The Most Dangerous Moment: A Debate on America’s Role in the Pacific | Uncommon Knowledge

Recorded on November 15, 2023.
Dan Blumenthal is the director of Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute. During the administration of President George W. Bush, he served in the Department of Defense. Blumenthal’s most recent book is The China Nightmare: The Grand Ambitions of a Decaying State.
Elbridge Colby is a founder of the new think tank the Marathon Initiative. During the administration of President Donald Trump, he served in the Department of Defense. Colby’s most recent publication is The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Colby and Blumenthal discuss what the United States and its allies can do practically to deter China’s expansion in the South China Sea and its aggression toward Taiwan.
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[@Vj-go7sg]

So thankful for Hoover Institute.

[@judjudersawn2596]

Peter (the host of this show) wrote the "tear down this wall" speech for President Reagan. That is such an amazing accomplishment. Frankly, I would have never guessed he wrote it. He is such a curious yet down to Earth guy.

[@kevinjenner9502]

JFK friend and speechwriter Ted Sorensen authored “Profiles in Courage”

[@jamesbarry1673]

Everyone has one good speech in them.

[@radioguy8662]

Yes, he is an excellent interviewer

[@Oscuros]

Thing is, what won the Cold War was a policy enacted by Eisenhower that he regretted and spoke against on leaving office, the arms race. I think it's cute that you think Reagan saying some words or choking the first time at Reykjavík had an influence on anything compared to threatening the Soviet Union with a nuclear holocaust since 1945. You like to lie that they could not feed themselves because of their system, but really it was because if they did not pay for the army and nukes, there'd be a coup anyway, like happened to Gorbachev. I think it's great that thanks to Trump China has the biggest navy now, That's the first time that The Us does not have the biggest navy since 1942, when they became a world power. The yanks sucked as hegemons and only made things worse, so glad the Pax Americana lasted for just a few decades.

[@slavaryklin4010]

Always great to see you Peter, thank you for continuing to bring a really quality product.

[@scottszpyrka1973]

This should be a required video to be watched by all of us citizens

[@elden6629]

"We must stop them because they're going to act exactly like we are acting right now"

[@1526andrews]

Such a false equivalence. Utter crap.

[@mensrea1251]

And there’s nothing wrong with that is there?

[@longjiangzhao2548]

so true!

[@kevinjenner9502]

The US is the greatest threat to global security….Richard Haas

[@djtan3313]

Pure Projection.

[@CollectiveWesterner]

Very interesting conversation....I only wish that they could have restrained themselves from repeatedly interrupting and talking over each other. Multiple times the escalating noise of all three voices trying to outdo each other led to none of them being heard. Possibly poignant thoughts and opinions were lost due to their poor communication etiquette.

[@trevorbromidge2076]

The USA spends more on defence than any other Country and they keep saying you need to spend more. Is it that the funds your DOD have, are badly spent or misspent?

[@JM-if1mo]

The shameful part of this discussion that we always need to spend more on military and yet no effort to call out waste and corruption currently going on within our military industry. We spend multiples times more dollars on our military than any other country in the world. For that, we get continual failed audits and all I hear from the Hoover Institution is calls for more money. The idea that the public wants to continue paying for these generational wars is ridiculous. Interview people that want to talk about how we get value for our money. Was it really a good idea to strip out all the competitive bidding for military advancement? Boeing can't even contribute to space program or make planes anymore. The really sad thing about this, is now we have an opportunity to put the dagger in Russia by saving Ukraine and there is no money to get it done. A free Ukraine make Europe so much stronger. A Russian controlled Ukraine adds decades of relevence in the world. Also more ships doesn't have to be the answer in China. Arial Drone technology in mass, is going to change how navy fleets battle the open seas.

[@ndavies8]

Wow I wished it went on longer. This was such an intelligent interaction! Please have them back soon!

[@gdiwolverinemale4th]

The first part, where they discussed how China views the US was very good and realistic. Then they got into the mousetrap of the superiority complex. There are limits to what the US is capable of, and that limit is constantly decreasing ... because of the US political system

[@advocate1563]

Unbelievably wonderful discussion. Why can't our politicians show this much to and fro and grip.

[@kennethmcglashan3333]

Good interview, however, I would interview them alone instead of together. The way the talked over Each other gave me a headache.

