you all have been remarkable been here all day it's been quite a good
conference
we started the day with John their grip on it he came back to join us
coursework were all wanting to have a chance to
to hear senator john mccain just to share with all of you
my table Ernie Bower was saying that he travels he travels
extensively course through Southeast Asian is in his last trip basis my car
she said
you know who are we dont in our group said the senator cohen who is with the
set
there's nobody left now in the senate except John McCain well my experiences
that's all you need
actually a and I have to tell you a personal
true story a when I was
over in the defense department had been nominated to be the
the deputy secretary in there was one senator who had
some objections to my nomination
and he your said some things on the floor of the senate that were hurtful
speak perfectly candid are there was only
there was only one senator that was willing to go down to the floor
the senate to confront this senator with the truth
and i was tryin mccain I
I look I work for the Republic work for the democrats and republicans actually
by work for the democrats
in the in the senate that I was appointed to
the clinton administration only one senator went down to defend my
reputation
and that was John McCain and I learned
at that moment what it meant
when Martin Luther King talked about the content of character
to be judging people by the content of their character.
and I learn something about loyalty
honor that day that's them a lesson I'll have
the rest of my life so it's a incredible
privilege for me to introduce to you
tonight this remarkable man who has done so much for this country
and before Southeast Asia the Honorable senator
John McCain thank you john
thank you john thank you very much John and I thank you for
you know it's the first time I've ever found out your republican
I haa credible
yep I thank you john and thank you
and I went down because I had had to the floor the Senate to defend this good and
decent and honorable public servant because
it happened to be true and that the reason why I said I didn't know your
republican because
during your tour in the Senate and in the pentagon I didn't know whether
you're a Republican or Democrat
or libertarian are vegetarian I only knew that you
you were dedicated to the national security
this nation so I would like to say that
it's always great to return to CSIS
and I think CSIS is unique
in its nonpartisan and informed the way that they
help us inform america's
thinking about the world in our leadership in it which may be no I just
returned from Southeast Asian
before I turn to the topic of this conference I'd like to offer some
a brief impressions from my visit to Burma
a it was really quite experience from me because the first time that I've been
allowed to return
to the to the country a Burma army and Mark depending on
which one to call it in 15 years
been 15 years since I've been allowed to you return
and it is one indication that this new Serbian government
could represent a change from the past
another noteworthy challenge and another noteworthy change
was the new capital Napili doubt
massive government buildings marble strong palaces
brand new hotels 18 lane highways
and the strange thing about it no one is there
no one is there I was hands 18 lane highway
an arch was the only car on the road the buildings were nearly empty
it was said dislocating in my I might say even
an orwellian experience and it certainly was a sad contrast with the crushing
poverty in rangoon
I visited up a private aids clinic that was overflowing with people
many orphaned children who need more care than is available
I would church service a place a place
that's run by a former famous
burmese actress actor and his wife that offers free funerals for departed souls
whose families
are too poor to provide their loved ones with the dignity
have a decent burial it breaks your heart
and it makes you wish the government would devote similar levels
up enthusiasm and resources to the development
development of their nation as they did with the construction other capital
nonetheless in my meetings with the first vice president to speakers of
Parliament they're cursed with not one but two speakers
I and others it was clear that this government wants better relations with
the United States
I stressed that my government and I share this aspiration
and that such a feat is not impossible after all
the United States in Viet Nam have improved our relations
China thing or to thing or two about anything is possible
however the main point I stressed is that
any improvement of relations would need to be built not talk but on
actions by both sides the United States should be willing to put every aspect of
our policy on the table
and to make tangible changes that the government
in AP dow ass a bus but this can only be done in conjunction
with concrete actions on their part especially
those steps called for by the UN Human Rights Council
releasing all prisoners of conscience providing the red cross on Saturday
access to all prisons
commencing a real process have national reconciliation
that involves ethnic and political opposition parties
including the National League for Democracy
and guaranteeing the safety and freedom of movement a bunch on sushi
had the opportunity to see the lady on my visit
and the reason I remain hopeful for the BER Burmese people has a lot to do with
her
yesterday was on chance who she's birthday
and she expressed this whole and I quote if I were asked what I would wish on my
birthday
I wish for peace stability and prosperity in the country
this amazing lady remains an inspiration to our people
and to me and I agree with her this is not the time for the United States to
lift sanctions
we should also work to establish a UN Commission
in query which has nothing to do with retribution
and everything to do with truth and justice for the Burmese people
former my want to Singapore for the Shangri La dialogue
