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(Daily Signal)—When President Joe Biden steps down in January, he’ll hand his successor a world far more dangerous than the one he inherited four years ago. Under his watch, the U.S. returned Afghanistan to the barbarous Taliban and watched wars break out in Europe and the Middle East. But when all is said and done, history may judge Biden most harshly for his failure to hold Beijing to account for its aggression in the South China Sea. If not reversed, this appeasement could invite a war even more horrific than the ones currently underway.
Last month, the Philippines—an ally with whom America has a defense treaty and security commitment—was forced to withdraw a coast guard vessel it had anchored at Sabina Shoal, an atoll well within its exclusive economic zone that China claims as its own. Beijing besieged the shoal to block Manila from resupplying the ship it had placed there to prevent a Chinese takeover. With the ship badly damaged by the ramming it endured, and some of its crew members in need of medical attention, Manila had little choice but to abandon the shoal, which is now vulnerable to Chinese occupation.
The saga over Sabina Shoal came on the heels of a nearly yearlong standoff over the Philippines’ efforts to resupply personnel stationed on a crumbling World War II-era vessel beached on Second Thomas Shoal. That standoff ended after the two sides entered a “provisional agreement” that enabled the Philippines to resupply the ship.
That Beijing should dictate how Manila can operate within its own exclusive economic zone is outrageous. That the U.S. didn’t come to its ally’s defense as Chinese ships rammed holes into Philippine vessels is unconscionable.
During the height of the drama over Second Thomas Shoal, Biden reiterated that if Beijing crossed the threshold into armed conflict, America would come to Manila’s defense. It was an important reminder of Washington’s commitment, but such statements are the equivalent of giving China a green light to continue engaging in activities short of open warfare.
Biden should have known better after what he experienced as President Barack Obama’s vice president. In 2012, the Obama administration watched China illegally seize Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines. The next year, Beijing started building artificial islands to fortify its claims over several other rocks and underwater shoals in the contested Spratly Islands, sending the entire region in an uproar.
Obama protested to no avail, then warned Beijing not to militarize the islands, which it proceeded to do with no consequences.
The fact that China and the Philippines aren’t shooting at each other might partially explain the administration’s false sense of security. But Beijing’s incursions are part of a sophisticated strategy of gray zone warfare designed to extract concessions without the costs and risks associated with war. If they are allowed to continue, the best-case scenario will be that Beijing gradually occupies much of the territory it claims in the South China Sea without firing a shot, strengthening its position in one of the world’s most strategic waterways and making the region far more dangerous for the U.S. and its allies.
Even more worrying is the ever-present risk of war resulting from these incursions. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has publicly warned that any Filipino death resulting from China’s actions would be “very close to what we define as an act of war.” There have been a frightening number of encounters over the past year that could have easily led to such an outcome. Indeed, the transition from gray zone incursions to all-out war appears to be just one miscalculation away, and if that happens, the U.S. will find itself in a hot war with its most capable adversary. More must be done to ensure this outcome never occurs.
To preserve peace, the next U.S. president will need to abandon Biden’s timidity and actively push China back from the precipice of war. This will require intense diplomacy of the sort rarely seen since the end of the Cold War. It will be unpleasant, but that’s the nature of the brinkmanship Beijing is engaged in.
It may also require physically intervening to call China’s bluff and force it to stand down. For example, the U.S. should strongly consider sending Coast Guard or Navy vessels to accompany Philippine resupply missions or to escort a Philippine ship to replace the vessel that withdrew from Sabina Shoal last month.
Such actions would not be overly provocative, provided they are carried out in a professional manner that is designed not to needlessly humiliate Beijing, but they would give China a powerful ultimatum—pick a fight with the U.S. or back down. Beijing would choose the latter; the last thing it wants is to overplay its hand and end up in a war with the U.S.
China is engaged in a high-stakes game of chicken in which the side that flinches first loses. This works to its advantage when it goes head-to-head against the Philippines, but with the U.S. firmly on its ally’s side and willing to mobilize to show its support, the tables will turn and China will be forced to back down. But it won’t do so until it’s sure the United States is serious.