[@kazimierzliz8280]

Yes it was quite annoying when a point was being made and then cut off multiple times

[@Martin-qm2lg]

From this discussion, it seems that China is in a strong strategic position and is prepared and the US looks pretty lost and vulnerable. A very bullish discussion for China to make its big strategic moves, take over Taiwan and change the world order with the US as loser. US has weak, divided leadership and is in a highly dangerous place right now.

[@willbrown5568]

I have a stupid question - why are we still trading with our enemy?

[@Guy-Lewis]

Interesting, but the shoutover fests and unecessary interruptions detracted.

[@reginahay5211]

Good interviews. Obviously it’s a matter of we know what the problem/s is/are but don’t agree with how to solve. Peter is a real moderator!

[@bsmithhammer]

That might describe some of the problem. But a big part of it is also government lethargy and ineptitude, and keeping our head in the sand for too long, when the writing was already on the wall.

[@gdiwolverinemale4th]

@@bsmithhammer Governments that have to worry about elections (which does not mean they are democratic) often lose focus on long-term problems

[@chessdaddy0720]

How much more budget you need to allocate to DoD? It's already more than 50% of total Federal discretionary budget, and the US government already carries 33T debt.

[@kevinjenner9502]

“Pentagon fails audit for sixth year in a row”. Reuters 11/15/23

[@1526andrews]

Yes, but non discretionary spending is much larger. The US government spent $7 trillions last year, defence was well under a trillion, around 880.billion. Talk to Biden about sending money drown rate holes for his inflation reduction act, or medicare and medicaid. Defense is cheap.

[@JieSuCabc]

Thank you Peter Robinson and great conversation always.

[@BaiHuJ]

Any commented grumbling that "it's all about the money" really has no idea why they have it so good in America. You are so coddled and comfortable. Colby is so FoS and constantly putting words in people's mouths. He sounds like a climate change hysteric except about China.

[@professorchris3515]

The strength of a navy is not determined by the number of minor platforms such as patrol vessels, minesweepers, even frigates. It is measured by the number and caliber of its capital ships and nuclear-powered submarines.

[@1526andrews]

Jesus, the US and its allies need to get going. The Brits, the French, the Germans all need to rearm. But industrial capacity is too small Terrifying.

[@Mr.barba97]

even us Italians... not to be too patriotic but if u need a fleet Germany is not the place atm

[@frankc8977]

This mental paradigm is precisely why America is on the decline. A pity.

[@zdzislawmeglicki2262]

Objectively speaking, how can the US hope to box a nation on the other side of the Pacific ocean, a nation that produces more goods than the US, that has better infrastructure, matching technology, higher GDP PPP, much larger population, easy access to Siberian resources and Russian cooperation, and whose people are better educated and work harder than Americans?

[@discotex2236]

See the work of Peter Zeihan, a guy who while opinionated, spells out the nuts and bolts of how China is done. The West is re-industrializing at its fastest pace since WW2, holding onto trade and nice talk with China until it is no longer needed for the things we really need. However, the West must stand strong as these types of authoritarian nightmare regimes descend into darkness.

[@glennmitchell9107]

Easy, so to speak. We don't have to embargo all Chinese ports. We only have to enforce a selective blockade of every port that trades with China. Also, like Russia, China has surrounded itself with enemies. China may produce more goods, but of lower quality and information content. Easy access and Siberia are mutually exclusive, no matter who is involved. Better infrastructure? I don't see it. U.S. technology is unmatched. Who is stealing who's intellectual property?

[@zdzislawmeglicki2262]

​@@glennmitchell9107Since more countries trade with China than with the US (if only because the US doesn't produce anything anybody wants to buy), how can the US block any ports that "trade with China?" That would mean blocking the whole world. Also, note that blocking anybody's ports is equivalent to a declaration of war against the blocked country. So, you want the US to declare war on the whole world? We don't even block the ports of Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, or Iran-the declared enemies of the USA.

[@arktseytlin]

With allies. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines

[@frankc8977]

​@@glennmitchell9107yeah, we can see why america is easily the most disgusting narcissists around. Can't see a nice future for people like that.

