On October 4, 2018, Vice President Pence made an important speech declaring, what it amounted to, a declaration of a “Cold War.” Among the many reasons Pence cited as the reason, is that China is choosing economic aggression, even interfering in the 2018 election process.
You might ask: What is the real reason for this drastic policy shift?
1. China’s economy still is growing at a 6.6 percent rate per year. Its current GDP of 12.3 trillion dollars (still only 63 percent of the U.S. GDP) will surpass that of the U.S. within 15 years, allowing for the current growth rates. China’s military might will increase accordingly.
2. We are rapidly loosening potential allies in Asia. India now buys advanced anti-aircraft rockets from Russia. Indonesia, rather than confronting China about their islands in the South China Sea, has decided instead to share with China any oil or gas finds in the disputed area. Other rim countries such as Pakistan are more and more dependent on China financially and economically due to the “Belt and Road” initiative. Even Japan, after years of bashing Japan due to the World War II invasion, new friendships are declared by the Chinese media and a new friendship and economic co-operation agreement has recently been signed between both countries.
In addition, we lost Russia as a potential ally against China due to the ridiculous Russia bashing instigated as a weapon against President Trump by the “Deep State.”
3. China makes rapid strides in outer space, posing a direct challenge to our satellites and communication systems.
4. One may also ask. What is going to happen to our almighty petro-dollar? Since last year, China buys all oil by paying with their own currency, instead of with U.S. dollars. Such customs might spread, since we will see other countries which will pay Iran, for example, with other currencies due to the U.S. sanctions.
Will there be a shooting war? Likely not, a land war with China is un-winnable. There might be 100 million Chinese casualties yet, that is only 8 percent of their population. The other problem is, as the Pentagon only recently discovered; our armed forces depend too much on critical electronics and rare metals from China, to name a few items, allowing only for a war of short duration. Even Apple’s smart phones are either made in China, or depend 95 percent on Chinese parts.
Rather than a shooting war, what we might see are “Proxy Wars,” such as the 1950’s Korean War, and a sharp intensification of the present economic and political warfare with China.
Hans Baumann is a licensed engineer in four states and a member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. He is an adviser to the dean of the University of New Hampshire Business School. Dr. Baumann has published manuals on valves and was a contributor to many works including the "Instrument Engineers' Handbook" and the "Control Valves Handbook." He has also published several books on business management and German history, including "Hitler's Escape," which suggests that Adolf Hitler did not commit suicide and survived World War II. In his latest book, "Atomic Irony" he proves that the Hirshoma Atom Bomb contained captured German Uranium. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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