November 19, 1999 Governor Bush Discusses Foreign Policy In Speech
At Ronald Reagan LibrarySIMI VALLEY, CA -- Texas Governor George W. Bush today articulated his view of America’s foreign policy in the 21st century, a "distinctly American internationalism" with the "great and guiding goal" of extending this time of American influence into generations of democratic peace.
The goal will be achieved, Governor Bush said, when an America that is "focused, patient and strong" concentrates on its enduring national interests, works closely with its allies and remains active and involved in the world.
Governor Bush outlined the priorities that would guide his administration: "An American president should work with our strong democratic allies in Europe and Asia to extend the peace. He should promote a fully democratic Western Hemisphere, bound together by free trade. He should defend America’s interests in the Persian Gulf and advance peace in the Middle East, based upon a secure Israel. He must check the contagious spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the means to deliver them. He must lead toward a world that trades in freedom."
Governor Bush warned against protectionism and isolationism, a temptation sometimes championed by voices in both political parties, but unworthy of either. "This is the shortcut to chaos," said Governor Bush, "an approach that abandons our allies and our ideals. The vacuum left by America’s retreat would invite challenges to our power. And the result…would be a stagnant America and a savage world. American foreign policy cannot be founded on fear. Fear that American workers can’t compete. Fear that America will corrupt the world - or be corrupted by it. This fear has no place in the party of Reagan, or in the party of Truman," Gov. Bush said.
Governor Bush also cautioned against the temptation for America to drift from crisis to crisis without clear priorities. "Unless a president sets his own priorities, his priorities will be set by others - by adversaries, or the crisis of the moment, live on CNN. American policy can become random and reactive - untethered to the interests of our country," he said. "America must be involved in the world. But that does not mean our military is the answer to every difficult foreign policy situation - a substitute for strategy. American internationalism should not mean action without vision, activity without priority, and missions without end - an approach that squanders American will and drains American energy."
Governor Bush focused much of his speech on Europe and Asia, the world’s strategic heartland and home of two great powers in transition: China and Russia. "If they become America’s friends, that friendship will steady the world. But if not, the peace we seek may not be found," he said.
Governor Bush called for redefining America’s relationship with China from the "strategic partnership" outlined by the Clinton/Gore administration to that of a competitor with whom we must deal "without ill-will - but without illusions."
"We welcome a free and prosperous China. We predict no conflict. We intend no threat. And there are areas where we must try to cooperate: preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, attaining peace on the Korean peninsula." However, Gov. Bush warned, the conduct of China’s government in repressing religious and human freedom, sponsoring forced abortion, engaging in espionage and developing strategic nuclear weapons is "alarming abroad and appalling at home."
"If I am president, China will know that America’s values are always part of America’s agenda. Our advocacy of human freedom is not a formality of diplomacy, it is a fundamental commitment in our country. It is the source of our confidence that communism, in every form, has seen its day," said Gov. Bush.
Governor Bush called for strengthening and supporting America’s alliances with South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and Thailand, and working "toward a day when the fellowship of free Pacific nations is as strong and united as our Atlantic Partnership… If I am president, China will find itself respected as a great power, but in a region of strong democratic alliances. It will be unthreatened, but not unchecked."
Supporting our alliances, Gov. Bush said, includes keeping our pledge to deter aggression against the Republic of Korea, strengthening security ties with Japan, expanding theater missile defenses among our allies and honoring our promises to the people of Taiwan. "We do not deny there is one China. But we deny the right of Beijing to impose their rule on a free people. As I’ve said before, we will help Taiwan defend itself."
Governor Bush said he supports China’s admission into the World Trade Organization because he believes free trade and a more open Chinese economy, with a growing private sector, will help promote liberty and the rule of law.
Governor Bush said the first order of business in dealing with Russia is America’s national security. "Here both Russia and the United States face a changed world. Instead of confronting each other, we confront the legacy of a dead ideological rivalry - thousands of nuclear weapons, which, in the case of Russia, may not be secure. And together we also face an emerging threat - from rogue nations, nuclear theft and accidental launch. All this requires nothing short of a new strategic relationship to protect the peace of the world."
Citing reports that American estimates of Russian nuclear stockpiles could be off by as much as 30 percent, Governor Bush called for an accurate inventory of all nuclear material and said he would ask Congress to substantially increase assistance to help Russia dismantle as many of their weapons as possible, as quickly as possible.
Governor Bush said as president he would "develop and deploy" missile defense systems, both theater and national, and extended the "real possibility" that Russia could join with us to cooperate on a missile defense that would help protect both our nations, so long as Russia breaks its habit of proliferation.
Governor Bush also said the way to reduce the nuclear threat in the world is to reduce supply of nuclear materials, reduce demand by addressing the security concerns of those who renounce nuclear weapons, and diminish the "evil attraction" of nuclear weapons by making them useless through missile defense. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is not the answer, he argued, because it does not stop proliferation, is not verifiable, is not enforceable and it would prevent America from ensuring the safety and reliability of its own deterrent. "(The treaty) offers only words and false hopes and high intentions -with no guarantees whatever. We can fight the spread of nuclear weapons, but we cannot wish them away with unwise treaties," he said.
Governor Bush said America should promote democracy in Russia by "reaching out to a new generation of Russians" through educational exchanges and programs to support the rule of law and a civil society. But he warned America will not excuse Russian brutality.
"When the Russian government attacks civilians - killing women and children, leaving orphans and refugees - it can no longer expect aid from international lending institutions. The Russian government will discover that it cannot build a stable and unified nation on the ruins of human rights…We want to cooperate with Russia on its concern with terrorism, but that is impossible unless Moscow operates with civilized self-restraint."
Gov. Bush also said:
The United States should actively support the nations of the Baltics, the Caucasus and Central Asia, along with Ukraine, by promoting regional peace and economic development and opening links to the wider world;
The United States should establish more trade and investment with India as it opens to the world and work with the Indian government, ensuring it is a force for stability and security in Asia. This should not undermine our long relationship with Pakistan, which is also crucial to the peace of the region;
America must strengthen its alliances and make NATO strong, cohesive and active;
U.S. troops should never be placed under U.N. command, but the U.N. can help the cause of peace through weapons inspections, peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. "If I am president, America will pay its dues - but only if the U.N.’s bureaucracy is reformed and our disproportionate share of its costs is reduced."
"Let us reject the blinders of isolationism, just as we refuse the crown of empire," Governor Bush said. "Let us not dominate others with our power - or betray them with our indifference. And let us have an American foreign policy that reflects American character. The modesty of true strength. The humility of real greatness. This is the strong heart of America. And this will be the spirit of my administration. I believe this kind of foreign policy will inspire our people and restore the bipartisanship so necessary to our peace and security," he concluded.
Paid for by Bush for President, Inc.
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