persistent corruption; oppression of ethnic and religious minorities; daunting expenses incurred in monitoring, censoring, and indoctrinating 1.4 billion people in China; separation of the military, which is controlled by the party, from the people; and — particularly in the wake of the illness, death, and social and economic devastation wrought worldwide by the COVID-19 pandemic born in Wuhan — mounting international anger at the CCP’s contempt for human life, indifference to other nations’ well-being, and disregard for international norms and obligations.
Meeting the China challenge requires the United States to return to the fundamentals….
Well, good luck with that.
South Korea's Chosun Ilbo, meanwhile, has picked out some notable points:
The U.S. State Department in a recent report published Tuesday accuses China of continuing to enable North Korea's nuclear arms development despite international sanctions.
The report, titled "The Elements of the China Challenge," warns, "While China has voted for all ten rounds of United Nations sanctions against North Korea, Beijing has watered down each resolution."
It "continues to aid the dictatorial regime in Pyongyang through the provision of food, oil and investment," it adds. "By reducing pressure on North Korea, China's uneven enforcement of the sanctions regime has enabled Pyongyang to develop its nuclear weapons program."
The report claims China has also helped, or connived with, Iran and Syria to develop weapons of mass destruction and missiles. "Despite Chinese commitments, Iran, North Korea and Syria continue to obtain [weapons of mass destruction] material and technology from Chinese entities while using Chinese territory as a transshipment point."
The report, which paints a gloomy picture of China's ambitions with a view to encouraging greater U.S. interventionism in Asia, says Beijing's ultimate goal is to "rule the world 'under heaven' through its uniquely refined culture and institutions." It insists, "In the face of the China challenge, the United States must secure freedom."
The United States is having enough trouble securing itself a new president, and even then I'm not convinced the 77-year-old Biden (sorry – 78 today) is the man for the job, but yes, absolutely…
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