Ricketts Discusses Communist China, Threats to American Way of Life with Secretary Rubio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed Communist China’s threats to the American way of life and the importance of maintaining peace through strength. Ricketts underscored that Communist China is the greatest external threat we face as a nation.

“We need an all-of-government and all-of-society approach on how we face Communist China,” said Ricketts. “This was illustrated in a recent tabletop exercise that we did with Senator Coons and others, talking about a contingency where Beijing tries to do an energy quarantine on Taiwan to force capitulation. Obviously, unlocking America’s energy is one of the ways we can help counter this with LNG and biofuels which are some of our strongest tools to help our allies and partners. Cutting red tape, unleashing American energy in the private sector, we’re positioned to be an energy supplier of choice. But we need the infrastructure in place and that includes a West Coast LNG terminal.”

Ricketts also stressed the need for complete nuclear disarmament in Iran.

“Iran is a theocracy with brutal mullahs and corrupt military: They chant ‘death to America’ and ‘death to Israel,’” said Ricketts. “I think you framed it best Secretary Rubio, when you said earlier this month that they have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis, they have to walk away from building long-range missiles which have no purpose other than use for nuclear weapons. And they have to walk away from enrichment.”

Ricketts’ comments were made in a hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations: “Review of the FY26 State Department Budget Request.” The witness was Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

BACKGROUND:

Last month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Taiwan and the Philippines with Senators Coons and Ted Budd (R-NC). During the trip, the three senators met with senior Taiwanese officials including President Lai and Vice President Hsaio. Senators Ricketts and Coons are working as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia Subcommittee to support our allies and partners in the region against Communist China’s aggression, including conducting a recent tabletop exercise and introductions of the PORCUPINE Act and COUNTER Act.

Last week, Senator Ricketts led a letter to President Trump regarding the administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran. The letter supports the Trump administration’s efforts to secure a deal that results in the full dismantlement of the Iranian nuclear program, including permanently ending the regime’s capacity to enrich uranium. The letter was signed by 52 Senate Republicans.

Watch the hearing HERE.