- China was a key topicin Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo's brief visitto Israel Wednesday,
where he spent less thannine hours on the ground.
But as Chris Mitchellreports from Jerusalem,
the visit dealt with some key political
and international issues.
(air whooshes)
- For Secretary Pompeo'sfirst visit abroad
since the COVID lockdown, his short time
in Israel came with a loaded agenda.
It included growing threatsfrom both Iran and China,
President Trump's Middle East peace plan,
and, of course, theworldwide pandemic impact.
- We'll certainly talkabout the challenges
the globe faces with COVID,Israeli technologies,
medical expertise, allthe things that you and I
and our teams can work on together.
I know we'll deliver good outcomes
and decrease risk forpeople all across the world
from this global pandemic.
- [Chris] Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu
and the reasons forhow the U.S. is working
to keep Israel safe fromits number one enemy.
- First, by withdrawing fromthe dangerous Iran deal,
second, by taking head-on themasters of Iranian terror,
third, by continuing thearms embargo against Iran
that has not stopped for aminute its aggressive designs
and its aggressiveactions against Americans,
Israelis, and everyone else in the region.
- [Chris] Pompeo also metwith Blue and White leader
Benny Gantz, slated to becomeprime minister in 18 months
as part of the new unity government.
Beyond Israel's domesticpolicies, Pompeo alluded
to a major reason behind his visit,
the growing threat of China.
- They see Israel as a central place
for technology, for dual-use equipment,
and really tapping intothe startup nation,
so it's of deep concern topolicy makers here in Washington.
- [Chris] Mark Dubowitz saysthe U.S. is deeply concerned
about agreements between Israel and China,
especially a contract giving China control
of the country's main portof Haifa for 25 years.
- If the U.S. Navy docks inHaifa very close to the port
that the Chinese are gonna be running,
it's obviously a security concern,
there's a political concern.
- [Chris] Dubowitz saysIsrael gets the message.
- They've taken some significant steps
in the right direction,including setting up
an investment advisorycommittee which will review
future investments in order to not make
the mistake they made with the China port.
The security servicesof Israel are ensuring
that the Chinese CommunistParty does not use that
for nefarious objectives orfor intelligence penetration.
- [Chris] Pompeo's meeting came on the eve
of two milestones, 72 yearssince President Truman
recognized the state of Israel,
and two years since President Trump
(crowd applauds)moved the U.S. Embassy
to Jerusalem.
Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Jerusalem.
- Thanks, Chris.
Gordon, one headlinein red simply summed up
America's message to Israel, which is,
"No more deals with China."
- Well, it's a little late on that,
because they've already signed a deal
for the Port of Haifa, andthat is one of the main
calling ports for theU.S. Mediterranean fleet.
So that dock is rightnext to the Port of Haifa,
so they've already giventhe contract for that port
and the upgrades to theport to a Chinese company.
Now, that's been the Chinesestrategy for some time now.
They're trying to literallyget a monopoly on world ports,
and they've been underbiddingacross the globe,
and they come in with these deals
where they will essentially finance it
for the host nation, butat the end of the day,
they control the operations of the port.
So that's been a key partof their emerging strategy,
and it's something we're allgoing to have to deal with
for some time to come, I would say
well into the nextcentury, the rise of China.