where one of the main topics of discussion was the subject of this
conference
maritime security in the South China Sea this issue inspires
intense emotions among the states with competing claims
to these waters and territories as I know you've covered today
and a circle and experts who truly understand the historical and legal
intricacies
up these claims is rather small I'm from Arizona
where we know how complex it can be to fight over water
and land-use I'm also an old Navy man
who spent much my life traveling and working on security issues
in the asia-pacific region and I am increasingly concerned issue are
that the South China Sea is becoming a flashpoint
the past few years have seen a rapid escalation of tension between the stage
in this volatile and disputed
maritime region I did not review all of those incidents
for this audience of course it is important for all parties to practice
your strength
and to be sure Arashi on partners will need to make compromises especially
among one another
to reach a peaceful and mutually beneficial outcome
as many of them will acknowledge that said
this situation needs a little straight talk one of the main force is
exacerbating tensions
in the South China Sea and making a peaceful resolution of the east
disputes harder to achieve is the aggressive behavior
China and the unsubstantiated territorial claims
that it sees seeks to advance I take no privilege pleasure in seeing this
I believe one of the foremost US national interest
use and maintenance and enhancement a productive relations with China
I want China to succeed and to develop peacefully
and I believe there's no force in history
that condemns our country's to conflict indeed the scope of our global
cooperation
is broader than ever before including on issues America time security
which is plain for all to see in our common operations
off the Horn of Africa what troubles me
and I'm sure many have you are the expansive claims
China make Shin the South China Sea the rationale offered for these claims which
has no basis in international law in the increasingly assertive actions
the china is taking to enforce its self-described
rights including in waters within 200 miles
of the Costa boxing on countries as was the case recently in separate incidents
involving
Viet Nam and the Philippines china's so-called
9.8 lines map claims all the islands in the South China Sea
as sovereign Chinese territory and all of their territorial waters
as China's exclusive economic zone furthermore certain Chinese
interpretations
up international law would erode the longstanding principle
up freedom %uh navigation twisting it from a concept of inclusion
that fosters open access to a concept I've
exclusion that would restrict access access
some in China or even referring to this doctrine is quote
legal warfare why should this matter to the united states of america
this is a question that many Americans will ask especially when we are
committed to three conflicts are ready
and when our national debt has literally become unsustainable
why should america care about america time disputes of our nation's
half a world away are certainly
economic reasons for remaining engaged the South China re
she region is an important source of jobs in natural resources
the benefit many Americans however perhaps a larger consideration is the
strategic one
the world's geopolitical center of gravity is
is shifting to the asia-pacific region a region in which many states are rising
at once
in wealth and power this creates friction between them where all disputes
remain on resolved the United States has a national security
interest in maintaining a favorable strategic balance
in this vital region and central to that
is defending the universal freedom of navigation an open-access
to the Seas as a foundational principle
at the International order efforts to deny freedom of navigation in the South
China Sea
pose a serious challenge to the rules-based international order that the
united states in our allies
have sustained over many decades if these efforts were to succeed
if persistent bullying enabled one state
to impose its territorial claims by force
and return the South China Sea into a virtual
no go zone for the commercial and military vessels
above other nations including the United States
the affection would be dire
it could set a dangerous precedent for weakening international law
in wasit ill intention actors would no doubt apply elsewhere
it could create a troubling incentive for rising powers everywhere
to take by force what peaceful legal means cannot secure for them
and it would bring us closer to a day when the US Navy judges
that it can no longer safely access and operate
in the western Pacific what then should the united states to
let me offer a few suggestions and closing
first regarding the US position in the South China
she we should recognize that where possible
a policy of clarity maybe more stabilizing their policy have ambiguity
I applaud Secretary Clinton for stating that rival claims in the South China Sea
should be resolved through multilateral negotiations
and that we will seek to facilitate those negotiations
most Asian stage welcome that statement
ultimately this is about China's relations
with its neighbors not China and the United States
nonetheless it is help for our helpful for us to continue clarifying
the US position so other countries know where possible
which claims the United States accepts which ones we do not
and what actions we are prepared to support our policies and partners
especially in the Philippines
which is a treaty ally second the United States should assist Arashi on partners
in resolving
their own disputes in the South China Sea as a means of fostering greater
I see on unity vis-a-vis China China seeks to exploit the divisions among
ASEAN members to play them off each other
to press its own agenda we shopping the competing merit Times claims
among us United States is Malaysia and Brunei have recently done
