Mike Pence Calls Out 'The Greatest Economic And Strategic Threat Facing’ The U.S.
Former Vice President Mike Pence sees China as the major threat to the United States in the 21st century, according to remarks he made during a Sunday interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.
“China is the greatest economic and strategic threat facing the United States in the 21st century,” Pence said on the “State of the Union.”
Pence was responding to former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s recent comments that she believes China is an enemy of the US. He added that he was “proud to lead during our administration on changing our national policy toward China” and that he had given a speech about it five years ago at the Hudson Institute.
According to Pence, the US sent a message to China after years of trade abuses, intellectual property theft, military provocations, and human rights abuses that enough was enough. Under the Trump administration, $250 billion in tariffs were imposed on China.
However, Pence noted that the Biden administration has yet to undo those tariffs, and said that America should be putting more pressure on China given its increasingly aggressive behavior. He concluded that when he’s president, the US will “meet this moment with American strength,” and limit China’s access to the US economy until the Communist country starts following international trade rules. He also proposed building a 355-ship Navy to “eclipse the Chinese navy in the Asia-Pacific,” as well as hope that strength will bring peace and prosperity.
Pence’s comments come amid a growing diplomatic and military rivalry between the United States and China, including battles against each country over the South China Sea, as well as the rapid development of China’s military and economic strength.
The United States isn’t the only country looking to increase its defense presence against China’s growing aggressiveness. Neighboring countries such as India and Japan have also increased defense spending and forged new alliances in hopes of countering the communist superpower’s growing influence.
“The Asia-Pacific region is not a place for China to dominate,” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said during a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday. “The only way to deal with China is as a concert of democracies.”
The United States will have to continue to strengthen its alliances and impose economic policies that will send a strong message to China that while international trade and diplomacy are beneficial, the U.S. will not accept aggressive actions or transgressions against its interests and those of its allies.