Communist China is under pressure from the Trump Administration – and they do not like it. After decades of military modernization, abusive trade practices, theft of US intellectual property, cyberattacks, militarizing artificial islands, propagating COVID-19, and crushing human rights – not to mention deals with Joe Biden’s son – Trump is calling China out. China is writhing.
The latest example is China’s overreaction to US sale of defensive Patriot missiles to Taiwan. After the ho-hum deal was announced, China last week slapped sanctions on the American company for selling Patriot missiles to Taiwan. That act signals China’s growing frustration. Trump is getting to them.
Historical context is important. China’s overreaction is obvious by reference to history. First, US relations with Taiwan – a freedom-loving people with enormous admiration for America – are governed by the so-called Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). That act, signed in 1979 by President Carter, is deliberately ambiguous on Taiwan’s status.
The TRA allows Communist China to maintain the fiction that Taiwan is part of China, while allowing the United States and Taiwan to conduct de facto diplomatic and trade relations as with all “foreign countries, nations, states, governments …” The ambiguity preserves cross-strait peace, in effect delaying any determination that Taiwan is either China or independent.
Truth is, having spent time in Taiwan, the island is physically, politically, economically, and militarily independent. It has been for decades – and China knows it. Military sales are allowed under the TRA: “The United States will make available to Taiwan such defensive articles and defensive services … necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities.” So, China is overreacting.
Beyond that, US military sales to Taiwan are not novel. Jimmy Carter sold more than $500 million in military armaments to Taiwan, including missiles and aircraft. Ronald Reagan sold Taiwan fighter aircraft parts, C-130s, armored personnel carriers, and other military equipment. George H.W. Bush sold Knox frigates and 150 F-16s.
Not to be outdone, Bill Clinton initiated military deals with Taiwan in 34 categories, selling everything from Patriot missiles to frigates, minesweepers to Chinook and Cobra helicopters, logistics for F-5s, F-16s, F-104s, T-38s, C-130s, both hellfire and stinger missiles.
After George W. Bush sold air-to-air, air-to-ground, and other missiles, plus P-3s, more Patriot upgrades and 30 attack helicopters, Barack Obama sold 60 Blackhawk helicopters, various ships, more Patriots, and military addenda in 17 categories.
Even before the latest deal for Patriots, Trump sold Taiwan missiles, parts for fighters, battle tanks and more F-16s. The historical record is crystal clear: The US has a longstanding military sales relationship with Taiwan. That relationship is not going away.
So, why the sudden imposition of sanctions on a US company for sale of defensive Patriot missiles? Answer: Communist China is feeling the pressure. They are pushing back against Trump’s push-back against decades of Chinese overreach in trade, cyberattacks, economic intimidation, militarization of trade routes, spread of COVID-19, and human rights suppression in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
Like Ronald Reagan’s decision to call out communist illegitimacy in the Soviet Union, Donald Trump is calling out China’s communist illegitimacy. He is saying – no more illegality.
On July 12, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to recognize China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea, where China created a military hub in trade lanes. On July 13, Trump signed legislation imposing sanctions on officials who undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy. On July 14, Pompeo banned employees from Huawei who suppress human rights in the Xinjiang region.
Where does all this lead? Likely to a period of increased international focus on Communist China’s illegitimate behaviors, hopefully greater accountability to international norms and law, and a greater sense that what is wrong cannot persist.
Does sale of Patriots to Taiwan and China’s overreaction mean a war? Hardly. Does Trump’s effort to make China accountable mean tension? Possibly, but that is the cost of accountability.
For decades, Communist China has run roughshod over Western interests, allies, and international law. For the first time in three decades, China is being forced to answer.
To be clear, America has an ardent ideological, economic, and potential military adversary in China – even if Joe Biden thinks they are a pushover. China thinks Biden is the pushover. In 2013, his son notched a billion-dollar deal with China – while his father served as Vice President. Even in Communist China, that looks like corruption. See, e.g., https://nypost.com/2019/05/11/the-troubling-reason-why-biden-is-so-soft-on-china/.