would enable our partners to establish a more united front
third the United States States needs to help rushing on partners to build up
their merit time defense
and detection capabilities to develop and deploy basic systems
such as early-warning radar and coastal security vessels
remedying this lack of capacity and enhancing our joint exercises
would provide for a more common operational picture
in the South China Sea and a better ability to respond to threats
fourth the United States Senate
each to take a hard look at the UN Convention on the law of the sea
I know this is on popular among many conservatives
I've had doubts about it myself but the fact is
successive administrations of both parties have adhered to the conventions
basic structures
and done so without a seat at the table meanwhile states like China are working
within the convention
to advance French you said aim to deny access
to international waters this leaves the united states to rely on the good graces
foreign powers and its own superior force to ensure
US rights navigation but these conditions cannot be taken for granted
which is why the US Navy strongly Chris supports the convention
and the Edit legal guarantees it offers to our naval operations
us for national security reasons Senate needs to decide
whether it is finally time to ratify
the law of the sea treaty fifth we need to shift US regional force posture to
put greater emphasis on emerging areas
have competition especially the Indian Ocean and South China Sea
I join with my colleagues in the armed services committee senators Carl Levin
and Jim Webb
in calling for a timeout to reevaluate our basic plans in
Japan and Guam and I've done shall not to withdraw America from asia
but to enhance our commitment to regional security
it is not congress's place to device regional Beijing
arrangements but his new realities and cost overruns call
our current plans into question congress much to ask the hard questions
our goal should be to move toward a more geographically dispersed
force posture in the asia-pacific region
as Secretary Gates is described and a centerpiece of that effort will
always P are basing commitments with our historic allies
Japan and Korea finally
the United States must continue to make the necessary investments in our defense
capabilities
especially naval forces in order to remain the world's leading military
power
we are now facing a normalish domestic pressures to cut spending
including defense spending and some reductions are certainly necessary
regional people can disagree about how deep those cuts should be
but when the president pledged recently to cut $400 billion dollars in defense
spending over twelve years
with no strategic rationale for why this figure was chosen
or what risks it would entail and with the secretary of defense only being told
about it the day before and
I think reasonable people could also agree
that this is no way to plan for our national defense
we must be guided by strategy not arbitrary
arithmetic the events now unfolding in the South China Sea will play to fix I
should roll
in shaping the development of the asia-pacific region in this century
in the United States must remain actively engage in that process
in this regard I am troubled by recent statements made by some of my colleagues
in Congress
and some other republican presidential candidates suggesting a desire to
withdraw from the world
and reduce our commitments abroad America has made that mistake before
and we should learn from this history not repeated
after all history shows that Americans themselves at the greatest beneficiaries
the rules-based international order
that is upheld by US power and leadership
we advocate that role at the World sparrow
and our own if those have you are visiting from the asia-pacific region
only take one message back home with you let it be this
there's always been an isolationist trend in the United States
but americans have rejected it before and I believe they will reject it again
now
there will always be a solid base of support in america
for a strong internationalist foreign policy
that isn't going anywhere and neither is america
we will not withdraw our be pushed out at the asia-pacific region
we will stay engaged there committed to our friends and allies
and together we will succeed thank you very much
thank you very much senator mccain
your remarks really capped capped a day of
as if you were here they were tremendous thank you very much
let me open the floor for questions as we have
then working today just ask you introduce yourself
and your affiliation when you question
I'm
Katelin and truman with the rule of law committee for the ocean
senators McCain I can't tell you how pleased that is
placing it is to hear you say good things about the law of the sea
convention
we're looking at this year's
a chance to get it through and I'd like to
thank you for your comments and ask
if you will take in advice not just from
the Navy which has been a strong supporter the State Department but also
turn to american industry
and environmental groups to get the full picture why so many people support this
convention
thank you and let me say that
someone who has man in the Arctic
am fact one more interesting experience I've ever had was going to small bar
Norway there's no doubt that
we have finally found the Northwest Passage and
and that in jails all kinds
challenges and new aspects
a tell father see I have to be very blunt
with you I'm gonna have to make sure
that we have conservative support
if we bring it up the law of the sea treaty a
before the united states senate we really cannot afford to have a defeated
if it were defeated and I don't think it would ever have another opportunity for
for many many years so I intend to spend the next few weeks
time during the next few weeks going around to see my friends who
have a think tank said may not be quite a centrist
CSIS is and and try to get their thoughts and their ideas and their
