DISENGAGE From China’s Economy?
We are reminded that an emboldened axis of adversaries is working worldwide to destroy the American-led system by the recent military agreements between North Korea and Russia as well as the heightened aggressiveness of China’s naval troops against the Philippines, an ally of the United States under treaties.
But the time for the US and its allies to stop this new axis’ destructive trend and maintain peace via force is running out. However, we have to be prepared to take on an action that was unimaginable a few years ago: oppose the Chinese economy, which is our enemies’ main source of power.
Based on their behavior, it appears that America’s adversaries are preparing for a lengthy battle. Recent moves by Vladimir Putin to reassign technocrat Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister and select economist Andrei Bolusov as defense minister indicate that he is gearing up Russia’s military and economy for protracted warfare in Ukraine and possibly other parts of Europe. North Korea has reaffirmed its threats to its neighbors in Northeast Asia with the launch of new ballistic missiles. Iranian proxies in the Middle East have not stopped causing havoc in the area; this was shown in the catastrophic 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the succeeding terrorist strikes by Iraqi Shia forces, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Most concerning, according to former chief of Indo-Pacific Command Adm. John Aquilino, is that Chinese Communist Party Secretary General Xi Jinping has initiated “the largest military buildup since World War II.” Along with preparing his generals for war, Xi strengthened China’s economy against international sanctions.
America and its allies must attack China’s economic rise as the primary cause of the geopolitical unrest of the twenty-first century, in addition to implementing a strong policy of military deterrence. Long-held hopes that global stability would result from China and the West’s economic unification have been dashed. Rather, Beijing has been effective in transforming its economic ties with the West into growing military might and backing for the foes of the United States. China’s economic backing has been important in revitalizing Russia’s military-industrial base, as evidenced by the fact that Russia’s war machine in Ukraine is mostly dependent on Chinese microelectronics and mechanical imports.
China is the main importer of North Korean goods, both sanctioned and lawful, with proceeds going toward funding Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Furthermore, China is the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil, acquiring over a million barrels daily. Beijing also benefits from China’s investment in vital strategic industries, which serves as a long-term lifeline.
