As Kaplan&I noted in our @ForeignAffairs piece: "ideology does not lie at the root of the matter between the United States and China—even if elements in China’s Marxist-Leninist elite think it does." What does USA want? Open access to Asia for its prosperity, freedom, security.1/
Whether China is run by CCP or not or whether countries in SE Asia are democratic or authoritarian may factor in to how competition goes, but they aren't fundamental from Americans' perspective. Critical to distinguish this. 2/
To give an analogy (h/t @MichaelSinghDC), the fact that elements of Iran's leadership may see dynamic w US in religious terms doesn't mean we should. More provocatively, the same hold would hold true of AQ or ISIS. We don't want terrorist attacks. We need to understand how AQ 3/
and ISIS think (which means paying attention to their religion & ideology), but it's not about religion for us. 4/
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I wasn't referring so much to your influence on the @POTUS administration as to your track record in assessing the war. I happily invite comparisons to my own.
It's essential to understand that @POTUS @VP administration is leaving a *terrible situation* for @realDonaldTrump @JDVance.
Senior NSC official: "They’re in a very difficult, extremely difficult situation with Russia, in egregious ways, continuing to escalate this conflict." 1/
"Unfortunately, that is part and parcel of what we have seen throughout this time, which is Russia’s willingness to continue to up the ante."
So the battlefield situation is "extremely difficult" and Russia is willing to escalate. Terrible. 2/
The U.S. intelligence assessment according to @nytimes:
U.S. "officials have concluded that the war in Ukraine is no longer a stalemate as Russia makes steady gains, and the sense of pessimism in Kyiv and Washington is deepening." 3/
It’s no wonder @VP & Liz Cheney are aligning against @realdonaldtrump.
More than anyone, he is taking on the uber-hawks in D.C. He’s made an essential effort and it’s taken exceptional vision and steadfastness on his part.
It’s a key reason why electing him is so vital. 1/
I vividly recall in 2016 when @realDonaldTrump was the first Republican leader to say publicly that the Iraq War was a huge mistake.
Everyone basically already knew that. But no other GOP leader had the courage to say it. He did. 2/
@realDonaldTrump An old expression goes: You can judge a man by his enemies. By this standard, President Trump comes out shining. 3/
"China thinks it will be able to invade Taiwan by 2027 and has developed a technology edge in many key areas—but it is artificial intelligence that may be the decisive factor should conflict erupt, Kendall said Oct. 29." 1/
Kendall: “They’re working very hard to meet that goal. I have no idea what Xi Jinping will do in 2027, but I am pretty sure that his military will tell him they’re ready, and we’ll be in a period of much greater risk.” 2/
"The Chinese invested in advanced tech—and stole U.S. intellectual property. As a result, Kendall said, they now have an advantage in cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons and are working to build one with targeting satellites and advanced, automated battle management systems."
“After four years of Biden's presidency, Moscow and Beijing stand together as the greatest threat to American interests since the end of the Cold War…Should the Democrats regain the White House in two weeks' time it is hard to imagine anything but more of the same misery.” 1/
“That's why those who decry Trump's 'divisiveness' should think again, at least when it comes to the global stage, and recognize that his capacity to split opinion could play to the advantage of the US. The mere prospect of a Trump victory is already making a difference.” 2/
“Yet, whoever becomes president, it will be China that remains the overwhelming concern…China now has access to all the oil, gas and metals it needs to satisfy Xi's galloping geopolitical ambitions, which include an attempt to force a new world order.” 3/
“A very significant difference between @VP and @realDonaldTrump is Harris would like to subsidize Europeans not taking care of their own security. Trump wants Europe to step up big time to become a real ally of the U.S. and not just a dependent.” 1/
“Of course, we’re going to honor our NATO commitments. But I think it’s important that we recognize that NATO is not just a welfare client.” 2/
🎯
Both right and necessary, from @JDVance: “I think the American people have the right to know that Donald Trump rejected the John Kelly, the Mark Milley consensus that America should be the policeman of the world.” 3/