03,271 that , of course , the new missile or 1144 00:43:03,271 --> 00:43:05,382 new aircraft carrier or something has 1145 00:43:05,382 --> 00:43:07,160 always drives a lot of people's 1146 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:09,382 attention . But a lot of the activities 1147 00:43:09,382 --> 00:43:09,120 of the department in particular , and 1148 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:11,630 all of the interagency writ large have 1149 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:14,900 have been in in some cases of the 1150 00:43:14,910 --> 00:43:16,980 greatest function have been in areas 1151 00:43:16,980 --> 00:43:18,702 like this , where we made more 1152 00:43:18,702 --> 00:43:20,813 concentrated efforts to both identify 1153 00:43:20,813 --> 00:43:24,020 and understand how the Chinese act the 1154 00:43:24,020 --> 00:43:26,242 interactions , particularly through the 1155 00:43:26,242 --> 00:43:28,131 military civil fusion development 1156 00:43:28,131 --> 00:43:30,187 strategy and what those implications 1157 00:43:30,187 --> 00:43:32,242 are . And we've identified those you 1158 00:43:32,242 --> 00:43:34,298 noted in the previous question about 1159 00:43:34,298 --> 00:43:36,298 state and I think in commerce , and 1160 00:43:36,298 --> 00:43:38,298 some of the actions that have taken 1161 00:43:38,298 --> 00:43:40,298 were working in concert with them , 1162 00:43:40,298 --> 00:43:42,409 literally on a daily basis . A Czar , 1163 00:43:42,409 --> 00:43:44,353 12 37 reporting out of the Defense 1164 00:43:44,353 --> 00:43:46,530 Department has demonstrated about 1165 00:43:46,530 --> 00:43:48,419 helping identifying companies and 1166 00:43:48,419 --> 00:43:50,308 entities and with those risks and 1167 00:43:50,308 --> 00:43:52,660 working very hard to mitigate those 1168 00:43:52,660 --> 00:43:54,882 risks . There's more attention on those 1169 00:43:54,882 --> 00:43:56,993 now than ever . We're actually taking 1170 00:43:56,993 --> 00:43:58,938 action on those , and I think it's 1171 00:43:58,938 --> 00:44:01,160 important and very powerful statement , 1172 00:44:01,160 --> 00:44:03,216 certainly for China and others , and 1173 00:44:03,216 --> 00:44:05,630 it's having a very clear effect that 1174 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:09,360 also falls under really a broader set 1175 00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:12,120 of issues . And Eric's question is 1176 00:44:13,290 --> 00:44:15,346 the department defense certainly has 1177 00:44:15,346 --> 00:44:17,568 robust controls and procedures in place 1178 00:44:17,568 --> 00:44:19,790 to protect US weapons systems and their 1179 00:44:19,790 --> 00:44:21,901 technology . We watched Those symbols 1180 00:44:21,901 --> 00:44:23,957 are very traditional processes which 1181 00:44:23,957 --> 00:44:26,830 are well known , but we've incorporated 1182 00:44:26,830 --> 00:44:28,830 some new ones as well . Obviously , 1183 00:44:28,830 --> 00:44:30,886 China's is a uniquely aggressive and 1184 00:44:30,886 --> 00:44:32,830 capable adversary when it comes to 1185 00:44:32,830 --> 00:44:35,163 protecting our military technology edge . 1186 00:44:35,163 --> 00:44:37,386 Our allies and partners , including the 1187 00:44:37,386 --> 00:44:39,552 U . A , are required to meet extremely 1188 00:44:39,552 --> 00:44:41,719 high standards of security in order to 1189 00:44:41,719 --> 00:44:43,774 acquiring deploy these systems . And 1190 00:44:43,774 --> 00:44:45,830 we've instituted both more pragmatic 1191 00:44:45,830 --> 00:44:47,774 help to our allies and partners to 1192 00:44:47,774 --> 00:44:49,552 understand that improving their 1193 00:44:49,552 --> 00:44:51,497 processes through Citius and other 1194 00:44:51,497 --> 00:44:53,719 kinds of security cooperation practices 1195 00:44:53,719 --> 00:44:55,886 and have begun undertaken more efforts 1196 00:44:55,886 --> 00:44:57,886 to work with allies and partners on 1197 00:44:57,886 --> 00:45:00,052 sharing best practices were export and 1198 00:45:00,052 --> 00:45:01,774 import controls , oversight of 1199 00:45:01,774 --> 00:45:03,830 technology transfers and making sure 1200 00:45:03,830 --> 00:45:05,997 that we have all the best practices in 1201 00:45:05,997 --> 00:45:08,163 place . So you'll continue to see that 1202 00:45:08,163 --> 00:45:10,163 built up . It's obviously having an 1203 00:45:10,163 --> 00:45:12,386 effect on the China as we speak and way 1204 00:45:12,386 --> 00:45:14,552 anticipated will continue to have ah , 1205 00:45:14,552 --> 00:45:17,330 broader effect . As time goes on right . 