Mysterious “Skyquakes” Are Causing Strange “Booms” in the Sky, and Scientists Have No Explanation
by Michael Snyder
(End of the American Dream)—What is causing the extremely loud “booms” that people are hearing in the sky all over the world? We are being told that “skyquakes” are responsible, but scientists have no idea why these “skyquakes” are occurring. In some cases, the “skyquakes” cause such powerful shaking that…
The Biggest Sale on Long-Term Storage Beef EVER
by Sponsored Post
Let’s cut to the chase. Prepper All-Naturals is offering an unprecedented 40% off for it’s “Beef Steak” survival bags with promo code “steak40”. With a 25-year shelf life and a single ingredient (beef, of course), our most popular product is available for a very limited time with the biggest discount…
Seattle Is Ordered to Stop Blocking Illegal Alien Deportations in the Most Hilarious Court Decision Ever
by PJ Media
A federal court has just pooped in the oatmeal of the West Coast, Messed Coast™governors and local election officials suffering from acute cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome who think they can stop illegal alien deportations. And after this hilarious and thorough legal takedown from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,…
Illegal Alien Terror Suspect Found Dead in Cook County Jail Cell
by Slay News
An Islamic illegal alien has been found dead in his jail cell after being arrested on terrorism charges. According to CWBChicago, 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi was found dead at the Cook County jail in Illinois on Saturday. Abdallahi was arrested on felony terrorism and hate crime charges in October. He…
Trump’s Wild Bunch Is Ready for Action
by Frank Miele
If for no other reason than that it will elicit fear in the hearts of autocracy-phobics, I propose that Donald Trump’s second-term Cabinet be known as “The Wild Bunch.” The name is best known as the title of Sam Peckinpah’s classic 1969 western featuring a colorful cast of aging outlaws…
FAA Issues Flight Restrictions Over Questionable Drone Activity Near Trump’s Bedminster Golf Course
by Just The News
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday said that it has issued two flight restrictions on the area surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, following questionable drone activity. The drone sightings were first reported on Nov. 18, but have continued into this week, according to Fox…
Ex-FBI Agent Convicted for Stealing From Jan 6 Defendant During Raid
by Trending Politics
A former Houston-based FBI agent has been convicted of stealing valuables and cash while conducting searches. In one instance, the agent stole cash and silver bars from a non-violent January 6 defendant’s home. Nicholas Anthony Williams, 36, was indicted on January 31 in the Southern District of Texas. Williams, who…
Democrats, Media Elite Urge Biden to Pardon Trump’s Alleged ‘Enemies List’
by Breitbart
President Joe Biden should issue preemptive pardons to his political allies and those deemed to be on President-elect Donald Trump’s alleged “enemies list,” Democrats and their media allies believe. Delivering a preemptive pardon indicates an admission of guilt, although Democrats claim a preemptive pardon would only be intended to block…
Fani Willis Forced to Release All Communications With Jack Smith, J6 Committee
by Trending Politics
The Fulton County Superior Court has ruled against District Attorney Fani Willis, ordering her to disclose communications with Special Counsel Jack Smith and the House January 6 Committee. The decision, announced on Tuesday, follows a lawsuit brought by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, which accused Willis of violating Georgia’s…
Lindsey Graham Is the Warmongering NeoCon Leading the Charge to Upend Pete Hegseth
by JD Rucker
Pete Hegseth represents a shift away from the wokeness that has infected the United States military. This is possibly the biggest reason President-Elect Donald Trump tapped him to be the next Secretary of Defense and the vast majority of Republicans on Capitol Hill can support this, at least for the…
‘Where Are Black Democrats?’: Charles Payne Tells Personal Story to Call Out ‘Huge Double Standard’ of Biden Family
by Nicole Silverio, DCNF
(DCNF)—Fox Business host Charles Payne called out the alleged “huge double standard” of President Joe Biden’s family Tuesday by revealing that his brother, who struggles with a crack addiction, is currently serving a jail sentence. Payne said his brother, who is getting out of jail on Friday, is likely one…
Zelensky Admits Ukraine Can’t Retake All Its Land: ‘We Must Seek Diplomatic Means’
by Breitbart
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky conceded in an interview on Tuesday that Ukraine does not have “enough forces” to restore sovereignty over Russian-occupied Crimea and “must seek diplomatic means” to end the Russian invasion and regain its land. The state-run Ukrinform outlet reported that Zelensky described Crimea – which Russia colonized…
Ultra-Processed Foods: How Bad Are They for Your Health?
by Olivia Cook
(Natural News)—Despite the serious health risks associated with eating junk food, they remain the most consumed food products in many countries, particularly developed ones. But a review published in The BMJ, which studied 9.8 million people, warns that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods can increase your risk for 32 diseases. Among these are heart…
“Already Pretty Far Down the Line”: The Container Store Could File for Bankruptcy as Soon as Next Year
by Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
(Zero Hedge)—As the retail apocalypse that started with Amazon and e-commerce continues, the latest victim is The Container Store. The retail giant could file for bankruptcy as soon as next year, according to the New York Post, who said the retailer is blaming its recent descent on “a weak housing…
Mysterious ‘Car-Sized Drones’ Over New Jersey Prompt FBI Investigation
by Zero Hedge
Several weeks of mysterious drone swarms over the skies of one New Jersey county near the military research and manufacturing facility Picatinny Arsenal have sparked concerns among residents and prompted an FBI investigation. “It’s kind of unsettling,” Mike Walsh, a Morris County resident who has spotted the drones on numerous…
UNESCO’s New Mission: Train Influencers About Combatting Online “Misinformation”
by Reclaim the Net
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is now incorporating teaching influencers how to “fact check” into its activities. UNESCO claims that influencers have become “primary sources of news and cultural information” around the world – which prompted it to carry out a survey into how these online personalities…
