China and the US: Whose Side Is the Administration On?

by Lawrence A. Franklin
July 28, 2022 at 5:00 am

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/18761/china-taiwan-us

One hopes that [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi's Taiwan visit is also intended to reassure free Asia that America will militarily defend Pacific democracies, despite the failure of the US either to deter Russia from invading Ukraine or adequately to defend it after it was invaded.
Above all, the US, must not submit to the Chinese Communist Party's threats. Pelosi should proceed to Taiwan with as large a bipartisan Congressional delegation as possible. If she bows to demands to stay away, China will be incentivized to attack Taiwan effectively the next day. Backing down at this point would only establish a pattern that all Beijing has to do to intimidate America is bark.
After America's humiliating defeat in Afghanistan and the "far too little, too late " response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, any cancellation of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan would be seen the world over as yet another spineless US surrender.
The only question is if this administration finally has the political will to stop appearing weak, scared and permitting China to dictate US policy. The administration's record so far: it has sold oil from America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, meant for hurricane damage and other emergencies, not only to China, but to the offshoot of a firm there in which President Biden's son, Hunter, had "invested heavily"; it has cancelled the China Initiative, thereby allowing China to continue stealing intellectual property with impunity; it has ignored China's purchase of massive amounts of American farmland and land near US military bases; it appears about to lift tariffs for China that will permit China to dictate US trade policy but only negligibly curb inflation; it is permitting China to collect genetic data from Americans citizens for potential biological warfare against the US.

One hopes that Speaker Nancy Pelosi's upcoming visit to Taiwan is also intended to reassure free Asia that America will militarily defend Pacific democracies, despite the failure of the US either to deter Russia from invading Ukraine or adequately to defend it after it was invaded. Pictured: Pelosi meets with Japan's then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on May 8, 2015. (Photo by Koji Sasahara/AFP via Getty Images)

China this weekend, according to reports, privately delivered a message to US national security officials reinforcing an earlier Chinese Foreign Ministry statement: if US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi goes ahead with her planned August visit to Taiwan, it would be met with a "resolute and strong measures."

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian stated on July 19 that the visit "would seriously undermine Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity."

While China's threats contain unusually emphatic language, the visit comes as no surprise to China. Pelosi had scheduled a visit last April, which allegedly was postponed over COVID concerns. Her plan to go to Taiwan indicates that at least some in the US would like incrementally to depart from the "One China Policy," which claims Taiwan as part of China.

Beijing is doubtless evaluating President Joe Biden's statement made this May in Tokyo after a meeting of the Quad allies -- India, Australia, Japan and the US -- that the US would militarily defend Taiwan were it attacked.

China's threats regrettably appear to have achieved their purpose. They seem to have convinced at least a few high-level US officials to recommend that Pelosi cancel her trip. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan went on record opposing her visit. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication John Kirby also acknowledged that Pelosi was briefed by a National Security Council team on "context, facts, and geographical relationships," whatever that is supposed to mean. Biden blamed the Pentagon.

Pelosi, meanwhile, remains prepared at least to lead a delegation to Asian democratic allies of the US -- including Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia -- in addition to Taiwan.

Her visit seems intended, in part, to reassure our allies that the US will continue to maintain an active presence in the Pacific. One hopes that Pelosi's Taiwan visit is also intended to reassure free Asia that America will militarily defend Pacific democracies, despite the failure of the US either to deter Russia from invading Ukraine or adequately to defend it after it was invaded.

US military leaders are making similar "reassurance visits." Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, for instance, in Indonesia on July 24, was also scheduled to attend a defense conference in Australia with Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral John Aquilino on July 27.

Milley could easily, once again, ring up his Chinese counterpart, General Li Guocheng, and have what is called " a frank conversation" about the catastrophic risks to Communist China of an open military clash, should China take any military action against Pelosi's plane or whatever else.

Communist Chinese propagandist Hu Xijin suggested that to demonstrate China's sovereignty over Taiwan, a warplane from the People's Liberation Army Air Force could "accompany" Pelosi's plane, and then fly over the island of Taiwan on its way back to the mainland.

Media reports claim that US Ambassador to China Nick Burns, who may be helping to prepare Biden for a video conference with Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping in the next few weeks, should cut short his visit to Washington if Pelosi's trip leads to a crisis. Despite China's harsh rhetoric over the Pelosi visit, communication between the Chinese and US leaders remains diplomatic: Xi recently dispatched a message wishing Biden a "speedy recovery" from his mild case of Covid.

