WASHINGTON, D.C. – The office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the July edition of Senator King’s “Inside Maine” podcast, which features a timely discussion on the looming threat of China with two prominent and knowledgeable voices: Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who serves as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission with Senator King, and Admiral James Stavridis, a retired U.S. Navy official and respected leader on foreign policy. During the conversation, Senator King and his guests outlined the slow-motion, quiet campaign China is waging against U.S. national security and the importance of bolstering U.S. defenses – including in the cyberworld, our fifth domain. 

“China has the second-largest economy in the world, a great amount of power, yet questions remain about the nation’s shadowy intentions,” said Senator King. “As a member of both the Senate Armed Services and the Senate Intelligence Committees, I often get the opportunity to press key military leaders and top experts on U.S. national security strategy and regularly ask one simple yet vital question: ‘What does China want?’ Whether their endgame is focused on military dominance, global economic manipulation, or something else, it is vital that we understand China’s goals in order to defend U.S. interests. In today’s conversation, Congressman Mike Gallagher and Admiral James Stavridis helped Inside Maine listeners better navigate China’s geopolitical strategy, and ways that the U.S. can bolster our national defense across all domains.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues in the Senate. He recently introduced legislation to push back against China and protect U.S. intellectual property – the bipartisan, bicameral legislation aims to protect sensitive U.S. research from foreign adversaries, while also securing America’s valuable international partnerships that spur technological innovation. In June, Senator King introduced a resolution to confront China’s self-designation status as a developing country at the World Trade Organization (WTO), despite its high ranking as a top economic global power. During committee hearings, he frequently raises the danger of accidental conflict due to the lack of direct communication between the U.S. and Chinese governments and militaries – citing the unlearned lessons from history that the two nations need to heed.  

In addition to his committee and legislative work, Senator King serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and is co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. He voted in favor of the Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which includes several funding and policy priorities advocated for by Senator King to support military facilities and communities in Maine and advance the national defense. The legislation – containing 25 bipartisan cybersecurity recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission – became law earlier this year after Senator King and the overwhelming majority of his colleagues voted to override former President Trump’s veto.

The “Inside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King” is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King’s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King’s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on almost every last Saturday of the month. The link to the July podcast can be found HERE.