Deter Chinese Communist Party efforts to heat up the new “Cold War”

With the United States preoccupied with new surges of the Chinese Communist Party virus, Beijing seems poised to act ever-more-aggressively in the Western Pacific.

In the aftermath of President Trump’s recent surge of two U.S. aircraft carrier battlegroups for exercises in the South China Sea, the CCP has asserted extended sovereignty over waters that allow access to that strategic area. The practical effect of this change remains to be seen. But it fits a pattern of ratcheting up the basis for China to deny ship and aircraft movements in the region as its ability to do so increases inexorably.

There are also fresh Chinese reports that the PRC is preparing to conduct large-scale amphibious “drills” whose real purpose will be to seize islands belonging to Taiwan.

The so-called “new Cold War” with China could get very hot, very soon.

This is Frank Gaffney.