Branstad draws praise in confirmation hearing to become U.S. Ambassador to China

Gov. Terry Branstad appears poised for confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to China following a two-hour hearing Tuesday in which members of both parties praised his performance and his understanding of issues ranging from human rights violations to intellectual property theft. 

"You had an outstanding hearing," said committee chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee. "I think your on-the-ground experiences with China will serve our nation well. I think your understanding of what drives the thinking within China (will) serve our nation well."

The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, also applauded Iowa's longest serving governor. 

"You’ve done very well in giving us the confidence of your knowledge of the areas and the way that you go about trying to reach strategic decisions as to how to advance U.S. interests," Cardin said. 

Throughout the hearing, Branstad touched on his long-held friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who first visited Iowa in 1985 before his rise to prominence and then again in 2012 as vice president. That relationship has led to better trade relations with China, which is a major consumer of Iowa soybeans and pork. 

Related: Trade, national security will be at forefront when Branstad heads to China

Related: Ambassador role places Branstad on the 'front line of American power and influence'

Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, questioned Branstad about how he would continue working to open Chinese markets to other U.S. products, such as poultry and beef. 

"This is an area, especially when it comes to agriculture products, that I’ve had a lot of experience in," Branstad said. "And I hope because Xi Jinping has some experience in that background, too, then it’s an area maybe we can make some connection. I’ve also had some very frank discussions with Minister Han (Changfu), who’s their ag minister, on these issues.”

Asked several times whether those close ties might impede his ability to raise issues that could cause Chinese leaders to “lose face," Branstad said he would not be “bashful about bringing these issues up.”

The hearing was at times lighthearted, with Branstad reconnecting with former Iowa Caucus candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, about the Iowa State Fair. 

"As you know, I spent some time in Iowa over the last year and a half, and we too went to the fair and my kids enjoyed it very much," Rubio said. "They wanted to know why we didn’t go this year."

But it ended on a solemn note as Branstad and the committee members reflected on the growing threat of a nuclear North Korea. 

North Korea three times in the last month has conducted test launches of ballistic missiles. Though all three have ended in failure, it’s sparked growing concern among U.S. and international leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, at a United Nations Security Council meeting last week, said that “failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences.”

"I see this as probably the biggest challenge that I’ve ever had in my entire life," Branstad said Tuesday. "And I want to do anything and everything that I can to try to find an acceptable solution for the benefit of the entire human race.”

He said secondary U.S. sanctions could be a viable option if China fails to live up to U.N. resolutions or fails to adequately exert its influence over North Korea.

“They have not abided by these United Nations resolutions," Branstad said. "And I think what’s happening right now with North Korea is an example of why that needs to change. This is a very serious situation."

It could take several more weeks for Branstad to move through the confirmation process and officially take over the position. But it seemed a foregone conclusion at times as members of the committee urged him to continue working with them on issues, particularly those related to North Korea. 

“We want to give you the strongest possible hand in making that case (to China)," Cardin said. "So please feel comfortable to give us advice as to how the Congress can weigh in to make your case the strongest possible for China to help us in changing the calculations with North Korea." 

The packed hearing room, which took place in the fourth-floor Foreign Relations Committee room in the ornate, marble-faced Dirksen Office Building, was filled with State Department staffers and a large throng of Chinese journalists. Branstad was joined by his wife, Christine, his two sons, Eric and Marcus, as well as his gubernatorial chief of staff, Michael Bousselot.

Iowa’s two U.S. senators, Sen. Joni Ernst and Sen. Chuck Grassley, both Republicans, also were on hand to introduce Branstad to the committee.

“I would say that this gentleman has been an ambassador all his life for Iowa and will make a good ambassador to China,” Grassley said. “He will bring Midwestern humility and level-headed leadership to this very important job representing the people of the United States and the president there in Beijing. He is a workhorse who is not afraid to get in the trenches to get the job done. If he is confirmed, I’m confident that Gov. Branstad will bring to bear his tireless commitment to solving problems and always move the ball forward.”

Corker said the record of the hearing will stay open through Thursday, at which point the committee will meet to vote Branstad's nomination out to the full Senate.

Branstad declined to answer reporters' questions following the hearing, but committee chairman Corker said he "can't imagine anything but overwhelming support" for Branstad's confirmation on the Senate floor. 

"He’s going to sail through," he said. 

USA TODAY Washington Corespondent Bartholomew Sullivan contributed to this article.