China--"Not A Threat At This Time?"

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is on his way to the Peoples' Republic of China. As ever he is diplomatic, averring that China is not yet a "threat" to the United States. Presumably he spoke with respect to direct military confrontation only.

Why the limitation?

Because China is, has been, and will continue to be a direct threat to US interests generally. In time it will become a greater direct military threat to us as well.

The Chinese regime has shown a limited capacity and willingness to work alongside the United States as in the recent successful negotiations with North Korea. Chinese national interests were directly involved as were those of the other states engaged in the lengthy process with the rogue Korean regime.

In other situations where the physical interests of China are not directly, substantially, and materially involved, China has proven itself to be an obstacle to multi-lateral diplomatic efforts. The most blatant example of this is the Iranian nuclear matter. China (along with Russia) came to the recently concluded London meetings of the P5+1 without any apparent sense of urgency and without any real preparation as to the time line for the third round of sanctions.

In a closely related matter, the Chinese government is selling J-10 fighter-bombers to Iran. These aircraft are the state of the Chinese art. This continues the fine record established many years ago by Beijing as a willing supplier of more-or-less advanced weaponry to international troublemakers.

Of course it helps that Iran has lots of oil for sale and the PRC needs lots of oil--preferably cheap. Domestic demand for petroleum products is growing even faster than Chinese predictions.

China has not been noteworthy for its stance on Burma. While there is no probability that the Chinese are in the running for the Global Human Rights Award, it might still be in Beijing's interest to show a modicum of support for international efforts to reform the Burmese junta's behavior. The Chinese have the economic leverage. The government simply has chosen not to use it.

(The Indian government also has the leverage and has also refrained from using it.)

Even in Northeast Africa where the Chinese also have significant economic leverage, Beijing has shown no willingness whatsoever to cooperate with international efforts in Sudan.

Do we see a pattern here?

The Peoples' Republic of China is not simply nor solely a threat to US diplomatic interests and efforts. No. It's not that simple. The PRC is a threat to international efforts generally. Efforts jointly undertaken by countries with diverse national interests. Efforts undertaken by governments that do not agree in whole or perhaps even in part with the stance(s) of our current administration.

International collaboration on humanitarian, human rights, and nuclear non-proliferation are driven not simply by subjective, self-defined national interest but by a realization that some matters are of such import that mere national considerations must be placed at least temporarily to one side.

The Chinese regime is unwilling to do this. It is unwilling to work effectively with multi-lateral efforts unless direct national interest is at risk.

In this as in the PRC's cavalier attitude toward such matters as export safety, or transparency in military spending, research, and development, Beijing has shown itself an international delinquent. That alone is enough to make them a threat to us--and others.

Then there are some other little matters---

Chinese espionage and cybernage directed against multiple targets both military and industrial here in the US as well as within other countries. The Geek is perfectly well aware that all countries possessing the capability for spying do so. On everybody they can. The status of ally or enemy is not so much a hindrance as an inducement.

The Chinese seem to have been going over the edge in the practice however. Even compared to their nearest rivals in the Great Global Spook Derby, the Russians. Come on, guys! Really, New Zealand? Was that really, really necessary?

How about the Chinese space program? Sure, everyone is talking space now. Even some countries in Africa which should be far more concerned about how they are going to feed their (rapidly expanding) population are bidding to become "Mission Control" of the continent.

The Chinese are serious. And, seriously capable. The technology is readily available to support even their announced, expansive idea of establishing a moon base in the next couple of decades. All it takes is time and money. Beijing has both.

Space programs are inherently military even when run by a civilian agency. All space related technology has immediate, easy direct transferability to military usages. In a real sense, the Chinese efforts in rocketry and space science are a ramp-up of the country's capacity as a military threat.

China may not be a direct military threat to the US right now, today. But the clock is ticking. And, it is not ticking in our favor.

Get a grip on this before you buy the next "Made in China" product.

All sales of such goods helps the Chinese government. Every time we shop at Walmart or a similarly bottom line driven "corporate citizen," our money is helping an international delinquent which has already threatened US national interests. A country so propelled by subjective, self-defined national interests that it is unwilling to collaborate in well-intended, widely supported multilateral measures.

Every dollar flowing to China helps this massive bad boy of the globe develop greater financial muscle to support its pursuit of its national interest.

Remember what Lenin said?

"The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."

These are words the Chinese government lives by today. Why help them hang us?