China’s Endless Aggression
Beijing is accusing Washington of “hegemony and provocation” — for telling the truth about China’s ever-more-aggressive moves toward hegemony and provocation. It’d be laughable, except the Chinese Communist Party’s increasing crackdowns at home and influence-seeking abroad are no joke.
China’s criticism was an answer to the Pentagon’s latest “China Military Power Report,” which notes the regime has “marshaled the resources, technology, and political will over the past two decades to strengthen and modernize [its army] in nearly every respect.” In fact, “China is already ahead of the United States in certain areas.”
The CCP now controls the world’s largest navy. And it’s obsessively growing its nuclear and missile arsenal. The report warns that the goal of this military buildup is nothing less than to “revise aspects of the international order.”
Hence the lame claim from a regime spokesman that America is the real “destroyer of world peace,” since China “would not threaten any country.”
Hah! Tell that to Taiwan, or the nations facing Beijing’s island-building military moves in contested waters.
Private firms in China also feel the muscle. The party’s central committee issued “guidelines” last week for garnering more loyalty from businesses, saying it must “strengthen the cultivation of young entrepreneurs . . . guiding them to inherit and continue the great tradition of listening to and following the Party.”
So be wary of any TikTok deal that doesn’t cut out Chinese owners. The CCP claims ultimate control of the country’s businesses — just as it tries to steal the secrets of other countries’.
The Justice Department unsealed indictments last week charging hackers connected to China’s intelligence service with infiltrating 100-plus organizations around the world — including tech companies, government agencies, universities and manufacturers — to extort cash and steal intelligence and intellectual property.
This while Beijing sets itself up as the savior of less-developed nations, for example by offering money and goods at the price of sovereignty. It’s exploiting the pandemic to this end, offering Latin American and Caribbean countries $1 billion in loans to buy its vaccines when available.
John Ratcliffe, director of national intelligence, warns: “China poses a greater national security threat to the US than any other nation — economically, militarily and technologically. That includes threats of election influence and interference.” Indeed, it’s a danger to the entire free world — even if many of our allies pretend otherwise.