U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted in a recent interviewthat China and Russia represent challenges as well as opportunities for the United States.China has wealth and resources, and Russia is a power that is struggling mightily, he explained.We need to make sure we understand what China is doing, warned Secretary Pompeo.President Donald Trump has been very clear about the risk to Americaassociated with China's willingness to acquire U.S. intellectual property both by licit and illicit means.Geopolitically, the U.S. has its eyes wide openwith respect to China's efforts to expand its influence in the South China Sea and around the world.China has an important role to play when it comes to pursing the denuclearization of North Korea, stressed Secretary Pompeo.At this point, it is critical for China to maintain a tight sanctions regime against North Korea.Regarding Russia, President Trump has been unambiguous since he took officethat there are places where Russia is working against the United States but many places where we work together, said Secretary Pompeo.The United States has worked with Russia in Syria, on North Korea, and on strategic stability issues.We are having conversations with our Russian counterparts trying to find places where we have overlapping interestsbut protecting American interests where we do not, explained Secretary Pompeo.There continue to be contentious issues regarding Russia's behavior in many parts of the world.Some of the behaviors that they're undertaking in places like Syria and Ukraine are. . .not helpful, said Secretary Pompeo.
