I Have Warned About This Before...

Ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t take a genius to know who our enemies in the world are. Terrorism is one enemy this nation might never be rid of, save the complete extermination of the radical Islamo-fascists that threaten this nation. But aside from that, there are still nations out there that are threat to us. I know I wasn’t the only one that blew a gasket when Pres. Clinton bestowed the "most-favored nation" status to China.

Of course I realize that we do a lot of trade with China. But here is what gives me a moment of pause: As a Communist nation, they’re dumping that money into their military. And that was the gist of Sec. Of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s address at a regional security conference in Singapore.

China's massive military buildup and its targeting of hundreds of missiles at Taiwan makes it a growing threat to Asian security, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday.

Rumsfeld criticized China at a regional security conference in Singapore, noting it was expanding its military spending and the purchase of large amounts of sophisticated weapons despite facing no threat from any other country.

The comments from a senior Bush administration official represented a turning point in China-U.S. relations. While the U.S. has criticized Beijing for trade policies and human rights abuses, it has not previously expressed concerns about its military buildup.

The director of the Asia bureau of China's foreign ministry, Cui Tiankai, was in the audience for Rumsfeld's speech and reacted strongly.

"Since the U.S. is spending a lot more money than China is doing on defense, the U.S. should understand that every country has its own security concerns and every country is entitled to spend money necessary for its own defense," Cui told the Associated Press after Rumsfeld's remarks.

Rumsfeld said the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military capabilities shows China is spending more than its leaders reveal publicly, expanding its missile capabilities and developing advanced military technology. China now has the world's third-largest military budget, he said, behind the United States and Russia.

"Since no nation threatens China, one must wonder: Why this growing investment? Why these continuing large and expanding arms purchases?" Rumsfeld said at the conference organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, a private, London-based think tank.

Cui responded sharply to Rumsfeld during a question-and-answer session.

"Do you truly believe that China is under no threat by other countries?" Cui asked.
"Do you truly believe that the U.S. is threatened by the emergence of China?"
Central to the disagreement is Taiwan, a self-governing island Beijing regards as a renegade territory.

China has said it will attack Taiwan if the island tries to declare independence, and it repeatedly calls on the United States to stop selling weapons to Taiwan.
The United States is urging the European Union to keep in place its ban on selling weapons to China. Washington argues that any European weapons sold to China could be used in a conflict over Taiwan.

"I just look at the significant rollout of ballistic missiles opposite Taiwan, and I have to ask the question: If everyone agrees the question of Taiwan is going to be settled in a peaceful way, why this increase in ballistic missiles opposite Taiwan?" Rumsfeld said.

He also questioned China's government, saying political freedom there had not kept pace with increasing economic freedom.

"Ultimately, China will need to embrace some form of a more open and representative government if it is to fully achieve the political and economic benefits to which its people aspire," he said.

Rumsfeld also warned North Korea represents a threat to the entire world because of its sale of missile technology and other weapons.

OK. To the dismay of the Left, I agree with the current Secretary of Defense. Both China and North Korea present real threats, and not just to their own hemisphere, but to the world as a whole. All too often, I come across people who poo-poo the communist threat still alive and well in the world. Folks, just because the Soviet Union is gone (Is it really? Anyone seen Russia lately?) doesn’t mean that "communism" is likewise dead. It’s alive and well.

China is still a communist nation—to it’s heart. I don’t know how many people have done the reading and studying regarding China that I have done, but my only conclusion is that the nation is patient. They take quick and decisive advantage of opportunities that "drop" into their laps. They wasted little time in taking advantage of a sitting US president, and his openness in sharing our nuclear technology with them. (And I still doubt the "taking advantage of" part of the excuse resulting in the security breaches at the Los Alamos labs.)

Needless to say, both of these nations are still threats to us. Our enemies are not just animals that sit in caves or Third-World countries plotting revenge for some slight that we’re not even responsible for. (Saudi Arabia invited us in, folks.) They’re people who sit back and carefully plan moves far in advance. (Well, Kim Jong-Il accomplished it once; I guess every dog has it’s day.) But we are dealing with people that are patient to wait another fifty years before they really make an effort to bring us down, or they could do it tomorrow. Need I remind anyone that China has stated that by 2010, they want to be able to sink a US aircraft carrier?
Are these the words of an ally? If so, is there a need for "enemies"?

And to those that are paying attention, like Bill Gertz, Taiwan is at the heart of the debate between the US and China. Taiwan wants full independence. China wants them back under their umbrella. Much like our commitment to South Vietnam, we will defend Taiwan. That’s provided we don’t have another "sell-out" session like with Vietnam where our lawmakers refused to back our promised allies when the North Vietnamese came streaming back over the border. We must be ready to defend them, no matter what.

And that is where this confrontation between our nations is heading. Rumsfeld is right to raise an eyebrow over the increase in China’s military spending. We have enough intelligence to show what China has pointed at Taiwan. Earlier this year, they conducted drills surrounding a potential attack and invasion of Taiwan. And they’ve been speaking with Russia lately about weapons systems. (AZ. Republic, last month; if I find the link it’ll go up)

Anyone who thinks that China isn’t in this run for the long haul is either a fool, or is smoking something and not sharing. They are right here, and although they do need us to a point, nothing says they can’t our goods and services elsewhere. Yes. Mickey D’s is in China, but it’s staffed by Chinese, run by Chinese. We are merely a drop in the bucket to them, and they’re using our good nature against us.

And therein lies the ultimate fault. Our good nature. Well, you know what? I’m sick of it. We are the most giving and generous nation on the face of the planet, and we give, and give, and give to a fault. It’s time that we start holding som nations accountable. If it means that our Secretary of Defense has to go before the world, and call a spade, a spade, then so be it. It’s about time.

Publius II