[@jamesanderson6882]

I am not sure the "we just need to build more ships!" thinking makes sense any more. Way back in 1980 in the Falklands war, the French Exocet missiles gave the British a scare with its effectiveness. I will speculate that anti ship missiles and drones have just gotten an order of magnitude better now. Those giant ships seem like Big Grey Targets now.

[@deanvanlaarhoven1413]

It's annoying to listen to Dan feel the need to raise his volume, repeat single words 10 times in a row and yell over others In lieu of a compelling argument. That's never a pleasure.

[@Daniel01088]

For myself, I thought Elbridge's constant interruptions and raising of his voice to speak over everyone else rather annoying...

[@Liboch]

The fat guy at the middle is not only annoying but also does a lot of bullshitingg, not sure why he is being called intellectual at all. Guy at the left seems understand the real thing in China very accurately. I live in Southeast Asia for more than 6 decades. People in the west would probably not believe China conduct military drills with Southeast Asian countries, regularly. They think china is going have to war with these countries, because that is what being reported in the MSM, military aggression, military coercion and all.

[@enzoist1]

Was really hoping for Robinson to dust off his inner Reagan and say "Mr. Colby, let this man speak!"

[@jaredspencer3304]

Peter's first question is one he asks a lot, and I feel like the interviewees typically miss the point. It really does come down to "the American way of life." Think of how you live your life; not just morally, but practically. Is your income growing? Is the economy growing? Do you like buying iPhones and cheap clothes? It's not that China is going to invade America, it's that China would make America's access to the world markets *conditional* upon America bending the knee to Chinese authority. And we don't have to guess; they've already done this with Australia. China has demanded changes to Australia's national laws to make them more friendly to China; when Australia refused, China tried to cripple their economy by banning Australian imports. When Norway and Lithuania said things the CCP didn't like, China cut them off from their market, which stalled their economies. China wants a world in which everyone obeys and worships it; and anyone who doesn't will starve. They've already proved this as their strategy multiple times, and it's what they want for the US as well. -- I feel like Eldridge made this point well.

[@GentlemanJack705]

🙌

[@achtet7480]

😃😃

[@huntingtonjimmy2999]

"No, Mr. Peter Robinson the enduring and most significant insult during the Qing Dynasty and CCP was the loss of one million and seventy thousand square kilometers of land to Russia. President Xie avoids acknowledging this, opting instead to divert attention and pursue the seemingly easier goal of conquering Taiwan. It's merely propaganda; Xie lacks the courage to confront Putin and reclaim his motherland's greatest loss. Instead, he sets his sights on the more manageable target of Taiwan."

[@dinkeydink9376]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@nuqwestr]

China went from 20% literacy in 1950 to 78% literacy in the early 1990s. The "Great Leap Forward" did happen, just not in 5 years, nor in the way Mao expected. This literacy allowed China to "leap" past India and other 3rd world countries as a platform for 1st world manufacturing. We, and they, are now in a double-bind.

[@samuelboucher1454]

Where did you get those stats?

[@theoafman9068]

There was no great leap forward. They industrialized at painfully slow rates (they were essentially agrarian during Mao's reign). It wasn't until after Mao and Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms post 1979 that they holistically improved. Also, we made them a manufacturing hub because our political class are morons and could care less about the American populace who never signed up for cheaper consumer goods in exchange for loss of domestic manufacturing; that was a decision by the policy "experts" in Washington. Literacy is a bare minimum requirement to have a modicum of economic prosperity and development. Literacy isn't responsible for the masses of rural workers that migrated to Chinese cities to work in horrid manufacturing conditions for very slowly rising wages. Again, America's decision to open trade with them under the theory that their increases economic prosperity will lead to liberalization is what enabled rapid industrialization. Their rapid economic growth was wisely invested in education to their credit, but this is much more holistic than just "increased literacy".

