During Senate confirmation hearings this week, senior members of the incoming Trump administration named China as the “biggest threat” facing the US, which has been the official position of the Pentagon for several years.
“The Communist Party of China … is the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted,” Sen. Marco Rubio, the incoming secretary of state, said during his hearing on Wednesday.
“They have elements that the Soviet Union never possessed. They are a technological adversary and competitor, an industrial competitor, an economic competitor, a geopolitical competitor, a scientific competitor now in every realm,” Rubio added.
Rubio claimed China seeks a world where the US is completely reliant on it and expressed support for more screening of US investments in China. “If we stay on the road we’re on right now, in less than 10 years, virtually everything that matters to us in life will depend on whether China will allow us to have it -– everything from the blood pressure medicine we take to what movies we get to watch,” he said.
John Ratcliffe, who Trump nominated to head the CIA, described China as a “once-in-a-generation challenge” and discussed steps he took to focus on China when he was the Director of National Intelligence in the previous Trump administration.
“As DNI, I dramatically increased the intelligence community’s resources devoted to China. I openly warned the American people that, from my unique vantage point as the official who saw more US intelligence than anyone else, I assessed that China was far and away our top national security threat,” Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe said he would continue the “good work” of the current CIA director, William Burns, who created a new mission center within the agency in 2021 that solely focuses on China.
Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who Trump nominated to be secretary of defense, also named China as the top threat facing the US, though his hearing was mostly focused on his past and personal issues.
Hegseth claimed that the Biden administration had not followed the 2017 National Defense Strategy, which called for the US military to pivot away from the Middle East toward the Asia Pacific. However, the Biden administration has taken many steps to increase its military footprint in Asia, including deals to expand bases in the Philippines, Australia, and several Pacific Island nations.
The Biden administration also took significant steps to boost support for Taiwan, including by providing US-funded military aid for the first time. US military officials under Biden have also been openly preparing for war with China despite the risk of the conflict quickly turning nuclear.
US officials say the buildup in the Asia Pacific is needed to “deter” war with China, but the steps have only increased tensions, making conflict more likely. Beijing has repeatedly warned the US that Taiwan is the “first red line” in US-China relations that must not be crossed, but the Biden administration ignored the Chinese concerns.
If it were me, just me, I'd say America's biggest enemy is itself.
Healthy cynicism Agnes!
Self-Defeatism…!
China is worse than Vietnam was back in the 1950's and 60's.
That's…kinda like saying Sweet & Low is "worse" than Splenda. Neither threatened or threatens the distant USA's blood sugar.
The top threats facing the US? The US itself, and Israel. The danger we pose to ourselves is- or should be- obvious, and the danger we face from being dragged into conflicts that do not concern us by Israel is equally apparent. Our best play? Look in the mirror, fix our problems, and cut Israel loose.
Well since the US lost the Ukraine war against Russia, they need another one to keep the weapon makers busy and the elites pockets full of cash.
"…will depend on whether China will allow us to have it -– everything from the blood pressure medicine we take to what movies we get to watch,” he said."
Oh f**k off. This is the same absurd level of persecution-complex American Christians tend to adorn themselves with. And it's bulls**t "Yellow Peril" propaganda illustrating the inability of America to compete – Dominant By Default, as the USA would demand.
Additionally – yeah, like the CDC/DoH and FCC don't already firmly control what medications Americans can have access to & what they can and cannot view on TV.
To the front page article about Trump possibly 'staying' a TikTok ban. The only way TikTok is not banned within ~2 months of Inauguration Day is if someone, Musk or The Mr. Beast, buys it and domesticates it. A delay would only be to allow for that.
Trump's own FCC pick literally wrote the Project 2025 chapter on his plan for the dept and it IS a complete ban on all tech, apps, software, and telcomm owned or anchored in the DPRC.
Neocon HATRED for All Things China And Communist Party is staggering. Arguably more than Al Qaeda raised to the power of Trans people !
Which is just a tad bit less rabbid than tha hate of Russia. China’s hate stems from the recent failute to turn it into a giant plantation of factories at our disposal.
The hate of Russa stems from something deeper. Many historic European and non-European hystoric events, gong as far back as 969.
It boils down to the essential fury of colonially minded peoples over their inability to control those seemingly dull Russian prasants, those same that time and again thwarted that ambition. Still dreaming of chopping up Russia to pieces. Still not mych has changed.
near-peer adversary?
He must mean the USA is almost as advanced as China.
For starters, China has over 30,000 miles of beautiful high-speed rail.. Good luck, Antrak..
https://youtu.be/TsLHYPX60V8?si=8fTr6jCIAeTaI91j
Lol…!
And we wonder why the U.S. has lost the lead in advancement of our society.
Yeah, we have the cellphone, and the TV. What else?
NASA does good work – when they’re not erroneously color-correcting or editing photos for some unknown reasons.
Hollywood created a lot of memorable films. Grunge music was boss.
Even if US public had the same number of high speed trains they wouldn't use it much…! They love their cars…!
There is truth in that.
When I went to work by way of Metrolink in CA, I enjoyed observing cars, bumper to bump0er, moving slowly or stopped on the freeways, while I enjoyed conversation with other rider, while I enjoyed my coffee.
It was wonderful.
I believe lack of interest prevented the Obama high speed rail project from San Francisco to Southern California…!
You mean Amtrak.
Also, Warren Buffet's investment vehicle, Berkshire Hathaway, owns almost all of the railways of the U.S. through BNSF. Amtrak and Metrolink (in CA) take a back seat to BNSF.
For the foreseeable future, there will be no high speed rail in the U.S.
Really…? Not Russia, Not North Korea, Not Iran, Not Iraq, Not Libya, Not Afghanistan, Not Syria…?! Finally picking someone adversary your own size…!
”Threats?!” Impede our democratic principles and see what happens?!…
”Autocracy?!”
Ego and Peace are incompatible!…!….!
Primitive rethoric has become the hallmark of US official communications. It is reminiscent of the later years of Roman Empire , Lost is any gravitas, supplanted by people with no core, no integrity, mannequins . Thus the rhetoric — blustery, arrogant, supremacist.
It is a shame. Because those that are not afraid — will not be impressed . Those that are impressed are not worth this much energy.
There are no more “swing” stares globally . Those that are afraid – are “allies”. Others are enemies. How is any of this necessary? It is harming American genuine interests, but keeps in power those that are deeply invested in such outdated and embarraring language in order to maintain status quo. It is becoming increasingly hard to keep it up.
Yet, while the old is dying out, what is new has yet to be fully born.
Oh well …. We'll always have East Asia.
What For…?!
It was a literary reference.
It could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship… or not.
"Biggest Competitor" (economically) is more like it.
China is doing things the right way.
1) capitalism as it should be (yes, communism utilizes capitalism, how else to make money)
2) does not seek to take resources of other countries
3) does not waste money on military bases all over the world.
My country of birth is the mother of bullies to the world. By orders of magnitude.
I am ashamed of its governance, and I am fearful that the governance could kill us all, along with the planet.