In any event, the latest sword-crossing is not unexpected. It tells us Trump is getting to China. Trump is hard as nails on China’s dishonesty. He is using a combination of carrot and stick to get fair trade, reduced military overreach, regional peace, and accountability under law.
As Reagan called out Soviet Communists, Trump is calling out Chinese Communists. Bottom line: Communist China is under pressure from Trump – and they do not like it. Anyone who believes in the rule of law should.
Bring ALL US products to the US from China, Cut trade, cut patents, ID student spies in US, ID lobbying firms as fronts for China in DC alone, Use tax leins, fines, to make point
Order key US personnel home.
Reduce Emb staff size IF warranted.
Give China “faulty” products then.
Name names, name organz as “fronts” for China
This is what need to take place President Trump need to be more forceful against China
I thank God every day that Donald is our president!
Pressure ALL US companies to get production out of Red China! Then tell the PRC to go suck an egg!! They need us more than we need them.
This is the greatest news ever!!!!!!! Trump 2020!!!!!!!!!
FINALLY someone has the guts to stand up to the horrible China Communist Party!!!!!!!!
And that is why China intentionally released COVID19 on the world….make no mistake about it, this was no accident. China does not care how many of their citizens die from something like this, it was a way to possibly destroy our economy and by shutting down businesses, we helped them….there was no reason to do that when the numbers of infected and dead are not much higher than a usual flu season. I no longer purchase Chinese products….and it makes me furious that this large companies are purchasing masks that are made in China…they are rewarding economically the very country responsible for us having to wear masks in the first place. Burn those masks and get ones made anywhere else except China. We can hurt them economically if we stop giving them money by purchasing their products, which may entice American companies over there to return to America and do business if their products are not selling….better for US jobs and made in america again labels.
I am 100% behind Trump.. China needs to be called out.
China has been allowed, through 30 years of the United States intentionally ignoring and tolerating China’s non-stop stealing of our intellectual property though insane business deals with hundreds of U.S. companies, rampant spying conducted within our best R&D facilities and an unchecked Belt and Road initiative to lock up valuable resources around the world, to become the second largest economy on earth with a military that is near parity with ours. Where you see fear from China, I see the CCP as flexing their growing economic and military strength in defiance of both international law and the will of the only President (Trump) that has had both the courage and the intelligence to push back against the CCP before they surpass us on both fronts.
All this could have been completely avoidable if the last three Presidential administrations (Clinton, Bush, Obama) had not only turned a blind eye towards China’s true intentions (pursing the ludicrous Kissinger doctrine), but in many, many ways acted to facilitate the growth of the modern China threat. Now the United States is facing its greatest threat that was largely of its own making.
Yes, I absolutely thank President Trump for finally standing up to the CCP and pushing back forcefully against them on multiple fronts. Hong Kong is now effectively gone as a free democracy zone within China, so the CCP is obviously eyeing Taiwan as their next target of “re-unification” (military take-over). If any other President were in office right now, other than Trump, the Chinese Navy would have already made its move against Taiwan with the rest of the world barely acknowledging the action.
Should the American people be stupid enough to elect Biden in November, then obviously all this tough action against China will go away. As will all the rest of the actions that President Trump has initiated around the world in his first four years. It will be a return to the “business as usual” policies of the last three decades on all fronts and the “managed decline” of the United States will resume at an accelerated pace.
President Trump is as good at manipulating China as he is the liberal media.