1206 00:45:17,330 --> 00:45:19,108 I want to rent a couple of very 1207 00:45:19,108 --> 00:45:21,274 specific points on nuclear and missile 1208 00:45:21,274 --> 00:45:23,600 forces from some of the questioners eso 1209 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:25,656 it may just be that you can't answer 1210 00:45:25,656 --> 00:45:27,711 these or can't do so in this forum , 1211 00:45:27,711 --> 00:45:29,767 and in which case , just let us know 1212 00:45:29,767 --> 00:45:31,878 and we'll move on . The first is from 1213 00:45:31,878 --> 00:45:34,980 Takeshi Kawahara , NHK in Japan , who 1214 00:45:34,980 --> 00:45:37,460 asked the This report , as I stated , 1215 00:45:37,460 --> 00:45:39,970 has something above 200 below to 1216 00:45:39,970 --> 00:45:41,914 hundreds for the number of nuclear 1217 00:45:41,914 --> 00:45:44,280 warheads . Uh uh that it says are 1218 00:45:44,290 --> 00:45:46,300 operational and he wants to clarify 1219 00:45:46,300 --> 00:45:48,910 whether by operational , this means 1220 00:45:48,910 --> 00:45:51,021 ready to launch right away or whether 1221 00:45:51,021 --> 00:45:54,620 these air capable of being assembled on , 1222 00:45:54,620 --> 00:45:57,450 then deployed , you know , at at some 1223 00:45:57,450 --> 00:46:00,480 time horizon . So how does how should 1224 00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:02,480 we read the word operational in the 1225 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:05,120 report this year ? You know , I don't 1226 00:46:05,120 --> 00:46:07,240 recall . I think we refer to it as a 1227 00:46:07,240 --> 00:46:08,962 component of their stockpile . 1228 00:46:08,962 --> 00:46:10,740 Certainly there's some that are 1229 00:46:10,740 --> 00:46:12,740 operational to some stand . I'm not 1230 00:46:12,740 --> 00:46:14,462 exactly sure , but the precise 1231 00:46:14,462 --> 00:46:16,629 definition of that so I will stay away 1232 00:46:16,629 --> 00:46:18,629 from that in terms of specificity . 1233 00:46:18,629 --> 00:46:20,796 That question , I'm certain I can't go 1234 00:46:20,796 --> 00:46:22,962 into much greater detail to that . But 1235 00:46:22,962 --> 00:46:25,073 I can say is that that's an aspect of 1236 00:46:25,073 --> 00:46:27,296 what we pursue for greater transparency 1237 00:46:27,296 --> 00:46:29,462 from the from the Pele in particular , 1238 00:46:29,462 --> 00:46:31,684 and China writ large , which is , it is 1239 00:46:31,684 --> 00:46:33,962 time for us to talk about these issues , 1240 00:46:33,962 --> 00:46:36,073 particularly with what we've reported 1241 00:46:36,073 --> 00:46:38,240 on and understand is their aspirations 1242 00:46:38,240 --> 00:46:40,462 and will seek that they do . So There's 1243 00:46:40,462 --> 00:46:42,518 other facets beyond just the numbers 1244 00:46:42,518 --> 00:46:41,530 themselves or even the 1245 00:46:41,530 --> 00:46:44,060 operationalization . There's there's 1246 00:46:44,060 --> 00:46:46,227 critical aspects of , Well , you would 1247 00:46:46,227 --> 00:46:47,782 refer to his co mingling or 1248 00:46:47,782 --> 00:46:50,004 entanglement of nuclear and non nuclear 1249 00:46:50,004 --> 00:46:52,630 system that really vital that we begin 1250 00:46:52,630 --> 00:46:55,890 to address with the Chinese . Um , 1251 00:46:56,260 --> 00:46:58,482 and we certainly have plans in the near 1252 00:46:58,482 --> 00:47:01,940 term to raise that with him . Another 1253 00:47:01,950 --> 00:47:05,430 question along similar lines is from 1254 00:47:05,430 --> 00:47:07,990 Tony Kvasha at Bloomberg , and he wants 1255 00:47:07,990 --> 00:47:10,710 to know a little bit more about the Jin 1256 00:47:10,710 --> 00:47:13,400 class . Nuclear deterrence patrols it . 1257 00:47:13,410 --> 00:47:15,470 These are mentioned in the report . 