The threat of China – real or a boogey man?

China has been an enemy of the FedGov – and actually, almost all Americans – for a long time. For a while, the States were lumped together with Britain and the nasty nature of the Opium Wars and the UK’s imperial ambitions in China and of course, Southeast Asia. But the real kicker was FDR’s support of the ROC in both the Great Asian War against Japan and then Truman’s support of the ROC against Mao and the Communists.

Today, the Military-Industrial Complex touts China as THE enemy – the one that requires us to spend more and more billions, maintain and establish more and more alliances, and take more and more actions both at home and internationally. We are surprised that few people in politics at home have not complained that The Donald has only initiated a 10% tariff on enemy China, unlike the 25% on allies Mexico and Canada.

The entire Panamanian adventure is based on Chinese influence and investment in Panama (and many other Latin American countries): high fees and other issues are just peripheral.

China today is both The Red Menace and The Yellow Menace. But is it really a menace?

A lot of people are worried about all of China’s investments in Latin America. And for that matter, in the States: from land purchases to TikTok. Now, we understand that it might be seen as a little scary. But we need to put these actions into the proper context. Especially the broad context of China’s circumstances.

Like Russia, China is in terminal decline. Its population is aging: worse, its resources are dwindling.(Whatever they boast about.) And more options to the world buying their resources and their products are popping up all the time. So, they are trying hard to sidestep and fix those things. But they are not causes: they are symptoms. We believe, together with observers like Peter Ziehen, that they are not going to succeed.

One big reason is the fundamental Chinese philosophy and character: their cultural arrogance and the nature of their authoritarian society. But that is coupled with the severe handicap of a Marxist worldview – a worldview that leads to very poor decisions. As it has in every society that has adopted those ideas: not just the Soviet Union and Cuba and various places in Europe and Africa (and Latin America) in the past. But today: the European Union, Venezuela, even Canada.

Because of these fundamental flaws, China is not going to be able to sustain the Latin American investments long-term. Or the investments in Africa and the Pacific and South Asia. Much less their investments and cooperation with Russia, another proto-basket case.

And the US really doesn’t have to do anything hard to see that happen, and take advantage of it. Despite our abandonment of many fundamentals of American foreign policy. IF we don’t mess it up and refuse to recognize the nature of China’s economy and polity and society. We don’t have to hypocritically try to invoke the Monroe Doctrine, or keep playing world policeman. We don’t even need to bolster and enforce the Freedom of the Seas. We just need to keep from panicking and freaking out!

Places in Latin America (like Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, and even Panama) are getting a sweet deal from China. Why? Because the Chinese Communists and their Sino-Marxist mindset, oddly enough, are subsidizing future industrialization of Latin America.

And who else is going to benefit? First, the Fifty States. Why? Because we are partners to many of these countries. Sometimes it is a love-hate relationship, but it is real. And the more the US retreats from being the world’s policeman and gives up meddling in Eurasia and Africa, the better partners we become to the Hispanic nations – but especially the people and businesses – of Latin America.

So let China spend their limited resources (and time) in Latin America and even in the Caribbean and Mesoamerica specifically. All the Communist (totalitarian and authoritarian) leaders of China are doing is creating the foundation of a brighter future in a region that Americans are closely aligned with. Why should we stop them? And why should we play Cold War games of competing with the Chinese in payoffs and aid and boasting in that region (or any other)?

All we need to do is keep an eye on what military and political meddling Peking tries to do here in the States. And perhaps enable and encourage our friends (such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Republics of Korea and Taiwan) to also keep an eye out and defend themselves against the dying spasms of a dying empire.

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