By Signaling that they are willing to up the ante, China joined Russia in sending a military force near the American border earlier in the week. The action that took place in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands sparked a heated political debate in Alaska and prompted the U.S. military to take action. This event is believed to mark the start of a new era of confrontations, as China continues to pursue its global ambitions.
The U.S. Navy sent destroyers to the coast of Alaska last week after 11 Russian and Chinese warships were spotted patrolling nearby international waters, reports CBS News.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska, called the size of the Chinese and Russian joint operation “unprecedented” and said the U.S. deployed four Navy destroyer ships near the Aleutian Islands in response.
The destroyers were the USS John McCain, USS Benfold, USS John Finn and USS Chung-Hoon. U.S. aircraft were also in the area throughout the combined exercise, which the U.S. had been tracking since it began in July, according to U.S. officials. U.S. Coast Guard ships are also always in the area.
U.S. Northern Command said the Chinese and Russian patrol remained in international waters and wasn’t considered a threat. But the show of force is a reminder of the cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries – and of how close the countries are to Alaska.
“It is a historical first,” said Brent Sadler, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a retired Navy captain. “Given the context of the war in Ukraine and tensions around Taiwan, this move is highly provocative.”
Alaska’s two Republican senators laid into Biden for his weakness, which has put the United States on its back heel. “The incursion by 11 Chinese and Russian warships operating together – off the coast of Alaska – is yet another reminder that we have entered a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow,” said Senator Sullivan. “In recognition of this reality and our state’s unrivaled strategic location, for years, I’ve been pressing the Navy and each successive administration to commit to a greater Naval, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps presence in Alaska, more Arctic-capable vessels, and more infrastructure to host these assets, like the deep-water port of Nome.
“Last summer the Chinese and Russian navies conducted a similar operation off the coast of Alaska. Given that our response was tepid, I strongly encouraged senior military leaders to be ready with a much more robust response should such another joint Chinese/Russian naval operation occur off our coast. For that reason, I was heartened to see that this latest incursion was met with four U.S. Navy destroyers, which sends a strong message to Xi Jinping and Putin that the United States will not hesitate to protect and defend our vital national interests in Alaska.”
“Adm. John Aquilino, who leads U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Asia Pacific, said last month that the U.S. had already begun watching the current Russian and Chinese patrol and was trying to determine whether they were headed to the Aleutian Islands, Philippine Sea, Guam or Hawaii,” reported The Wall Street Journal.
“Joint Russian and Chinese “exercises have increased, their operations have increased. I only see the cooperation getting stronger, and boy that’s concerning. That’s a dangerous world,” Aquilino said last month while speaking at the Aspen Security Forum.
While the Pentagon’s latest defense strategy casts China as the principal long-term threat to the U.S. it also describes Russia as an “acute threat” to Washington and its allies.”
President Biden has routinely shown deference to China’s more aggressive posture. Earlier in the week it was reported that Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm met with China shortly before the Biden Administration sold them oil from America’s Strategic Reserve.
The Biden Family has been accused of taking millions of dollars from Chinese-affiliated companies. The president’s son, Hunter Biden, also allegedly provided information from a “mole” in the FBI.
Investigators also revealed that Hunter Biden said the Biden Family was compliant to the Chinese.
In conversations with a Chinese business official, Hunter said, “We are all saying the same thing I hope. Please let’s put this to bed tonight sign officially tomorrow (or anytime as late tonight as you want) and get to work. I am tired of this Kevin. I can make $5M in salary at any law firm in America. If you think this is about the money it’s not. The Bidens are the best I know at doing exactly what the Chairman wants from this partnership. Please let’s not quibble over peanuts.”
The question remains: if Hunter wasn’t doing it for the money, then what was he doing it for? And does that have any connection to the White House’s current stance toward the communist country?
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