1258 00:47:15,470 --> 00:47:18,160 Obviously , the report says that in 1259 00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:20,160 order to hit the continental United 1260 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:22,271 States that have toe someone close to 1261 00:47:22,271 --> 00:47:26,260 Hawaii on DSO , Tony's question is , uh , 1262 00:47:26,300 --> 00:47:28,300 can you say anything publicly about 1263 00:47:28,300 --> 00:47:30,522 whether the feel like Navy has actually 1264 00:47:30,522 --> 00:47:32,744 started any of those nuclear deterrence 1265 00:47:32,744 --> 00:47:34,967 patrols and whether they do , in fact , 1266 00:47:34,967 --> 00:47:37,078 sail close enough to Hawaii that they 1267 00:47:37,078 --> 00:47:40,300 could be operational ? Yeah , I really 1268 00:47:40,300 --> 00:47:42,467 can't speak to that issue on this four 1269 00:47:42,490 --> 00:47:44,710 year . The report . I think it's gonna 1270 00:47:44,710 --> 00:47:46,710 have to stand for itself . But what 1271 00:47:46,710 --> 00:47:48,710 What's in there right now ? I can't 1272 00:47:48,710 --> 00:47:50,821 elaborate . Pass that . Certainly the 1273 00:47:50,821 --> 00:47:53,043 genesis . Something that does go to see 1274 00:47:53,043 --> 00:47:54,877 from time to time and what their 1275 00:47:54,877 --> 00:47:56,988 capacities are and how they're loaded 1276 00:47:56,988 --> 00:47:58,988 out on . But the readiness is it is 1277 00:47:58,988 --> 00:47:58,770 just not something I can dive into too 1278 00:47:58,780 --> 00:48:01,090 deeply . Yeah , I completely understand 1279 00:48:01,090 --> 00:48:03,390 that . Um , and then one more on 1280 00:48:03,400 --> 00:48:05,567 missiles . I think this is really more 1281 00:48:05,567 --> 00:48:08,270 about you know what the Defense 1282 00:48:08,270 --> 00:48:11,100 Department puts out in the public view . 1283 00:48:11,100 --> 00:48:13,380 This is from Musashi Murano over at the 1284 00:48:13,380 --> 00:48:16,300 Hudson Institute . Hey knows that there 1285 00:48:16,300 --> 00:48:18,990 used to be an upper limit on the number 1286 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:21,700 of missiles in the China Military Power 1287 00:48:21,700 --> 00:48:24,140 report on , uh , this year . That's 1288 00:48:24,150 --> 00:48:26,372 obviously transitioned for those of you 1289 00:48:26,372 --> 00:48:28,539 that I've had a chance to look at it . 1290 00:48:28,539 --> 00:48:31,120 So rather than providing a range , it 1291 00:48:31,130 --> 00:48:33,980 gives ah , lower bound , but not an 1292 00:48:33,980 --> 00:48:37,930 upper bound on dso Musashi . Murano is 1293 00:48:37,930 --> 00:48:40,340 wondering if you can say anything about 1294 00:48:40,340 --> 00:48:42,284 sort of what the the logic of this 1295 00:48:42,284 --> 00:48:46,280 change was . And then , ah , is it 1296 00:48:46,280 --> 00:48:49,240 possible that d o . D . Assesses that 1297 00:48:49,240 --> 00:48:51,240 the Chinese are actually retiring a 1298 00:48:51,240 --> 00:48:53,960 certain number of Egypt missiles so 1299 00:48:53,960 --> 00:48:56,320 that they can have ah , more ready 1300 00:48:56,320 --> 00:48:59,860 force of more modernized missiles . I 1301 00:48:59,870 --> 00:49:01,981 appreciate that numbers . Obviously , 1302 00:49:01,981 --> 00:49:03,981 there's a lot of numbers across the 1303 00:49:03,981 --> 00:49:06,037 entirety report accounting practices 1304 00:49:06,037 --> 00:49:08,092 for how we count things , you know , 1305 00:49:08,092 --> 00:49:10,203 that could be It's often a subjective 1306 00:49:10,203 --> 00:49:12,610 rather than objective process . We did 1307 00:49:12,610 --> 00:49:14,721 change the practice where we did that 1308 00:49:14,721 --> 00:49:16,888 this year . There was multiple reasons 1309 00:49:16,888 --> 00:49:18,943 for that . One of the instincts here 1310 00:49:18,943 --> 00:49:20,999 was too broad , the greatest clarity 1311 00:49:20,999 --> 00:49:20,680 and accuracy of the report that we 1312 00:49:20,680 --> 00:49:23,670 possibly could , um , in terms of 1313 00:49:23,670 --> 00:49:26,280 retirement , retiring systems . I'll 1314 00:49:26,280 --> 00:49:28,447 tell you , I thought my head . I don't 1315 00:49:28,447 --> 00:49:30,447 recall that that might be something 1316 00:49:30,447 --> 00:49:32,470 I'll have toe reengage on specific 1317 00:49:32,590 --> 00:49:35,390 aspects . I don't believe that that's 1318 00:49:35,620 --> 00:49:39,170 the case , although there have been 1319 00:49:39,170 --> 00:49:41,392 some very older model that they believe 1320 00:49:41,392 --> 00:49:43,392 that they're starting to do . But I 1321 00:49:43,392 --> 00:49:45,559 gotta say , I'm getting into territory 1322 00:49:45,559 --> 00:49:47,726 that I don't have great certainly on , 1323 00:49:47,726 --> 00:49:49,781 So we'll have to We'll have to reset 1324 00:49:49,781 --> 00:49:52,114 after a different time . Please do that , 1325 00:49:52,114 --> 00:49:54,320 Um , and , uh , over to a couple of 1326 00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:56,431 questions that a number of folks have 1327 00:49:56,431 --> 00:49:58,960 asked about China's maritime buildup . 