proposals
I think there's a growing awareness I love
this whole situation and
you mentioned buyer Mentalist that there is a
an aspect have global warming or what is taking place
in the melting that are used for
but the other argument course is what we've been discussing in that is
freedom navigation and exploitation
and oceans around the world including South China Sea
thank you
Tiger John from the symptoms the center II
just now you mentioned the the US should push forward for
in multilateral negotiation which is very different from the
the bottom line I would say that the China probably is considering
which is on multilateral talk are
so are you suggesting that the US would
or must play a part in that multilateral negotiation you there is a need
mediator or whatever thank you you know I
I'd like to see the United States play a role in encouraging
multilateral negotiations whether
the United States can play a useful role by
being actively engaged in it frankly is something that
judgment that I would not wanna make certain at this time because it would
have to depend on the format
the venue that all the things that go into shadow
serious negotiations I think the key element here is not so much
what the US does or not do it's what the
other nations do it's whether Viet Nam
and the Philippines can reconcile their differences
and percent a common front it's whether
olive there frankly the nations in the region
can negotiate with China
with a common set of principles and goals
I know that's a blunt statement but that's really what this is
got to be all about and where the united states can play a role
in resolving those differences so that a united front can be prevented
is where I think we can be most helpful
yes Senator Bill Jones from executive Intelligence Review
on a topic thats going to be before you which doesn't have to do with your
discussion tonight
the for houses already introduced again
%uh re at storing the glass steagle amendment
I I know you talked about poverty and in Burma
I you realize the conditions in the United States are getting worse from day
to day
and glass steagle could be and help in that dealing with this I was wondering
are you going to support again to sponsor the amendment as it comes up in
the senate
thank you yes i'd I am and will and will continue to support it but I also have
to tell you that
it's probably one of those that will pass the house and not have 60 votes in
the Senate that's just the reality
but I will certainly supporter I think was one of the greatest mistakes
made in recent history was the
P love that that very important piece of legislation
thanks for the call thanks for the question
thank you SO HARD from China proper universe to beijing
at our place your applauds in your speech songster
he has cancer corporation between China United States
and we are horrid discussions got a lot to met him securities you see in this
know today so I had to us about your
to finish a pasta come across and sherry interest between China and the United
States
in terms of the but I'm security thank you
I think common I think common ground between the United States
you say relationship-based
and I know that some in the shops like boilerplate
but I think its relationship based on mutual respect
on mutual appreciation for
the role that both our country's can play
on the world stage a
commitment to helping resolve the world's
disputes and a situations that we find a rising throughout the world
but I also think that our relationship
is also based as it is with every other country
on certain aspects of human rights
and our whole
at the time %uh normalization of relations between our two countries
I happened to be one of the few remaining living americans that was at
the
Great Hall of the People at in there Shahram only have the normalization of
relations between our two countries
and I have to tell you very frankly we had expected
greater progress in some areas towards
human rights and democratization
so I think
that the world not just the United States
has every right to expect progress
in some I love those areas one of the officials at the Chinese government was
here
recently and I asked them when they were going to allow
Twitter in there country
I didn't get an answer I'll
psyched I think we need to
understand that the success of our relations
will also to some degree be affected
by the fundamentals
a human rights progress on certain aspects of democratization
and freedom and I do not
I repeat do not for C a scenario
where the United States and China would have some kind of conflict whether it be
a cold conflict
re: or a warm one I there's no possibility in my deal with that
but I do think that our relations to some degree
must be impacted by certain internal aspects
in your country and may have finally just
categorically state that I think that the Arab Spring
is misnamed in that
I believe that this movement that we are seeing throughout the world
is not confined to the airport
and soul but again
I want to emphasize every president where they be republican or democrat
and every administration that I could envision is committed
to better too good and better relations between
the United States and China and is not interested in confrontation
but at the same time I believe Republican and Democrat
administration will continue its advocacy
for democracy human rights in all the things that is characterized
American exceptionalism
actual so
Thank You thing to make him my name is for you I'm with Phoenix TV China my
question is your mission to the mall to afterward to solve the disputes
could you be more specific on who should take finish
initiative to make much enough to rearm
I'll discussion and also you made several suggestions to the US why the US
should do could you also did advice like a washer
what church I Nandu thank you
in Singapore I heard the speech given by the
defense Chinese defense minister given in Singapore at their
Shangri La conference and I was very encouraged by
