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WASHINGTON, DC—Today the Hatch Center hosted Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and former Acting General Counsel at the Department of Defense Bill Castle for a symposium on the shifting global landscape, especially as it pertains to U.S.-Asia relations. The panel covered a wide range of policy topics—from energy security and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to crypto regulation and China’s rise as a global tech competitor.
“We find ourselves at a historical hinge-point,” said Hatch Foundation Executive Director Matt Sandgren. “The 20th century is often referred to as The American Century—but will they say the same of the 21st? With China rising as a fierce competitor in the East, we must modernize our foreign policy to ensure that American businesses, ideas, and values continue to spread across the globe. We’re grateful to Senator Daines and Bill Castle for sharing their insights with us today on the future of U.S.-Asia relations.”
Senator Daines on Energy Security:
“The past few weeks have made one thing abundantly clear: energy security is national security. There’s a reason Ukrainian leaders were pleading with us to stop Nord Stream 2 last fall. Putin has outsize leverage over Europe when it comes to oil. Perhaps the late Senator John McCain put it best: ‘Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country.’”
Senator Daines on China’s Rise as a Global Tech Leader:
“The only thing more dangerous than a Senator who has never visited China is one who visited 10 to 15 years ago. I worry that many policymakers in Washington are blind to the fact that China’s technology production is now world class. In the last decade alone, the country has experienced a quantum leap both in terms of the quantity and quality of its tech. This is something that should concern all of us.”
Senator Daines on Crypto and Russian Sanctions:
“It’s unclear to me that digital assets are being used by Russians to evade sanctions in any meaningful way. … The truth is, the fearmongering that’s been out there simply hasn’t materialized. … This is just one more reason why I think it makes sense to take a light-touch approach when it comes to regulating crypto.”
In addition to Senator Daines, former Acting General Counsel at the Department of Defense Bill Castle offered his views on the fallout Putin will face in Ukraine, China’s global ambitions, and the United States’ security obligations to Taiwan. To learn more about the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and its mission, click here.
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