While the U.S. is busy monitoring the Russian war in Ukraine, trying to broker talks in the Israel-Hamas war, and fending off attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Middle East, perhaps the biggest threat on the world stage is quietly building strength. China is reporting another 7.2% boost in its military budget this year, continuing a trend that has seen the communist nation more than double its military spending since Xi Jinping took office 11 year ago. And they're not exactly using surplus money. "China's military spending is growing much faster than the Chinese economy," says Gordon Chang, author and China expert. "So they're spending money they don't have."
All the more concerning is this sharp increase in Chinese military spending comes amidst rising tensions with the U.S. The Chinese spy balloon that floated over the U.S. for several days last year, along with continued purchases of U.S. farmland, and recent reports of possible Chinese spying at U.S. ports are all signs that China could be gearing up for war. Chang says there is no 'could' about it. "In 2019, the most influential publication in China declared a People's War on America," he tells KTRH. "People's War is a critical phrase in Communist Party lingo, and it means total war."
"They talk about war all the time in China," Chang continues. "We think we're at peace, but we're not...because the Chinese do intend to go into battle, and they're preparing to do so at a fast rate."
The U.S., on the other hand, continues putting out vague statements calling for more transparency from the Chinese. Chang warns our leaders must toughen up and do more to prepare. "We have not taken the threat from China seriously enough," he says. "We have not listened to what the Chinese have said about us, and what they've said about war."
"This is just like the 1990s, where we Americans thought we could ignore Osama Bin Laden," he continues. "But China is so much more powerful than al Qaeda ever was or could be."
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