The Looming Chinese Threat

For years I’ve pooh-poohed the idea that the United States would ever have to face China in any sort of “hot” military confrontation. Lucrative business ties, I thought—and the desire to deepen them and create prosperity for all—would prevent China from going toe-to-toe with its most important trading partner, the US. However, there have been a number of ominous signals from China that we should take seriously, specifically the threats last week by Chinese General Zhu Chenghu, who threatened to use nuclear weapons against us if we interfere with China’s plans for an invasion of Taiwan.

At a recent press conference in Hong Kong, Zhu, the head of China’s National Defense University, warned: “If the Americans are determined to interfere [against our aggression on Taiwan –ed.]…we will be determined to respond. We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all cities east of Xian (central China). Of course the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds … of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”

As Don Feder aptly notes, this was a “classic illustration of totalitarian disdain for human life. The People’s Republic is willing to sacrifice tens of millions of its own people – and to inflict similar casualties on an adversary – to achieve its geo-political goals.” Yikes. Click here to read all of Feder’s chilling article.

I think the United States should start prodding the Japanese to increase their defense spending. We should also aggressively strengthen military ties with as many of China’s neighbors as possible, such as India (who fought a war with China), Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, and whoever else wants to join. Perhaps a united front against the Chinese will get them to think twice before embarking on any insane military adventures against their neighbors.