At the same time, unnamed Chinese military contacts are threatening that China's fighter jets could intercept Pelosi's military aircraft as it nears Taiwan, or interfere with the plane's landing at Taipei Airport. If Pelosi, as head of America's legislative branch, decides to proceed with her trip to Taiwan, despite opposition from the Biden administration, the Pentagon might consider assigning military fighter escorts alongside her aircraft to discourage PLA aggression.

Above all, the US, must not submit to the Chinese Communist Party's threats. Pelosi should proceed to Taiwan with as large a bipartisan Congressional delegation as possible. If she bows to demands to stay away, China will be incentivized to attack Taiwan effectively the next day. Backing down at this point would only establish a pattern that all Beijing has to do to intimidate America is bark.

After America's humiliating defeat in Afghanistan and the "far too little, too late " response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, any cancellation of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan would be seen the world over as yet another spineless US surrender.

US options could include delivering public and private warnings that force would be met with force. The US Navy could immediately deploy an aircraft carrier group near the Taiwan Strait; and a large bipartisan Congressional delegation could accompany Pelosi. The allies in the Quad could also stage a quickly-organized military exercise in the Indo-Pacific region.

If Pelosi proceeds, Biden will need to declare his support for the visit, to demonstrate US unity of command.

The only question is if this administration finally has the political will to stop appearing weak, scared and permitting China to dictate US policy. The administration's record so far:

it has sold oil from America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, meant for hurricane damage and other emergencies, not only to China, but to the offshoot of a firm there in which President Biden's son, Hunter, had "invested heavily";
it has cancelled the China Initiative, thereby allowing China to continue stealing intellectual property with impunity;
it has ignored China's purchase of massive amounts of American farmland and land near US military bases;
it appears about to lift tariffs for China that will permit China to dictate US trade policy but only negligibly curb inflation;
it is permitting China to collect genetic data from Americans citizens for potential biological warfare against the US.

One has to ask, whose side is the administration on?

Dr. Lawrence A. Franklin was the Iran Desk Officer for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. He also served on active duty with the U.S. Army and as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve.

© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Related Topics: China

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Comment on this item

28 Reader Comments

waljay • Aug 3, 2022 at 23:54

If China can prohibit an American official to stay away from Taiwan, why can't they order us to stay away from any country in the world they're displeased with at the moment? If they should do that, are we still free?

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Bill • Jul 31, 2022 at 08:07

Nancy will fold. It's too far outside the mainstream of Democrat politics to assume she'd ever do what was right.
I think someone needs to gently remind the idiots in China that they have a nice little dam. Be a shame if anything happened to it and 400,000,000 people were displaced.

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Bernard Couvreur • Jul 31, 2022 at 05:03

As a European, I would love to see the president of the EU parliament do a similar act of courage (visiting Taiwan).

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GSR • Jul 30, 2022 at 18:26

I don't mean to nitpick but we were hardly defeated in Afghanistan. Like Vietnam, we left. That allowed the enemy to win. Whether it was wise to leave either, is for you to decide.

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Edward Hannan • Jul 29, 2022 at 13:56

China's retaliatory options against the U.S. are not limited to military options.

China's economic leverage vis-à-vis the U.S. is extraordinary: China is a major U.S. creditor, holding $1.06+ trillion in treasury securities. China is the chief supplier of all first order and higher order goods the U.S. uses and consumes. China owns or controls most of the world's industrial metals (iron, copper, aluminum), precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) and rare earth metals (including manganese, lithium, cobalt and nickel), needed for the batteries and other components of the wasteful, inefficient and irrational "Green Energy" initiatives the U.S. now pursues.

China can destabilize the U.S. economy by simply shutting down its seaports and interfering with maritime traffic through the South China Sea. China can enhance its destabilization efforts through disrupting U.S. food supply chains -- China owns +200,000 acres of prime agricultural land in the U.S. and many food processing plants in the U.S.

Also, China's BRI initiatives have facilitated the growth of Chinese control in the South Pacific, Western Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central America. Essentially, China has largely surrounded the U.S. and can deprive the U.S. of natural resources existing in these areas.

China's military forces – ground, naval, air, and space (both natural and digital) – have grown considerably since 1990. While the U.S. has more aircraft carriers and submarines, China has far more trained and highly disciplined military personnel than U.S. forces combined, aircraft on general par with the U.S., and advanced cyber and missile systems, including hypersonic glide missiles, that can neutralize U.S. military assets, including satellites. Today, the U.S. military cannot recruit sufficient qualified personnel to meet its needs. And given the general abysmal state of nationwide, public primary and secondary education, meeting U.S. future military needs is doubtful. The U.S. has sophisticated military technology, but too few who are even trainable to use it.

