From its buildup of naval bases in the South China Sea to its theft of intellectual property to its influence in Hollywood, few people grasp the lengthening reach of China across the world. It poses perhaps the gravest foreign threat to the new administration, which, thus far, has signaled a less confrontational stance to the Asian superpower.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said, “China is adversarial and an adversary on some issues, and in other issues, we try to cooperate with them, whether in the context of climate change or other things. And, ultimately, the frame that the president-elect has identified for thinking about this is as a global competitor.”
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President Donald Trump’s former acting director of national intelligence sees a naivety about China in President Biden’s national security team.
According to Ric Grenell, “The expansionist ambition of China poses perhaps the gravest foreign threat to the new Biden administration, which is signaling a less confrontational stance to the Asian superpower.” He added, “I think that Beijing is celebrating many of these appointments that the Biden administration is putting forward. It’s a big concern. And we need to make sure that conservative Democrats, those who are concerned about China speak up because, when you look at the Senate, you look at the House, Republicans cannot do it alone.”
Like the frog in the slowly boiling pot of water, Americans have scarcely perceived the buildup of China’s hard and soft power.
Notice the resemblance of China’s new J-20 fighter to America’s F-22? It was likely built on stolen plans.
The Chinese blacklisted Lady Gaga because she met with the Dalai Lama. Also blacklisted: Katy Perry, who once wore a sunflower print dress, the symbol of Taiwanese independence. Richard Gere’s career tanked when he publicly supported Tibet’s independence. China is poised to become the world’s largest market for heavily progressive Hollywood. No wonder, then, studios are loath to offend Beijing. The Financial Times reports, quote, “For the China market, you self-censor because of its size.”
There are more immediate concerns of China imperialism.
Conservative columnist Gordon Chang says, “They’re pouring a little more than $3 billion into a container port in Freeport in the Bahamas. That seems to be a gargantuan investment, especially when you look at the trade flows in the region. I’m concerned that there is going to be a Chinese naval base 87 miles east of Palm Beach.” Chang added, “Chinese parties seem to be buying large blocks in Kansas and Oklahoma. I don’t know what’s up. But this is something that should be the subject of intensive investigation by federal and state authorities in general.”
A Chinese energy company with close ties to the Communist Party recently purchased 130-thousand acres in Del Rio, Texas, for a wind farm. It’s only 7.3 miles from Laughlin Air Force Base.
After the end of the Cold War, Doug McKelway had the chance to interview the Soviet Union’s head spy, Oleg Kalugin, who had defected to the United States. He asked him, “What is it about Americans that’s easy to exploit?” His response surely applies to China’s thinking today. He said, “Americans like money, and they are naive.”