1328 00:49:58,960 --> 00:50:01,127 So one thing that really sticks out in 1329 00:50:01,127 --> 00:50:02,904 the report is that early on the 1330 00:50:02,904 --> 00:50:05,040 document notes that China now has the 1331 00:50:05,040 --> 00:50:07,740 largest navy in the world . Last year's 1332 00:50:07,740 --> 00:50:09,740 document said China had the largest 1333 00:50:09,740 --> 00:50:12,850 navy in the region , and , you know , I 1334 00:50:12,850 --> 00:50:14,961 don't think it's necessarily that the 1335 00:50:14,961 --> 00:50:17,072 numbers have changed a huge amount on 1336 00:50:17,072 --> 00:50:19,072 the Chinese side if you actually go 1337 00:50:19,072 --> 00:50:21,239 towards the back and look at the naval 1338 00:50:21,239 --> 00:50:23,690 numbers . But the report notes that 1339 00:50:23,700 --> 00:50:26,110 China now feels the feeling Navy feels 1340 00:50:26,110 --> 00:50:29,030 350 ships compared to the US Navy's to 1341 00:50:29,030 --> 00:50:32,520 93 . Um , and yet at the same time , 1342 00:50:32,520 --> 00:50:34,687 you know , there's a lot of discussion 1343 00:50:34,687 --> 00:50:36,853 in public about , uh , whether Chinese 1344 00:50:36,853 --> 00:50:39,076 leaders might be restrained by the fact 1345 00:50:39,076 --> 00:50:41,131 that they haven't fought a major war 1346 00:50:41,131 --> 00:50:43,131 and decades and don't have a lot of 1347 00:50:43,131 --> 00:50:45,380 experience doing so . And I'm wondering 1348 00:50:45,380 --> 00:50:47,750 if you can say anything about whether 1349 00:50:47,750 --> 00:50:50,340 that fact plays a restraining role , at 1350 00:50:50,340 --> 00:50:52,780 least in your view , on the Chinese 1351 00:50:52,780 --> 00:50:55,002 leadership's willingness to use force . 1352 00:50:56,030 --> 00:50:58,560 Yeah , uh , two great questions both 1353 00:50:58,570 --> 00:51:01,430 linked . I think I'll start with your 1354 00:51:01,430 --> 00:51:03,486 Ladder one . First . I'll begin with 1355 00:51:03,486 --> 00:51:05,763 the number one , which is we do report , 1356 00:51:05,763 --> 00:51:07,763 I think , actually , about what the 1357 00:51:07,763 --> 00:51:09,708 Chinese numbers are and what their 1358 00:51:09,708 --> 00:51:12,041 growth that looks like ad in the future , 1359 00:51:12,041 --> 00:51:14,263 which is an increase . Certainly , I'll 1360 00:51:14,263 --> 00:51:16,374 note that this year the Chinese again 1361 00:51:16,374 --> 00:51:15,700 increased their defense budget , 1362 00:51:16,670 --> 00:51:18,448 telling us that they still have 1363 00:51:18,448 --> 00:51:20,559 aspirations for those to grow and not 1364 00:51:20,559 --> 00:51:23,180 least of which is the Pilates capacity , 1365 00:51:23,190 --> 00:51:25,600 particularly delayed Navy . And they're 1366 00:51:25,650 --> 00:51:27,817 there supporting almost feeling Marine 1367 00:51:27,817 --> 00:51:30,080 Corps's requirements to have greater 1368 00:51:30,490 --> 00:51:32,490 far seas or global power projection 1369 00:51:32,490 --> 00:51:34,657 capacity . So those those numbers will 1370 00:51:34,657 --> 00:51:36,823 likely increase . And we estimate that 1371 00:51:36,823 --> 00:51:39,046 they will , of course , numbers air one 1372 00:51:39,046 --> 00:51:40,823 element . That's not all of the 1373 00:51:40,823 --> 00:51:43,046 elements . There's tonnage , capacity , 1374 00:51:43,046 --> 00:51:45,046 capability sets sophistication on a 1375 00:51:45,046 --> 00:51:47,212 whole range of other kind of logistics 1376 00:51:47,212 --> 00:51:49,700 communication aspects of that . So , of 1377 00:51:49,700 --> 00:51:51,756 course , the cautions always numbers 1378 00:51:51,756 --> 00:51:53,867 air one element , not the entirety of 1379 00:51:53,867 --> 00:51:55,950 the element . I can't speak to us 1380 00:51:55,950 --> 00:51:58,117 forces that those air things that will 1381 00:51:58,117 --> 00:52:00,172 come out and discussions between the 1382 00:52:00,172 --> 00:52:02,506 departments and certainly the secretary . 