[@ScoobieDoo-zy1rh]

@@theoafman9068greed

[@lioicomestai3703]

Do you know how high the literacy rate in North Korea? Mao gave general education a go and adding more thing that you didn't mentioned - public health basic too. But using these achievements to adjust his wrong doing during his 27 years ruling is a poor defending. Give another 3 - 5 year let's see where India will be. 你知道北韓的識字率有多高嗎？毛澤東嘗試了通識教育，並添加了更多你沒有提到的東西--公共衛生基礎知識。但用這些成績來調整自己27年執政期間的錯誤行為，是一種拙劣的辯護。再過3-5年，讓我們看看印度會是什麼樣子。

[@gdiwolverinemale4th]

@@theoafman9068 "Also, we made them a manufacturing hub because our political class are morons" ... lol ... a much more obvious explanation is that they don't give a *** for the population ... as they obviously don't. Profit is the name of the game. The unquestionable support for Israel tells you who is in charge.

[@greg7404]

This was another excellent and insightful conversational interview from the Hoover Institute. However, I find it curious that during all of these recent productions there's been ZERO discussion regarding the fact that the United States Pentagon has now failed 5 separate financial audits.

[@hrvojesvetec3058]

China and US must find a common way,neither will go away and both have right to be prosper..a hot war between China/US is NOT AN OPTION..would be devastating for all and for what..

[@DonLovell-xl3sk]

The world would be a much more authoritarian, corrupt, and dictatorial place??? Than it is now??? Good Grief!

[@mva6044]

@26:00 it was stated that Taiwan is the only "Chinese" democracy. Is Singapore a democracy? Is it Chinese (it is, if based on ethnicity, 75%+).

[@dimmmmmmp]

really good to see peter's voice recovering

[@georgeanthony6767]

Our Engineers won WW2... but it will be our Engineers who PREVENT WW3 from ever happening... We need give Trillions to our Engineers... to build up the highest capacity... and highest quality military weapons systems on earth. Carry the Big Stick.

[@cathie3874]

Don’t think America has enough engineers. Young people just don’t study engineering

[@paranoidreplica9124]

americans have had the big stick for a long time. problem here is, that nobody (from the big players that matter) believes anymore, that they will actually use it

[@ganboonmeng5370]

You don't hv engineer...at least....not enough...not the best...ones...all the best students in top US universities are Asians...yes many are chinese....

[@cmiksee1932]

Quality, not quantity

[@billallen3696]

Asians do in the US while they steal or IP.

[@puggmahone8246]

Well done! Thank you. Plus this episode reminded me of a Siskel and Ebert movie critique. Have more of these two.

[@stormhammerx]

The consensus seems to be that US defense is woefully lacking, even after decades of the US outspending the next 10 countries combined, and that points to incredible inefficiencies and/or corruption in the US military-industrial complex. This is harmful to the free world in the long term.

[@shaunybonny688]

Another thing that’s scary about this is how MAD factors in. Are people planning on falling back to MAD to solve the Taiwan/china problem.

[@xieccs]

Peter, if you do not understand the Chinese feeling about the Qing Dynasty, you can ask the black people about their slavery experience, so there is no slavery now, and you talk with the black people ask them to forget, you will have the answer.

[@joseph-sj7do]

If it ever came to war China has the same problem as Germany had, just as German Navy had to get out of North Sea China has to get out of South China Sea and also the Malacca Strait whereas USA has two open Coasts the Atlantic and Pacific

[@i.m.gurney]

Very constructive discussion, except no mention of the changing battlespace, digital, automation, orbital etc.

[@hish3098]

Great to see Peter and Elbridge

[@soniajulie6465]

Regular people would be rationed, and resources would be scarce - we would not be able to buy what we want when we want it - we would have to learn to speak Chinese - It's already in the works - ATMs in suburban Chicago give you a choice of English, Spanish and Chinese - you don't have to speak English to become a citizen either - also, these days, non citizens are being encouraged to join the armed forces and also become police officers !! The USA is hanging on by a very loose thread

[@zztissue8159]

What I learned from this discussion is that America should just give up 😂

[@soonpohtay4794]

Americans would get health care , no homelessness, no druggies.😂😂😂

[@tonycaplin8275]

Excellent

[@garysymons3930]

OMG , things are not good in the" west", Ukraine,Israel, Taiwan all at the same time and 'our" military needs are not adequate . Why do I feel annoyed when Bill Gates, Kissinger, Ray Dalio, and others cant wait to applaud Xi Jinping or even shake his hand ; something needs to radically change in the USA . Great debate/discussion .