The U.S. needs to carefully analyze the risks and benefits before poking the dragon.

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surdey germain

Edward Hannan • Aug 1, 2022 at 11:35

Yes Mr. Hannan. Everything you say is correct.
China's grasp on the US (and European) economy is far more dangerous than his military power.
Unfortunately I do not see any possibility - even remote - to change that situation.
Look at what is happening with shipping. CHINA controls the containers business. It blocks its harbours, and WE don't receive what we need (I mean do we really NEED all these China-made goods? This is another question.)
I try to avoid buying Chinese made stuff but it is impossible.
The only thing I find is TRAMONTINA (from Brazil) items.

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JAN HELLSUND • Jul 29, 2022 at 07:32

If China attacks Taiwan, they would have about 20 minutes to enjoy their victory before up to 50 Yun Feng missiles slam into the Three Gorges Dam reducing it to rubble and sending the CCP back to pre-Cultural Revolution relevance.

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cammo99 • Jul 29, 2022 at 06:11

Now that the left has power in the Capitol its most likely Pelosi will not go feigning some other event requires her attention. The woman and her friends destroyed Southern California, are responsible for most of the wildfires and even our heat by allowing a rampage of illegal immigrants in untold millions add to the strain of inhabiting regions entirely dependent on irrigation until now. Even Lake Meade is nearly dry and even here where we are getting rain, spring water is doubling in price faster than gas and oil.
Climate change is just a convenient excuse and position to blame their failure on.
On the pretense of being commanded by God to care for the poor, she even created her own Bible Verse to support that position who knows what other parts of the Bible she has improved?
Proverbs 30: 14 "There are some—their teeth are swords, their teeth are knives, Devouring the needy from the earth, and the poor from the human race."
Good News Translation
"There are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and needy; that is the way they make their living."
Streets of Pelosi's San Francisco and other Demo cities are paved with human waste and discarded addict needles.

The fact is our government in DC is totally lacking in perspective because their positions are most often not those of a secularist, a moralists, even socialists, they are simply immoral and it is a mistake to think anything good can come from them.

Do you really think people like Pelosi and Biden, "good" Catholics, don't know the evils they have brought down upon us? How can they stand up to our enemies with courage?

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PeterRotberg • Jul 29, 2022 at 01:55

Dear Mrs Speaker Pelosi
No declarations or vain threats would stop Chinese aggressive anti Western Dictators. They know and learned how to exploit artfully the weakness of present USA Administration and its efforts to avoid any military confrontation at any cost even its the interests of USA devoted allies including my country - Israel request it ! So indirectly the USA found itself on the side of Chinese aggressors endangering Taiwan's independence.
Inconceivable !
Peter Rotberg
Liberty Defender.

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Black Knight • Jul 28, 2022 at 23:01

This whole thing looks like a giant Kabuki dance. Lots of threats and posturing.
Pelosi should go ahead with her trip. As nasty as she is, she has some spine which cannot be said of the feckless Biden and his handlers. Having a U.S. and Taiwanese fighter escort for her plane would be a strong statement on our part. The only negative that can be foreseen is, after all this saber rattling by China about the visit; if they do nothing, they will lose face. And that is something that Xi cannot afford to have happened. Stay tuned.

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Art • Jul 28, 2022 at 14:38

Nancy Pelosi has a problem. Like most Democrats she is most likely heavily invested in China. In addition there is 43 years of putting PRC ahead of Taiwan after Jimmy Carter changed the One China policy from Taiwan to PRC and China became a favored trading partner under the Clintons.
Regardless, there is a buttload of Democrats invested heavily in PRC and Taiwan might find themselves in the same position as the Republic of Viet Nam in 1973.

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af • Jul 28, 2022 at 12:30

If Biden were Trump, and Donald Jr. were Hunter, Trump would have been impeached about four times.

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IrishLeprechan • Jul 28, 2022 at 11:26

DEMOCRATS should impeach Biden!
Avoid the wait until after 2022 election.

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surdey germain

IrishLeprechan • Jul 29, 2022 at 02:30

And have his vice-president become President ? NEVER !

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IrishLeprechan

surdey germain • Jul 31, 2022 at 00:09

Sadly, for more than last few administrations, vice-presidents are picked more as matter of insurance against assassination and impeachment than what is best for American citizens/country.

