Opening Statement of Carolyn Bartholomew, Vice Chairman
September 14, 2006
Washington, DC
Good morning and welcome to the eighth hearing of the U.S.-China Commission’s 2006 reporting cycle. Today we are examining China’s relationships with North Korea and Iran and its role in resolving the nuclear crises and missile proliferation concerning these two countries. This issue affects not only U.S. security interests in Northeast Asia and the Middle East, but also the course of international peace and security.
Today we will hear testimony concerning the political, economic, and security-related consequences of these relationships for the United States. An important measure will be assessing China’s actions in the UN Security Council, its participation in multilateral nonproliferation negotiations, and its own domestic reforms to ensure that proliferation to North Korea and Iran is no longer occurring.
Last month, we held a hearing considering whether China’s role in the world embodies that of a responsible stakeholder—a great power willing to act in the long-term interests of international development, peace, and stability over its own short-term domestic interests.
China’s role in confronting the nuclear weapons and missile development of North Korea and Iran is a test of China’s interest in becoming a stakeholder, as the unpredictable actions of these two countries and their expressed willingness to obtain, test, and stockpile nuclear weapons could threaten the United States, its allies and world order. It is also a test of the relationship between the United States and China, and the extent to which we can count on China’s cooperation. Of course, we hope that China chooses the path of responsibility and supports international efforts to end the development and sale of weapons of mass destruction. In this hearing, we hope to hear evidence that China has selected such a path.
Expert witnesses from the Government, private sector, and academia will offer their testimony and advice. Commissioners Dan Blumenthal and William Reinsch are serving as the co-chairs for today’s hearing. Once again, I welcome all of you to this hearing, and I now turn the proceedings over to Commissioner Blumenthal.