1383 00:52:02,506 --> 00:52:04,617 But this report obviously is intended 1384 00:52:04,617 --> 00:52:07,460 to help inform that discussion . So the 1385 00:52:07,470 --> 00:52:09,081 deepest investing , clearest 1386 00:52:09,081 --> 00:52:11,137 understanding that we have should be 1387 00:52:11,250 --> 00:52:13,083 for That's one of the reasons we 1388 00:52:13,083 --> 00:52:15,083 provide this to Congress so that we 1389 00:52:15,083 --> 00:52:16,972 could help have those discussions 1390 00:52:16,972 --> 00:52:18,861 across all elements of the United 1391 00:52:18,861 --> 00:52:20,972 States government in terms of as they 1392 00:52:20,972 --> 00:52:23,139 go forward and out in the future , and 1393 00:52:23,139 --> 00:52:25,370 particularly on our more global scale 1394 00:52:26,290 --> 00:52:28,457 that that remains a critical element . 1395 00:52:28,457 --> 00:52:30,623 This is highly consistent with Chinese 1396 00:52:30,623 --> 00:52:32,790 military strategy and its concepts and 1397 00:52:32,790 --> 00:52:34,568 teaching about its own military 1398 00:52:34,568 --> 00:52:36,790 strategy . They have a very unique , in 1399 00:52:36,790 --> 00:52:38,734 fact , very specific definition of 1400 00:52:38,734 --> 00:52:40,623 active defense itself of what the 1401 00:52:40,623 --> 00:52:42,846 purpose of their military strategy is . 1402 00:52:42,846 --> 00:52:45,430 They referred to that as the's . As you 1403 00:52:45,430 --> 00:52:48,520 know , these . These constraints on the 1404 00:52:48,620 --> 00:52:50,910 really in China logic , which is the 1405 00:52:50,910 --> 00:52:53,300 dialectic , is a requirement on one 1406 00:52:53,300 --> 00:52:55,760 hand to safeguard its national 1407 00:52:55,760 --> 00:52:57,871 interests and on the other hand , not 1408 00:52:57,871 --> 00:52:59,649 do so in a manner that would be 1409 00:52:59,649 --> 00:53:01,371 catastrophic towards long term 1410 00:53:01,371 --> 00:53:03,371 aspirations . I don't I don't think 1411 00:53:03,371 --> 00:53:05,593 that's an unusual constraint on any use 1412 00:53:05,593 --> 00:53:07,816 of force by any leader anywhere but for 1413 00:53:07,816 --> 00:53:07,770 the Chinese themselves . They call it 1414 00:53:07,770 --> 00:53:09,492 the dialectical unity of war , 1415 00:53:09,492 --> 00:53:11,437 restricted more winning and always 1416 00:53:11,437 --> 00:53:13,270 having to make sure that they're 1417 00:53:13,270 --> 00:53:15,159 calculating about how you balance 1418 00:53:15,159 --> 00:53:17,381 between those two things that I talk to 1419 00:53:17,381 --> 00:53:19,437 the Chinese . Their current military 1420 00:53:19,437 --> 00:53:21,659 strategy includes at their 2019 defence 1421 00:53:21,659 --> 00:53:23,881 White paper express that as I've talked 1422 00:53:23,881 --> 00:53:26,600 to him and when I talked about their 1423 00:53:26,610 --> 00:53:28,499 their near term military strategy 1424 00:53:28,499 --> 00:53:31,630 reforms or reformation . They they've 1425 00:53:32,110 --> 00:53:35,100 they've communicated that they find 1426 00:53:35,100 --> 00:53:37,500 that will remain a consistent aspect of 1427 00:53:37,500 --> 00:53:39,333 Halle to find their own military 1428 00:53:39,333 --> 00:53:41,278 strategies in their use of force , 1429 00:53:41,278 --> 00:53:43,389 which is there's to be bound by those 1430 00:53:43,389 --> 00:53:45,333 two conditions . So I think that's 1431 00:53:45,333 --> 00:53:45,150 informative when you understand about 1432 00:53:45,150 --> 00:53:47,206 how the Chinese make and think about 1433 00:53:47,206 --> 00:53:49,317 the use of force , which is always in 1434 00:53:49,317 --> 00:53:51,428 that context , the degree to which it 1435 00:53:51,428 --> 00:53:53,594 might result in a permanent loss of an 1436 00:53:53,594 --> 00:53:55,880 as the strategic national interest or 1437 00:53:55,880 --> 00:53:58,740 objective set political objective , but 1438 00:53:58,740 --> 00:54:01,510 also the degree to which it might 1439 00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:03,187 ultimately distract or have a 1440 00:54:03,187 --> 00:54:05,187 catastrophic effect on China's long 1441 00:54:05,187 --> 00:54:07,353 from national aspirations . But you're 1442 00:54:07,353 --> 00:54:09,520 right now prioritized on developmental 1443 00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:12,900 issues . Great . Um , and then another 1444 00:54:12,900 --> 00:54:14,956 question . Talking about an issue we 1445 00:54:14,956 --> 00:54:17,122 haven't discussed yet , which is space 1446 00:54:17,122 --> 00:54:19,870 from Jack Mayer at the Washington Free 1447 00:54:19,870 --> 00:54:21,926 Beacon ? He asked , Could you talk a 1448 00:54:21,926 --> 00:54:23,926 little bit more about China's space 1449 00:54:23,926 --> 00:54:25,759 capabilities and their long term 1450 00:54:25,759 --> 00:54:28,650 trajectory in terms of their strategic 1451 00:54:28,650 --> 00:54:30,820 and economic interests in space ? 