China’s push continues; every week brings new global news
As is becoming the norm, China has moved aggressively in its region, and beyond, and examples abound and are increasing weekly.
Taiwan “deployed military fighter jets, naval vessels, and missile systems after it detected 24 Chinese warplanes, 10 of which it said crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait” in a statement attributed to the its Ministry of National Defense in June 2023.
According to a tweet by the ministry, the Chinese aircraft included “J-10, J-11, SU-30, H-6, and AWACS,” fighters, bombers and air warning and control planes.
According to the Biden administration, China has established an intelligence listening post in Cuba. It is not clear when this happened, but it is likely the U.S. intelligence community has known of this facility for some time.
For its part, the administration has limited its comments on the subject, saying only that the administration is “concerned.”
Such facilities are not rare in intelligence activities, but it is part of an overall effort by the Chinese to expand well beyond their own region to exploit nations to assist in their intelligence collection activities.
Understanding that many western nations and the nations of Asia, particularly in the Pacific, see China’s aggressive moves for what they are – an attempt at gaining not just a competitive edge but dominance – China’x Xi is now warning people in his nation to “prepare for what he described as extreme scenarios or conditions.” Such comments, obviously in reference to the U.S., imply possible military action.
Simultaneously, China’s ambassador to the U.S., Liu Pengyu, is encouraging relations with the U.S. to “move forward on the right course without losing direction or speed, still less having a collision.” His comments are designed for a western audience, typical communications that are inconsistent and deliberately vague.
China is making inroads to Central America, with the beginning of trade talks with Honduras.
According to Chinese President Xi Jinping the talks will take place “as soon as possible.” Honduras’ President Xiomara Castro cut “ties with Taiwan” and established diplomatic relations with China.
It is also clear the Chinese will involve their businesses with Honduras in “trade, investment, infrastructure, telecommunication, energy, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges,” according to the Chinese state-run CCTV.
From reduction of liberties in Hong Kong, to pressing Taiwan, to social media, to the invention of social credits meant to control the population, the Chinese people are likely as repressed as during the terroristic reign of Mao Zedong.
The West thought, wrongly as it turns out, that an increasingly capitalist China would pave the way for social changes and possibly increased freedom. Exactly the opposite has occurred. With business leaders and innovators interacting with international partners, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has moved to limit social freedoms and interactions.
The CCP still fears its own people more than any foreign adversary. Xi “believes in authoritarian rule and is convinced that it is a superior form of government to democracy.” He will shut off as much liberty and political freedom as is necessary to hold and increase power.
James Hutton is a former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army. Follow him on Twitter @jehutton
Just saw a great news article on all of Chinas spying on the US - especially from Cuba. Its going to get crazy!
Another great informative post, thank you for the info. DGC