[@grahamcombs4752]

I wish that there would be much less talk of our "liberties and freedoms." These have suffered significant erosion and continue to do so. If you are an orthodox Jew or a Roman Catholic, those "liberties and freedoms" are already seen in their withdrawal by wealthy corporations, schools and universities, billionaire activists et al. And these parties are winning despite the "show and tell" of Congressional hearings. All change is for the worse.

[@MRTY323]

Lol. Americans need access to East Asia to secure themselves? That opening statement from Blumenthal is golden!! Imagine China saying that it needs access to Hawaii to secure itself 😂

[@kevinjenner9502]

“Yellow Peril” rhetoric is essential for Hoovers well being.

[@gdiwolverinemale4th]

The superiority complex is destroying the US. They lack the ability to evaluate themselves

[@djtan3313]

Booo! I’m da foo manchuu !

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

How about Rare Earth metals from China and Uranium from Australia.

[@NorCalMoDo]

a conversation of the cold-war minds

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

Some excellent analyses, marred only slightly by the now inevitable but still distracting ramble away from reality with the misleading supposition that the CCP's supreme autocrat must be either a Communist or an Emperor. When of course, of necessity he's BOTH. Or rather, in practice there's virtually no difference between how the two political/economic systems operate, anyway... and none at all in their explicitly Chinese form.

[@boogeyman2868]

this video should hve 8 billion views by now

[@person-ie1fe]

What an interview

[@MyloBgood]

I'm always look forward to Uncommon Knowledge and am a huge fan. However Colby may be an person of knowledge on the subject but not a great conversationalist for this program. He should have his own show;)

[@john2001plus]

38:16 There are two mindsets on military spending, and I could go either way because I don't know which approach is best for our country. After World War II, the United States benefited from being the only country that hadn't had its industrial base destroyed by war. This allowed us to be the dominant world power for decades, but this is no longer true. Thomas Jefferson said that the United States should not get involved in foreign entanglements. This was at a time when the United States was mostly an agrarian society and not a major world power. Yet, Thomas Jefferson sent the U.S. military, with the help of Sweden, to defeat the Barbary pirates who were attacking and enslaving Europeans and Americans. Just like in 1801, we still need to defend maritime freedom. There is a precedent here that outside forces have always attacked the United States. Although there were some wars that we didn't need to be involved in, there were others where we had to defend ourselves. I do not think the war in Ukraine is in any way in the national interest of the United States. The rationale for this war is that we need to contain Putin, but I have to wonder why that is our problem. It is Europe's problem. It makes very little difference to the United States' interest who rules Ukraine. This is a case of the United States trying to be the global policeman, at the expense of the taxpayers. We are spending around $150 billion on this war, which is about $1,000 for every tax paper, and there is no end in sight. This is a cost we do not see right away because we are going deeply into debt to spend excessively, but eventually, the bills will come due and we will be poorer because of it. Had we done nothing, or negotiated a settlement, every taxpayer would have been a thousand dollars less poor. This means that we would be stronger as a nation over the long term, and a stronger nation is better able to defend itself in a crisis. It is because of debt that we can engage in policies that otherwise would seem too costly. I considered it a fantasy that Ukraine could win a war against a much more powerful Russia, although it is less clear now. Ultimately, Ukraine will have to make concessions for peace, which could have been achieved a couple of years ago, but the United States insisted that Ukraine try to regain the territory it lost. The United States policy is intended to punish Putin, but this is a case of us thinking that we should solve every problem on the planet. Likewise, we spent $120 billion in 1990 to defend Kuwait from Iraq. This was also about $1,000 per taxpayer, but that is equivalent to $2,300 in today's money. Technically, we are still paying for this. The rationales were that we should stand up to aggression and that we shouldn't let Iraq control the oil in Kuwait. However, the aggression wasn't against us, we were defending one dictatorship against another, and it would make very little difference in the global oil market who controlled the oil wells. We spent $758 billion on the second Iraq war. The same kind of thinking is making war with China almost inevitable over Taiwan. The rationales are that we should defend freedom, and Tawaiin is the world's biggest producer of the best microchips. However, the microchip problem is one that we can solve with relatively modest investment. If China conquers Taiwain, the country will still have to sell microchips, although they could limit who they sell chips to. It is my belief supported by history that dictatorships and communist nations eventually collapse from their inherent inefficiency. China has done a great job of becoming militarily, economically, and technologically more powerful, but it is also fraught with problems due to bad economic policies. Most Chinese are still very poor. China has prospered only because of free trade and the United States is a major buyer of Chinese manufactured goods. This is a problem we can solve. We have this problem because of complacency. If we view China as a threat, we should shift trade to other countries, which would diminish China's power. We could impose tariffs until China agrees to be less belligerent. We should encourage other countries to do the same. This might be costly in the short run, but it would be far better than going into another world war.