1452 00:54:32,740 --> 00:54:35,850 Yeah , I can . It's Ah , um , this is 1453 00:54:35,850 --> 00:54:37,961 going to begin to sound like a little 1454 00:54:37,961 --> 00:54:41,190 bit of a repeating record , and but But 1455 00:54:41,190 --> 00:54:44,080 I think that's important , which is you 1456 00:54:44,080 --> 00:54:46,080 know when you listen to the Chinese 1457 00:54:46,080 --> 00:54:47,969 Communist leadership degree , She 1458 00:54:47,969 --> 00:54:50,302 Jinping , who serves as the Chinese say , 1459 00:54:50,302 --> 00:54:53,560 is the core of the party . He's . He's 1460 00:54:53,560 --> 00:54:55,790 outlined very specific requirements and 1461 00:54:55,790 --> 00:54:58,110 expectations he has in multiple areas 1462 00:54:58,110 --> 00:55:00,770 and domains . We raised about the 1463 00:55:00,770 --> 00:55:02,940 Chinese aspiration for achieving 1464 00:55:02,940 --> 00:55:05,360 maritime great power status . He's done 1465 00:55:05,360 --> 00:55:07,638 the same in terms of having AH , space , 1466 00:55:07,638 --> 00:55:10,330 great power status . And that's being a 1467 00:55:10,330 --> 00:55:12,441 space great power by every measurable 1468 00:55:12,890 --> 00:55:14,779 yardstick that you can throw up . 1469 00:55:14,779 --> 00:55:16,946 They're not least of which is capacity 1470 00:55:16,946 --> 00:55:18,779 for the military . This includes 1471 00:55:18,779 --> 00:55:20,779 enhanced communication , tracking , 1472 00:55:20,779 --> 00:55:22,723 surveillance , eyes , our research 1473 00:55:22,723 --> 00:55:25,650 exploration , every facet that's 1474 00:55:25,650 --> 00:55:27,761 interlinked , not only with the space 1475 00:55:27,761 --> 00:55:29,817 based capabilities that you that you 1476 00:55:29,817 --> 00:55:31,928 think about every day in terms of how 1477 00:55:31,928 --> 00:55:34,039 you would apply those , but also as a 1478 00:55:34,039 --> 00:55:36,261 critical element of attaining what they 1479 00:55:36,261 --> 00:55:38,840 call it a technological great power 1480 00:55:38,840 --> 00:55:41,160 status , which is to being in the most 1481 00:55:41,160 --> 00:55:42,940 advanced fields and seizing the 1482 00:55:42,940 --> 00:55:45,420 technological high ground are seizing 1483 00:55:45,430 --> 00:55:47,320 dance Kate high ground in advance 1484 00:55:47,320 --> 00:55:49,376 capabilities , which they think that 1485 00:55:49,376 --> 00:55:51,098 that will give them a national 1486 00:55:51,098 --> 00:55:53,153 advantage . Spaces certain essential 1487 00:55:53,153 --> 00:55:55,320 tonight there's other fields . I don't 1488 00:55:55,320 --> 00:55:57,487 think spaces any lower on the priority 1489 00:55:57,487 --> 00:55:59,542 than any anything else it's a it's a 1490 00:55:59,542 --> 00:55:59,390 top priority for them . They see that 1491 00:55:59,390 --> 00:56:01,350 as a critical advantage , and it's 1492 00:56:01,350 --> 00:56:03,183 always a good reminder . I think 1493 00:56:03,183 --> 00:56:05,350 certainly when we talk about it within 1494 00:56:05,350 --> 00:56:07,406 the department itself is is that you 1495 00:56:07,406 --> 00:56:09,628 know , those are choices that countries 1496 00:56:09,628 --> 00:56:11,683 have to make those air technological 1497 00:56:11,683 --> 00:56:13,406 choices . They certainly bring 1498 00:56:13,406 --> 00:56:15,183 advantages . There's also bring 1499 00:56:15,183 --> 00:56:17,370 disadvantages . Those air huge costs . 1500 00:56:17,370 --> 00:56:19,592 That's huge . Intellectual investment , 1501 00:56:19,920 --> 00:56:21,570 bureaucratic organization , 1502 00:56:21,610 --> 00:56:23,910 transformation of organizations intent 1503 00:56:24,850 --> 00:56:26,670 its capital investments , time 1504 00:56:26,670 --> 00:56:28,726 investments , prestige , investments 1505 00:56:28,860 --> 00:56:30,971 they made in . They've chosen to make 1506 00:56:30,971 --> 00:56:33,138 those investments , and they've chosen 1507 00:56:33,138 --> 00:56:35,082 for a reason , which is that their 1508 00:56:35,082 --> 00:56:37,304 aspirations are not small . They're not 1509 00:56:37,304 --> 00:56:39,527 moderated . They're not . I don't think 1510 00:56:39,527 --> 00:56:41,582 the Chinese air settling on becoming 1511 00:56:41,582 --> 00:56:43,527 just one off . They do have a very 1512 00:56:43,527 --> 00:56:45,527 clear and definitive aspiration for 1513 00:56:45,527 --> 00:56:47,400 becoming , ah , global power , 1514 00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:50,220 preeminent , by all measures O r . At 1515 00:56:50,220 --> 00:56:52,498 least in terms of status to any others . 