John Barrasso

30/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 30/07/2024 21:53

Barrasso: China is “Puppet Master” Using Russia, Iran against U.S.

"I view China as the puppet master here pulling the strings
with what's happening in Iran and North Korea, as well as Russia."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - At today's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) questioned Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell of the U.S. Department of State on the Biden administration's failure to prevent China's use of adversarial countries to weaken American dominance.

Senator Barrasso outlined how the Biden administration has allowed China to evade U.S. sanctions and support America's adversaries by purchasing Russian and Iranian oil. Barrasso also discussed China's potential strategic use of these adversarial countries to obtain control over Taiwan.

Deputy Secretary Campbell testified at today's Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on Strategic Competition with the PRC: Assessing Competitiveness Beyond the Indo-Pacific.

On China Helping America's Adversaries Evade Oil Sanctions

"We had a briefing last week that many of us attended on the committee on who's helping Russia and what roles there are in that. I wanted to go along that area of questioning because I'm concerned about China's support for our adversaries.

"It's clear China is actively helping both Russia and Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

"In fact, oil revenues from China are propping up Russian and Iranian economies. They get to buy them at a discount, so China benefits from that. And then Iran and Russia get the money from China.

"I view China as using Russia as a wrecking ball.

"Iran, right now, is exporting almost 1.3 million barrels of oil to China every day when there are supposed to be sanctions in place. The Treasury Secretary says, 'well, they can't do any more,' but the New York Times pointed out just how much oil that the U.S. is allowing and the sanctions that are being evaded.

"The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is providing the materials, the technology, the components that Russia and Iran need to wage their wars.

"It just seems to me the administration has failed to prevent China from purchasing Russian and Iranian energy resources. Do you agree?"

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks on China helping American adversaries.


On China Using America's Adversaries to Obtain Control of Taiwan

"I view China as the puppet master here pulling the strings with what's happening in Iran and North Korea, as well as Russia in their efforts.

"The concern is that with our involvement in a number of locations around the world - whether it's with Ukraine, whether it's in Israel - that this is an effort by China to ultimately have us engaged in a number of places and ultimately make it easier for them to take Taiwan, which I believe is one of their single goals."

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks on China's strategy to take Taiwan.

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