[@markramey8081]

Fascinating and interesting discussion that warrants action BUT PLEASE, STOP INTERRUPTING EACH OTHER; LISTEN INTENTLY, TAKE NOTES THEN RESPOND!!! I'd like to hear from both guests without the Fox/MSNBC interview model. It's nauseating and counterproductive.

[@down0068]

Amount of ships vs Ship Tonnage.

[@tad9436]

The answer is not with the President. It is with the Congressional leaders (mostly Senators) of the parties to agreee upon a strategy and then oversee the appropiate legilation. However, our current leadaership is more focused on Europe and not Asia.

[@michaeltse321]

When you don't see self reflection then you know there is something wrong - lol

[@ALWH1314]

1945 U.S., UK, Russia and China signed Potsdam Declaration. Among the terms include two recognition, 1 return taiwan and surrounding islands (including the Diaoyutai which Japan calls it Senkaku), 2 China owns 9 dash line territory ownsfership in South China Sea.

[@BROWNKEY]

I love your podcasts . Very balanced . One of your host today was quite aggressive and interrupted the other’s responses . A little too much

[@zztissue8159]

The US needs to get out of all 3 theatres and focus on itself

[@chopincam-robertpark6857]

One of your best ever Peter, too bad Goodfella's are slipping.

[@carolpage578]

Already donated, but how do I access, interested in VD Hansen, the Savior generals

[@michaeltse321]

Orwell would be proud of the double speak in this video - lol

[@NorCalMoDo]

"The Grand Ambitions of a Decaying State." Which country Blumenthal is talking about?

[@evelynramos445]

Will go with capital just not localized with automously holding. They are collaborative tenets

[@kaimingraymondchoi9909]

American congressman said he is worried about Chinese Garli. He sees that as a threat to US national security. What is not?

[@mornejonker1582]

Too big ego’s to keep power will always have a constant fear and threat. This fear seems to be “inbred” in some wealthy societies. We look and see from the sidelines, yet many of us and many countries to not feel so threatened , yet we understand many societies are scared out of tradition and habit.

[@grahamcombs4752]

My former pastor is a Catholic chaplain on the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan which immediately shipped to the Taiwan Straits after he boarded.

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

Oh, and re the military realities, sooner or later, the USA (along with we British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders) are going to have to accept, at least tacitly, that very little practical help against China will ever be forthcoming from continental Europe. Accordingly, the sooner Washington reverts unambiguously to its policy of overwhelming, even absolute military prioritisation of the Indo-Pacific theatres, the better. Including by completing her direct strategic "pivot" away from Europe along with leading more intensive efforts to solidify pro-Western networks of Indo-Pacific regional alliance structures.

[@walkerdavidm]

This discussion could have been better facilitated. Elbridge shouldn’t have been allowed to constantly talk over everyone. Would be good to see an interview with Dan where he gets a chance to have an adult conversation.

[@hish3098]

To me, it was just a lively conversation between two peers. I dont think Peter's moderation prevented Dan from communicating his point

[@kristinmedica7229]

Ain't nothing to mess around with these brothers! Congratulations are in order... debunk me.

[@anonyymi7630]

As the video progresses i get increasingly annoyed at Peter constantly interrupting them.

[@australiasfirstmate1556]

WOW!

[@MattsYoutubeChannel]

Sir, but what about the MINESHAFT GAP?