1516 00:56:52,498 --> 00:56:55,060 And space is not the not the least of 1517 00:56:55,060 --> 00:56:57,282 that . So I know that's why not . Great 1518 00:56:57,282 --> 00:56:59,449 death , I can tell you is I don't have 1519 00:56:59,449 --> 00:57:01,504 off the top . I have a role index of 1520 00:57:01,504 --> 00:57:03,671 all the different satellite capacities 1521 00:57:03,671 --> 00:57:05,893 that the Chinese air producing or space 1522 00:57:05,893 --> 00:57:08,116 based capabilities , but it's it's self 1523 00:57:08,116 --> 00:57:08,100 evident . Watching what they're doing 1524 00:57:08,100 --> 00:57:10,660 in terms of their exploration 1525 00:57:10,660 --> 00:57:12,771 capacities is some things to the moon 1526 00:57:12,771 --> 00:57:15,050 and then the other commercial and 1527 00:57:15,050 --> 00:57:18,630 military aspects 1528 00:57:18,630 --> 00:57:21,000 of space activities . It's not 1529 00:57:21,000 --> 00:57:22,690 insignificant , and it's it's 1530 00:57:25,390 --> 00:57:27,279 not gonna go away any time soon . 1531 00:57:28,710 --> 00:57:30,930 Waterfall . OK , we've just about 1532 00:57:30,930 --> 00:57:32,986 restart endpoint , but I want to ask 1533 00:57:32,986 --> 00:57:34,986 you one final question because it's 1534 00:57:34,986 --> 00:57:36,986 gotten so much attention recently . 1535 00:57:36,986 --> 00:57:39,208 This is from Adams over at the Voice of 1536 00:57:39,208 --> 00:57:41,374 America , and he asked , How would you 1537 00:57:41,374 --> 00:57:43,910 assess the delays ? Infiltration of 1538 00:57:43,910 --> 00:57:46,730 universities outside of China ? Of 1539 00:57:46,730 --> 00:57:49,730 course , Onda . How is duty working 1540 00:57:49,730 --> 00:57:52,340 with US research institutes and others ? 1541 00:57:52,530 --> 00:57:54,750 Uh , toe handle this issue ? There's 1542 00:57:54,760 --> 00:57:56,927 there's been a lot of press about this 1543 00:57:56,927 --> 00:57:58,982 recently , and I know you know , the 1544 00:57:58,982 --> 00:58:00,982 Department of Justice appears to be 1545 00:58:00,982 --> 00:58:03,149 doing a lot of work on this issue . Is 1546 00:58:03,149 --> 00:58:05,149 there anything that you can tell us 1547 00:58:05,149 --> 00:58:07,482 about about this before we close ? Yeah , 1548 00:58:07,482 --> 00:58:09,649 I will . A You know , I mentioned some 1549 00:58:09,649 --> 00:58:11,482 of the economic actions that the 1550 00:58:11,482 --> 00:58:13,649 entirety of United States government , 1551 00:58:13,649 --> 00:58:13,130 particularly the inter agency , has 1552 00:58:13,130 --> 00:58:15,074 taken , and this is another one of 1553 00:58:15,074 --> 00:58:17,130 those fields . So in concert through 1554 00:58:17,130 --> 00:58:19,297 the interagency , really coordinated , 1555 00:58:19,297 --> 00:58:21,241 obviously by the national Security 1556 00:58:21,241 --> 00:58:23,408 staff is identifying and understanding 1557 00:58:23,408 --> 00:58:25,630 where threats and risks are , where the 1558 00:58:25,630 --> 00:58:27,741 challenges of what we face and really 1559 00:58:27,741 --> 00:58:27,410 for a long time it's not necessarily . 1560 00:58:27,410 --> 00:58:29,521 We didn't know these things are going 1561 00:58:29,521 --> 00:58:31,577 on . We just weren't actually taking 1562 00:58:31,577 --> 00:58:33,521 specific action . So that's what's 1563 00:58:33,521 --> 00:58:35,354 happened . The national security 1564 00:58:35,354 --> 00:58:37,466 strategy , the guidance and direction 1565 00:58:37,466 --> 00:58:39,521 from the White House and the sort of 1566 00:58:39,521 --> 00:58:41,466 national security staff is . We've 1567 00:58:41,466 --> 00:58:43,688 gotten on these tasks , and it's a very 1568 00:58:43,688 --> 00:58:45,966 robust and very comprehensive elements . 