a lot of the things that he had to say balls in his speech
and during the question and answer period
um I don't think there's any doubt that Aussie on has turned into a very
important
organization and I believe that I she on could play
a key role it's got all other infrastructure
their to to
be a vehicle to help move
these a.m. relationships
along and discussions between the affected countries
the South China Sea so I would say that I see on is a very
convenient an appropriate place to
resolve differences amongst members and also for
China to be a a part of discussions with hacia
I do one more yes
and you want to follow up go ahead
I I hope that I hope that the words out the Chinese defense minister
which were I think very powerful issue say
very important platform from which he spoke
that's a very prestigious situation
I hope that his words about willingness to sit down and talk
with other affected nations I in the South China Sea will
come to fruition I hope that his
words that they are not interested Chinese not interested
in Germany in the South China Sea that they are
there all of his speech frankly
to me we're encouraging is
as a matter a national policy
China as she articulated what I worry about
his frankly is the
the assertion somehow that it will be china that decides
fate in the future the South China Sea rather than
although the affected nations in the region I would like to see
that statement national policy by China
think %um jeanine live with Faiza vietnamese-americans
first I would like to sincerely thank
Senator John McCain for the time that you soon love in Viet Nam
and I like to sincerely paying ya
position today yep platform
that you set you what sided do with Silas
as Senator Jim Webb from the democratic party
on the same position to what
near stout is agency
I would like to propose that we call it the southeast asians see
and I would also like to thank you
that's good idea
and kill works man oh the Asian Nations
as the yen nations thank you senator
I would like to also thank ill from making
the human rights issues the main implore then
planes between the US and China
Diana ok on behalf I'll
oh the Chinese people and oldest how is
Asian people and asians peoples as well
thank you thank you that the man I would like to chill
I'm sorry I asked my question so good I
what you'll in Deauville
that the Republican Party
may win the elections
and 22 brow chill
promised to keep deposition
today just support the is your nation's
in the dialogue to promote security
peaceful development hilemon driest
and multilateral diana's
with China father sec
of international this
what you what you'll
advocate by the end but I lost at conquest
to be fast soon
and what you up please what you
actual kit
for a sustainable his
in sao is agency SKF
it is and very important part of global
security and peas thank you
well thank you and thank you for those kind words I'm glad I
we called on Yim a.m.
first ballot let me say that and I want to be clear
human rights is a part
I V United States policy it is not the only part
let's please let me make it very clear but it is one
I have a number a principles that the United States adheres to
in the conduct which net foreign policy and national security policy
I'm pleased to at the progress at that has been made
in Viet Nam but I have to give me some straight talk
there has got to be Viet Nam addressing the corruption
this ship a building
situation and haifong is an embarrassment
to the country because it's an example of corruption
and I would like to point out that treatment %uh
minorities in Vietnam has not then
at the level that it should be in my view and so I think
progress still needs to be made on
and and and I want to emphasize again human rights
is not the only aspect of American national security policy
but it is a part of it in our interest are
our values and our values are our interests
I'm at let me just say again about the republican party I'm a
my my remarks that I wit my prepared remarks
iight I am mention that I am worry I am worried
about a war-weary America that has now
some involvement in three wars although
now it's much insight at wanted in Libya I wanted us to use more american
airpower but thats
another subject for another day but there were weary
we are on on sustainable fiscal situation
so I understand why the United States
citizens in my fellow citizens in Arizona who are very
hard-hit by this economic recession
are tempted to say look stop spending all this money overseas stop
a you're our involvement we don't need any more ships or airplanes or
tanks a whatever and it's a job
have the president United States and other respected leaders
to explain to the american people why it's important
why Secretary Gates said the other day
we cannot withdraw to fortress america that was sector gates's
comment the other day and the consequences
have our say here to engage is
been we have seen before in history we cannot
repeat the lessons have history otherwise we are doomed to repeat them
and the reason why I'm here and the reason why this conference is so
important
is because the historic shift the world's economy
from Europe America to Asia that it's a fact
and soul our emphasis in our interest
in Asia have to be dramatically a
increased and we also need to recognize
major major role that the world's emerging superpower China
is going to play and we're still feeling our way
are forward I in our relations
with China but I want to emphasize again I do not she
confrontation between the United States and China
which means that we will have our differences
and we will have serious differences from time to time
but not to the point where it's not in the interest of both countries to have
a meaningful and important relationship
for the good of all mankind I want to thank you again for being here tonight
and I want to thank all of our friends from around the world
and I hope you do spend a lot of money why you are here
thank you very much