[@s_col_b]

I’m not one to comment on KZbin but I have some critiques. The two men have an incomplete analysis of what drives the CCP. Communism’s primary objective is to eliminate capitalist western societies by subversion and coercion until they force an internal revolution. Seems plenty of that has been happening within western countries lately. I would argue our biggest existential threat. The reason for this is that whilst free countries in the West exist (US, Taiwan, Australia etc) they undermine the very ambition of the communist goal. A world utopia. The average Chinese person who isn’t fanatical about communist doctrine must be imbued with Nationalism if they are going to fight. That is the reason for it. The need for utopia in which the CCP are still fundamentally driven, is a religious impulse. This means that the CCP and any Marxist/Leninist society or regime will always be hostile to the free west because we will always pose an existential threat to their religious idea! AKA China under the CCP will never be our friend. The American led world is driven by financial prosperity, these men refer to it subtly. That is the master we serve, financial prosperity. Communists use financial prosperity against us to pursue their religious utopian agenda. We have failed to grasp this fact. Never underestimate ideology. The CCP are fanatics and they will not stop until the West is gone. For further reading I suggest Hegel, Gramsci and Marx economic and philosophical manuscripts.

[@harryloo8544]

Here is some suggestion for these people: Make peace with China, support peaceful reunification with Taiwan, oppose its independence, continue to make a lot of money from China and its periphery.

[@ScoobieDoo-zy1rh]

Stop making sense

[@djtan3313]

This is d Hoover institution here dude. Racists posing as intellectuals. They want China subjugated.

[@petersinclair3997]

Taiwan has never been a part of China. Dutch, Manchurian, Japanese and Japanese under Western occupation. Japan renounced Taiwan in 1952.

[@tonygold1661]

Lively. Thanks

[@opengnosis8555]

This is proof... Another day, another mess of men all talking over each other. All we have really is time. It seems most with some sort of valuable insight perspective are all stuck in a some pastime bubble, ready to debate and argue for an ideology that used to be part of the controlling narrative that the ideal "Norman Rockwell American Way of Life," used to be, And though they are all of value.. So is A LOT of ancient Art in all museums that are really just great vaults of ehat human cukture used to be, protected, preserved, and displayed, for all to go to and enjoy during a time of peace and prosperity, by all the people of a present time culture, as an activity to be practiced freely and peacefully as part of their leisure pasttime or pass time. But in reality, nothing is free, someone has to labor for any one thing to be produced, practical application and actual building and experimenting, tangibly, supercedes any think tank and also wises anyone apply themselves by every model produced and physically made, by any real laborer who researches and developes by actually doing instead of theororizing, anytime in all of human history, anyday, over any calculated statistical analysis of what ifs that could or can happen by any computer similation made, anyday.. All I am saying is all the could of, should of, and would ofs, debated about while time passes and over 100 million Chinese workers actually do and apply themselves by doimg, while.most U.S. Americans just are buying to consume as they are told to do, taught we are a consumer society that buys and consumes, but no longer produces at home what we are taught we are to deaire and want by all media influemces and marketing propaganda montiorimg everything, everu wird, and every action, by tracking programming in every electronic used today,... And whike looking at every American acting this way as taught I see only uncertainty about the future, and doubt about how they are functioning as the right way still to behave, if not what they are doing now, told as the right way to do and live, seen in every Americans eyes right now.. I would say we are living in a "Requiem of an American Dream" right now.. Casue it is all talk.. And I feel that most U.S. American citizens feel that their leaders and their leaders actions are no longer the actions of the "good guys," we used to model America as.. I am done.. Thanms I guess, but I have to go work now to just so I can eat and have a place to sleep. Have fun with all your.. "What if's." And sorry.. I do appreciate these post

[@jacklaurentius6130]

Another fantastic interview

[@keithstuart1670]

you guys are freaking out Naval strength is measured in Tonnage NOT hull count do the math

[@kingcrazymani4133]

My head hurts. Literally too. We need a Deus ex machina moment….

[@evsal8087]

When Dan Blumenthal said "We would be locked out of many of the economic arrangements inside the East Asian area." , was when it immediately dawned on me that this is their entire problem with China. It's all about the money.

[@1526andrews]

No it isn't. It's about maintaining access to the most significant economic region in the world for all countries and not allowing a repressive, bad faith actor like China dominate other democracies and extract concessions. That's it. Read a book.

[@adot911]

It has been, it is, and will always be their problem

[@tb8865]

That was our problem with Japan way back when and our problem with China now.

[@akp167]

Money = millions of jobs

[@dinkeydink9376]

US and Europe are way behind the curve regarding ship building and defence! Takes years so, why are we so slow to start up?