1569 00:58:45,966 --> 00:58:48,077 So again , it's not necessarily a new 1570 00:58:48,077 --> 00:58:50,243 ship . Our new tank , but certainly in 1571 00:58:50,243 --> 00:58:52,188 terms of policy practice is one of 1572 00:58:52,188 --> 00:58:52,120 those things we have undertaken and 1573 00:58:52,120 --> 00:58:54,530 within the department itself , mostly 1574 00:58:54,530 --> 00:58:57,660 through acquisition and sustainability , 1575 00:58:57,810 --> 00:58:59,643 and the research and engineering 1576 00:58:59,643 --> 00:59:01,699 elements have identified where there 1577 00:59:01,699 --> 00:59:03,866 might be . Either Krugel risks , too , 1578 00:59:03,866 --> 00:59:06,400 uh , supply chain issues within the 1579 00:59:06,400 --> 00:59:08,790 department or even within the research 1580 00:59:08,790 --> 00:59:10,957 organization . Those take balances and 1581 00:59:10,957 --> 00:59:13,012 choices that we have to make . We're 1582 00:59:13,012 --> 00:59:15,123 doing those in conjunction with other 1583 00:59:15,123 --> 00:59:17,234 elements that Department of Justice , 1584 00:59:17,234 --> 00:59:19,234 State and others in terms of how we 1585 00:59:19,234 --> 00:59:19,180 react to that , and we're trying to 1586 00:59:19,180 --> 00:59:21,291 make sure that we find a good balance 1587 00:59:21,291 --> 00:59:23,513 between ensuring that the activities of 1588 00:59:23,513 --> 00:59:25,180 anybody any of these research 1589 00:59:25,180 --> 00:59:26,847 organizations air through the 1590 00:59:26,847 --> 00:59:29,124 universities is properly accounted for , 1591 00:59:29,124 --> 00:59:31,790 understood on and watched , monitored 1592 00:59:31,790 --> 00:59:34,080 very carefully and that they don't have 1593 00:59:34,080 --> 00:59:36,247 a critical aspect that might provide , 1594 00:59:36,320 --> 00:59:39,670 um uh , undesirable insights to what 1595 00:59:39,670 --> 00:59:41,726 the Department of Defense is doing . 1596 00:59:41,726 --> 00:59:43,948 But I'll tell you , we're all over it . 1597 00:59:44,500 --> 00:59:46,556 Fantastic . Well , thank you so much 1598 00:59:46,556 --> 00:59:49,330 for your time . I want toe provide 33 1599 00:59:49,330 --> 00:59:51,497 big thank you's for this event . First 1600 00:59:51,497 --> 00:59:53,740 is for the audience for joining us on 1601 00:59:53,740 --> 00:59:56,018 for asking so many excellent questions , 1602 00:59:56,018 --> 00:59:58,073 and I will apologize that there were 1603 00:59:58,073 --> 01:00:00,240 many more that we were not able to get 1604 01:00:00,240 --> 01:00:02,770 to . The second is to our x pm it ai on 1605 01:00:02,770 --> 01:00:04,826 yours with Pentagon for putting this 1606 01:00:04,826 --> 01:00:06,714 all together . I know it's a huge 1607 01:00:06,714 --> 01:00:08,881 amount of work easier for us to do the 1608 01:00:08,881 --> 01:00:10,770 video than it is for your team to 1609 01:00:10,770 --> 01:00:12,826 actually write the 200 page report . 1610 01:00:12,826 --> 01:00:14,881 But we're really happy to be able to 1611 01:00:14,881 --> 01:00:17,159 join you for this rollout . And lastly , 1612 01:00:17,159 --> 01:00:19,381 thank you , Chad , for joining us today 1613 01:00:19,381 --> 01:00:21,603 and for talking so thoroughly about all 1614 01:00:21,603 --> 01:00:23,770 of these issues . We really appreciate 1615 01:00:23,770 --> 01:00:25,659 it , and I hope you stay safe and 1616 01:00:25,659 --> 01:00:27,826 healthy and best wishes to everyone on 1617 01:00:27,826 --> 01:00:30,870 the call going ahead Zack . Thank you . 1618 01:00:30,880 --> 01:00:32,936 I'll certainly I come . I appreciate 1619 01:00:32,936 --> 01:00:35,158 appreciation to you . All the staff you 1620 01:00:35,158 --> 01:00:37,213 have there , ai all the participants 1621 01:00:37,213 --> 01:00:39,380 itself . Well , it would be wrong of a 1622 01:00:39,380 --> 01:00:41,580 I didn't highlight the role of the 1623 01:00:41,580 --> 01:00:43,802 defense Intelligence enterprise and the 1624 01:00:43,802 --> 01:00:45,913 others around the department here and 1625 01:00:45,913 --> 01:00:47,913 producing the report . You see , my 1626 01:00:47,913 --> 01:00:50,136 face , but it's really their work . And 1627 01:00:50,136 --> 01:00:52,302 I encourage you to read it , Others to 1628 01:00:52,302 --> 01:00:54,358 read it , examine it , and certainly 1629 01:00:54,358 --> 01:00:56,524 will try to make ourselves available . 1630 01:00:56,524 --> 01:00:56,490 That began to help discuss it for 1631 01:00:58,010 --> 01:01:00,066 wonderful . All right , well , thank 1632 01:01:00,066 --> 01:01:02,288 you so much for joining us and everyone 1633 01:01:02,288 --> 01:01:03,390 stay safe and stay healthy . Thank you .