“I believe the [Chinese Community Party] is dumping vast quantities of plastics and garbage into our oceans and I know that’s affected many of you in the islands. These actions directly threaten our collective security, our economic prosperity and our critical natural resources and wildlife. The People’s Republic of China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the largest source of marine debris, the worst perpetrator of illegal, unreported and unregulated IIU fishing and the world’s largest consumer of trafficked wildlife and timber products. The CCP’s actions also threaten regional stability and undermine the international rules-based order that’s kept the peace — especially in the Pacific — since World War II.”
— Robert C. O’Brien, national security adviser to President Donald J. Trump, in a briefing with media in the Pacific region on Oct. 24.