[@markrutledge5855]

When we compare the number of ships in the Chinese navy versus the US navy (400 to 290) we might get the sense that China has the superior force. But one has to also compare the tonnage of the two fleets. Here the US navy has a 2 to1 advantage. Most of the Chinese navy is made up of small craft (frigates and coast guard types designed for costal purposes.) There is really no comparison. Add in the fact that the US has a strong alliance system in East Asia and China has only North Korea and I think it is pretty clear that the US holds the stronger position between it and China in this theatre. There is a lot of unnecessary fear mongering going on in this discussion.

[@philmariop]

Tonnage. Forget the number of hulls. Compare tonnage of the fleets. Maybe the PLAN can project control over the South China Sea. That's a far cry from ruling the Pacific or Indian oceans.

[@petersinclair3997]

Aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines take years to build. The technologies today are different to WW2.

[@warmonger82]

Taiwan is NOT the last QIng dynasty territory to be recovered... What about Mongolia and Outer Manchuria that the Russians and Soviets took in the 1860's and 1920's?

[@kirkhoo7456]

That is a dead horse. You do not beat a dead horse.

[@longjiangzhao2548]

@@kirkhoo7456 True. Treaty is signed and boarder is settled. There is no taking back unless wage a total war with neighbors. Taiwan is not, there is no treaty. And PRC and POC are still in war state by now. Take it back is legal.

[@petersinclair3997]

Taiwan was lost Manchuria to Japan in 1895.

[@bobcougar77]

Blumenthal seems desperate not to let Colby finish a point.

[@mistman5640]

Niall Ferguson recently spoke about the coming "debt reckoning". If US loses the dollar hegemony, American would be a whole lot poorer and pay a whole lot more in taxes, face much higher inflation and pay huge mortgage interests rates .

[@cmiksee1932]

Unfortunately he’s correct.

[@jamesbarry1673]

Thank God the US population is no longer growing.

[@greg3wilson768]

Even if the USA maintains dollar hegemony, I believe the current huge US debt load generating major interest expense costs due to rising interest rates will soon "drown" world interest in buying US debt securities. The US needs to put more $ into the military while cutting other US government expenses at the same time.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Essentially, printing more dollars is stealing from everyone who holds dollars. Governments across the world are being forced to subsidise irresponsible US politicians. Ditching the dollar is the only responsible thing they can do.

[@NorCalMoDo]

So, how did the US got rich?

[@evelynramos445]

Tenets in check to analysis!

[@xieccs]

I am surprised why Peter did not understand that when China has thrived and is not satisfied, because China has learnt how US treated Japan and Germany when they became world No. 2, and China needs get ready to safeguard its safety of international trade, supply chain, and to prevent the blockade of US and its coercive allies

[@cmiksee1932]

Gibberish. Germany and Japan were both nationalistic totalitarian regimes - they ravaged their neighbors and were expansionist. The U.S. had to be dragged into both theaters.

[@ianfinnity2732]

Um, just for the record America hasn’t won any war it entered into since WW2…

[@sanjdip]

Peter, you’re missing a person who served a democratic president to provide their point of view. Please consider a follow up with someone on the other side of the aisle.

[@yt.damian]

Chinas 400 ships are not in the same class as the US fleet. Not that there are not serious issues with the US fleet...

[@albertocontreras3312]

STAR WARS has begun ? Ladies and gentlemen , please fasten your seat belts , bad weather ahead . Thanks regards , bye .

[@JM-fv2il]

Really enjoy the dialogue, but please remember that the USA has not won a war in the past many years (Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea) - also, remember that President Obama humiliated Mitt Romney in the debate when Romney suggested a 600 ship Navy saying that we don't need horses or bayonets in the Army either (it will take 20 years to regain this naval disadvantage) - BTW, the first fighters went into Afghanistan on horseback and my M-12 A-1 came with a bayonet . . . short-sighted leadership

[@benharriston2532]

AINT THAT WHAT THEY CALL GROVELING....LOL

[@yelowpunk]

What a great juxtaposition of someone that knows what they're saying and someone who knows who they're speaking to.

[@KawasakiKiteh]

: Japan waves at US Allies :