I love how he lets them dig their own hole deeper and deeper, before he kicks them into their own grave. 🙂
Historically, if average citizens recognize illegitimacy in communist rule, as occurred in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and former communist states, events begin to percolate beneath the surface of the oppressed society. Since our Bill of Rights, in many ways, captures and codified timeless “natural law” (or God- given and enduring) rights, like the rights to speak, worship, assemble, travel, defend one’s family and self, and be free of interference by a coercive government, these bubble up – no matter how hard the powers of a coercive state try to blunt, deter, scare or suppress the assertion of them. This is why freedom – at large – gives rise to such an optimistic view of human history. People love it, want it, will fight for it. Net-net, what Trump is doing is not only holding the line at home, but reinforcing the reality that Chinese communists oppress fundamental rights every day. And that … is why his moves are right on. With respect and thanks for engaging with AMAC – V/R, Robert
Trump’s re-election campaign should emphasize what more of the same can do for the USA. More of what he has already done is what we need.
President Trump has the vision to see the real danger that the Chinese Communist government is to
Americans and our long term survival.
YEA for Trump….it’s ABOUT TIME we have a person in the WH to stand up for the USA like this!!! Trump even surpasses Reagan in my opinion…and I’m old enough to know about it!!! Keep this man in office – we NEED him!!!
It stuck that it must be somewhat difficult for the poor federal and affiliated employees who have TSPs and 401Ks not talk ebout what the Administration’s policies is doing for their financial security.
China, be patient! All your dreams may soon come true. The pundits tell us Dopey Joe will be the one negotiating new deals with you after after the November Presidential Election. Naturally, he will cheerfully sell out his country, and mine, in favor of yours. So, if you want Taiwan, no problem; if you want to continue stealing U.S. intellectual property, go right ahead; if you want our fleet out of the South China Sea, consider it sunk. Whatever you want you got. Just make the usual billion dollar — or 6,981,000,000. 00 yuan — deposit in the secret offshore bank account you’ve used in the past. Always a pleasure doing business with you.
As with much of our countries problems, they have a strong root in education and corruption. If we were to investigate all Confucius Centers born from the Confucius Institutes in our schools from K-12 to the universities and all the teachers/professors participating in them, I suspect we will find two things, spies and traitors. Both of which are fully supported by OUR educational system. I believe there are around 500 of them, but I may be wrong but I doubt it. Look into it and be startled by the not so subtle ways China is indoctrinating our young and stealing our secrets. Right under our nose to boot!
I am sure that when Nixon went to China it wasn’t meant to lead up to THIS! It was the clintons who sold us out and the likes of diane feinstein who, for 20 years didn’t know her chinese driver was a chinese SPY! Yeah and I am the tooth fairy!!! We, The PEOPLE, deserve the TRUTH about china AND WHO is responsible because I am sure that there are more in congress under the chinese payroll besides feinstein and the clintons. Remember that it was under clinton that most of our jobs went overseas. It has been TRUMP that got most of them back! The AMERICAN CITIZENS have been lied to and cheated by our elected officials for decades. It is past time to root out the EVIL for good. THIS is exactly why the left HATES President TRUMP so much!!!
Defeat communism.
If you see a Chinese product, in a store or online, do NOT buy it. chinese eateries ? Do not patronize them. And on and on. We must bring these yellow dogs to their knees even if it means war. They must pay for all those who died of this chinese fungus.
By all means, go after China. As Americans, we can put a hurt on them with the power of the purse. I know it’s very difficult to buy anything that’s not made in China. It’s high time to bring back company’s back to our country and produce things here. Buy American if you can. As for the Democrats, well it’s not the Democratic party anymore, it’s the Communist party wearing the Democrat party cloak. No more rolling over for the minority trying to overthrow America. We should be the majority at war.
I was looking to stop buying things “made in China” in protest of China’s actions…but everything is made in China…?
What is status of trade deal with China, not much news from WH on this lately?? And also, did any of fireworks for WH fourth July come from China?
China was expecting clinton to be in office three+years ago, they now think senile joe will be in office, so they went ahead with the joint plan with socialist/dems and did not expect pushback from TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, they thought dems in the house would keep the plan moving forward, SURPRIZE!!! dems are so incompetent they screwed it all up and china is feeling the heat.