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Peter Rotberg

IrishLeprechan • Jul 31, 2022 at 10:49

It's hardly conceivable and unprecedented that Democrats would impeach their own President. The long list of "indictments" cases of strategic, security and lately also financial the Current Administration caused to the USA and its devoted allies including my country Israel is the subject of starting impeachment procedures on the part of Republicans. May the Lord save America and make in Great Again.
Peter Rotberg. Alarm Bells Ringer.

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surdey germain

IrishLeprechan • Jul 31, 2022 at 19:18

Ha! in plain English that means they are all incompetent ? I think you are right. And you have an ex Vice-President who became (by stealing his election ) your President ! and as INCOMPETENCE goes I think he is the real proof of what you said.

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Peter Rotberg

surdey germain • Aug 2, 2022 at 04:21

Be Gentleman with Gentlemen and call crooks and fraudulent politicians the way it fits them the Jugement will unavoidably come. Everything has its time and its season. PR.

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surdey germain

Peter Rotberg • Aug 2, 2022 at 13:36

Mr Rotberg. Shalom. You are quite right. I ususlly call a cat A CAT and a CROOK a CROOK.
However, sometimes we have to take care if we don't want to be censured or impeached !!

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Oluwole • Jul 28, 2022 at 10:15

Against the known fact of the urgency accorded the U.S.-China Anchorage meeting and National Security Council coordinator's yesterday statement that '"There is an awful lot in bilateral relationship.... "' my short answer to the question posed in the title of this article is that the administration is "running with hare and hunting with hounds". This is Jake Sullivan's "strategic ambiguity". What is this?

I find it unnecessary to go into the nitty-gritty of the issues involved in Pelosi purposefully searching for (their needed) war after Afghanistan and Ukraine. But I have to say that China's threat is a page from the administration's domestic policy of silencing Americans into "quite submission" in blatant abuse of their rights.

Just one point: did Taiwan invite Pelosi or she is representing U.S. in the coming Garuda Shield (exercise)? Oh, she takes it on herself to counter Biden's earlier denial of going to war for Taiwan! Not a timely way to show American strength to even the Quad!!

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Erica Ling • Jul 28, 2022 at 09:57

Depends on what those resolute and strong measures are. If Xi withholds Joe Biden's 10 % of the money they pay Hunter Biden as their agent and conduit to America's government, then their tool may well crumble/back off/leave Taiwan to its fate.
Strange how it took a Clinton/CIA plot to link Trump to Russian collusion, yet the overt, flaunted connections between China and the Biden mafia family draw no criticism. What an openly corrupt country America has become. No longer the shining city on the hill, but the stinking sewer in the Capitol.

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CR • Jul 28, 2022 at 07:33

"Whose Side Is the Administration On?"

Whichever one keeps Hunter's hos and blow in good supply.

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Ruckweiler • Jul 28, 2022 at 07:05

If she goes someone needs to put a muzzle on her. Considering all the inane comments she makes here one can only imagine the potential for, shall we say, misunderstanding?

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Linda Goudsmit • Jul 28, 2022 at 06:20

The question is, "How far will the Biden regime go to protect the Bidens, Pelosis, Obamas, Clintons, McConnells, Graham, et al and hide their staggering political malfeasance and corruption with the Chinese communist CCP?"

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I, Grampa • Jul 28, 2022 at 06:01

A long way to go for a photo shoot. I would like to see the comments about her in their personal logs. They tolerate her because they are a polite society. Also a diplomat from a foreign country. Forced polite but polite.
------------- I, Grampa

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Solomon • Jul 28, 2022 at 05:57

Obama has reason to harm the USA. He owes Islam the advancement of its agenda. A 12 year old in Indonesia had dreams and got to a position where he could deliver wherever he could
Diminish America, bring on Morsi, help ISIS the jr varsity, empower the Mullahs of Iran, surrender to the Taliban. What did he do for America? Directing his 3rd term from his basement?. He saw his VP sell out to China,and looked the other way. Why can't
treason be recognised as treason? Would you rather beat your breasts when you leave it too late? I pray not.

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David

Solomon • Jul 28, 2022 at 17:41

It's High time to let the treason trials begin!

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Phillip Irving Rosslee • Jul 28, 2022 at 05:50

Anyone with half a brain can tell you which side Biden's Democrats and a number of Rino Republicans are on: they all support the CCP with their Marxist and Mao political views. They also support massive immigration from every third world dictatorship and countries with large populations because they hate the West.

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