There exists, within the world of Star Trek, a race of beings that behave as one entity – the Borg Collective. The Borg has one purpose – to assimilate every other race, to add their biological and technological distinctiveness to its own. “Existence, as you know it, is over. Resistance is futile.”
China is very much like the Borg – a single-minded collective that rejects individualism unless it is to the benefit of the Communist Party. The expression of alternative thought is met with the harshest of corrective action. Little by little, the Chinese, like the Borg, are spreading out and extending their single-minded collective control over more and more of the world.
If only this were a science fiction story, we could close the book and be done with it, but this is a real threat, a strategic attack that has been happening for decades. The Chinese, like the Borg, must be opposed. We must take the offensive instead of letting the Chinese dictate the terms of engagement. The world can now see China for what it is – an existential threat that strikes in many ways on many fronts, without mercy, without compassion, without fear.
What does China do?
Currency Manipulation – It is understood that China has repeatedly engaged in manipulation of its currency so that the cost of goods made in China will be so low that companies will have no alternative but to move all of their production of goods to China in order to remain competitive.
Monopolization of Supply Chains – As a consequence of its currency manipulation, China has effectively monopolized the production of many industrial chemicals, semi-finished goods, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, etc., to the point that this allows China to exert undue influence on the world’s economy, and has created a dependency that threatens the ability of corporations and countries alike to act in their own long-term best interests.
Territorial Expansion – China has extended its territorial claim to include essentially the entire South China Sea, far beyond the accepted 200 mile limit. China is ignoring the treaty limitations under which Hong Kong rule was transferred to China by England, effectively assimilating Hong Kong into Communist rule. China controls Mongolia, Tibet, and to a more limited extent, North Korea. China is beginning to exert control into Russia.
Monopolization of Raw Materials – By means of its Belt and Road lending to under-developed countries, in many instances resulting in a crippling debt that may never be repaid, China is now able to extend its control to include vital raw materials within these countries, which will eventually allow China to further control the world’s economy.
Technology Transfer and Intellectual Theft – China’s trade policies regarding access to their internal markets has resulted in the forced transfer of advanced technology to China from companies eager to gain access to 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. Chinese students are sent to U.S. universities to gain access to our most advanced research, which they then brought back to China. U.S. universities welcome Chinese money and share research without limitation under the guise of “intellectual freedom”. Chinese spies are sent to the U.S. and other countries to serve as employees in strategic industries where they have been able to steal vital information, which is then brought back to China.
Propaganda Through Confucius Institutes – China has established nearly 1,000 Confucius Institutes in universities throughout the world. It is understood that these institutes are intended to provide an understanding of Chinese history and culture, and to teach the Chinese language. However, these institutes are directed by the Chinese government, and are an effective means of influencing the opinions of college students so that Chinese aggression and human rights abuses can be explained away and ultimately accepted.
Fentanyl Exports – China has historically been the source of Fentanyl, an opoid-like drug that has resulted in one of the worst drug epidemics in the history of the U.S. China has stated their intention to actively block Fentanyl exports to the U.S. However, it remains to be seen if China will actually follow through on their commitment, as Fentanyl abuse has proven to be an effective means of undermining U.S. society. It is understood that much of the Chinese Fentanyl production is now being rerouted through India and Mexico.
Biological Warfare – COVID-19 is only the latest example of Chinese aggression that has caused severe damage to the world economy. Now that it is clear that a virus pandemic can weaken even the strongest country, it is likely that biological warfare will become a strategic weapon in China’s quest for world domination. The source of COVID-19 may have been due to wet market activity or from a laboratory, but it is clear that China made a deliberate decision to isolate itself internally to minimize the spread of COVID-19 within its borders, and at the same time to allow transmission of COVID-19 to the rest of the world.
Cyber Warfare – China has actively pursued cyber warfare to infiltrate the computer systems of companies and countries. Most recently, a new cyberattack tool called Aria-body has been identified, which is reported to be virtually non-detectable. Aria-body allows the Chinese military to infiltrate computer networks in real time, download data, and ultimately take down computer networks as well as whatever the networks control. We can only hope that our military has capabilities to counteract this aggression, and that we are quietly hardening our infrastructure to isolate critical systems such as our electrical grid, defense strategies, government records, etc.
It is difficult to think about developing a China strategy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this is what we must do. As we develop our strategy, we should learn from the Chinese – to smile, to be respectful, to be agreeable, but to never feel obligated to keep our commitments to them. And, above all, to never forget that individual freedom and expression, a democratic form of government, and a world at peace with shared prosperity are ideas and values that are diametrically opposed by the Chinese Communist Party.