It is actually very simple, STOP BUYING CHINESE JUNK! Notice the greeting cards in CVS or Walmart, the cards made in China are $7,$8 dollars, cards made in USA $4,$5, go figure thanks Hallmark for selling out. We the people have the power of the purse, not just against communist China but also against these companies that are backing the radical Marxist that are ruining major cities. WAKE UP AMERICA, before it’s too late!!!
By the Marx/Engels Playbook, the United States is in the middle of a Communist Revolution!! WAKE-UP!! Stand-up for America!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
Become a Counter-Revolutionary! Demand Authority ENFORCE OUR LAWS!! Stand-up for America!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
Thank God for President Trump!! Americans, we are in the middle of a Communist Revolution!! Stand-up for America!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
The Chinese OWN the DEMOCRATS. They have owned them since Billy sold them every thing he could get his hands on in the 90’s. Hence the outlandish and downright stupid attempts to get rid of OUR PRESIDENT!!! If Trump does not get reelected we will soon see a new world order lead by the Chinese Communists aided by the traitorous Democrats.
No mention of China in WH briefing today. Trump needs to quit thinking the US testing is going great . He needs to throw Federal support to testing to slow down the virus. And realize that shutting down travel from China was done by him, but then how come the USA is now the global leader cases/deaths. Mr. Trump deal with today & what has been done is already history, but today look/listen at current events. I want you to be reelected but you are working very hard to change my mind. And well wishes to Epstein sidekick today was rather off the wall.
Keep going, President Trump! Don’t let up on the Chinese government! They do not deserve any moment of slackness on America’s part! You are doing a great job – keep going, in the Mighty Name of Jesus!
If America is to rightly demand transparency and honesty from China, we must demonstrate the same standard applies here at home. The Biden’s involvement in China and Ukraine must be investigated and prosecuted. Who knows, the Biden’s May be selling American nuclear and military secrets…in exchange for money or American property. Heck, Bill Clinton released plans for US nuclear subs…and unless this just isn’t true, has NEVER been investigated. We MUST hold our own to the same standards we demand from others.
If we are catching flak…..we are over the target!
The heat is on folks. Relish what we see. Trump 2020!
China is so used to calling the shots that they can’t stand it when someone stands up to them!! Tough cookies!!
Liberal-socialists hate Donald Trump because he’s not afraid to stand up to them…the Communist Chinese now hate him even worse because he’s the first President since Reagan with the guts to stand up to them! Thank God he’s our President!
I received a catalog from StarCrest yesterday and sent them the below message since I believe we must let companies know we don’t want to support Chinese products even it we have to pay more….we can’t leave it all for President Trump to do but show venders how we feel. Have yet to get a response from them but am not purchasing from a company that I have questions as to where there products are produced etc.
Hello,
Just received a new Starcrest catalog and won’t be ordering from it in the future unless you can designated by each item where it was made. I do not want to purchase items from China, if it can be avoided. After the Wuhan virus release, I am serious about not funding China with more American dollars.
And just saying the wording of “Distributed by” is not sufficient. I need to see where the product is made. I am willing to pay more for items made in America or countries that are our “friends” and not Communist countries.
Sincerely,
Let us pray that tensions do not lead to military actions.
It’s about time we had a leader that stood up to the Chinese. Trump 2020!!!
If we could take these businesses out of China and relocate them to the economically stressed areas of our cities and keep the unions out of the way, we could have a win-win situation for these hard hit folks in America.
I’ve just figured it out: Trump should continue doing what he does and (excuse my language, please) shut the f**k up. He only harms his image with his braggadocio. THAT imperils his chances for re-election (YES. IT. DOES.) Let Kayleigh handle the press. Let Mike Pence and Secretary Pompeo and all the other Cabinet members stand up and speak for the administration. A CEO doesn’t go on television and make outrageous statements. If President Trump were to stop doing that, the Left would lose ammunition toward the elections. Let the people he “hired” do their jobs.
Very good. Information was appreciated.