Congressmen Return from China Openly Worried: Warn of Chinese Buildup & Intentions

The Word Unheard out of Washington. D.C. is that a ten-member bi-partisan Congressional Delegation to China has returned, and they openly share their concern regarding China's aggressive military build-up and suspicions regarding China's true intentions. Democrats and Republicans alike have returned home un-persuaded by the Chinese (to their own surprise) and one Democrat Congressman (yes, a Democrat) went so far as to say he is 'much more worried than I had been before' the trip.

The Claremont Institute's MissileThreat.com headlines 'Congressmen: Beware of China’s Intentions' and links to a story in Defense News. If you are not a subscriber to Defense News you can read the text of the article posted here.


Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA), who led the delegation, said that by the end of the trip, “we weren’t sure whether they were going to be our best friend or our worst enemy.” Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN), said that he returned “much more worried than I had been before,” and described China’s rapid acquisition of offensive weapons, as well as the fact that the Chinese seemed to be consumed with the issue of Taiwan...

...Representative Forbes also warned that, “if Taiwan moves toward greater independence, [China] will stop them,” but noted that, “I’m decidedly more hawkish” now than before the trip.


This fixation on and obsession with the acquisition of democratic Taiwan is the focus of an upcoming report that has been in the works for the past week. More on that timely look at the situation as the report nears completion.

For now, examine closely the tone of the congressmen above. This is a fresh response that is as of yet uninfluenced by the many lobbies that await them in the halls of congress. These men are very, very concerned. Bear in mind that China had (and surely took) every opportunity to filter what they saw and heard, to wine & dine them and to prepare an elaborate 'Dog & Pony Show'. And yet, this is the response and impression that the Chinese could not avoid.

This observation can not be overstated.


Forbes said he will urge the committee to conduct hearings this year to increase congressional knowledge of China.


While that is all well and good, surely they have read The Cox Report, a Congressional Commission to "increase congressional knowledge of China." Do they expect to find anything different?


China "is eagerly awaiting the end of the European Union's arms embargo," Cooper (D-TN) said. "They are busy buying and building the best weapons they can. Money seems to be no object."

"We're seeing China really make huge moves in the area of its navy," said Forbes, whose southeastern Virginia district includes U.S. Navy installations and shipbuilding facilities. China is buying old Soviet submarines, and according to the U.S. Navy, building its own diesel submarines.

"There's no question our Navy is the best in the world," Forbes said. But the U.S. Navy is shrinking while China's grows. "At some point, sheer numbers start to matter."


Enter once again the EU into the Arming of Totalitarian Regimes arena. The French and Germans first armed Saddam's murderous regime in the name of Oil & Money (and not to mention their audacity calling the American ouster of Saddam Hussein a 'War for Oil). Skip over a few not insignificant other actions and call their second dumbfounding effort their willful blindness in striking deals with Iran in a laughable attempt to stop their nuclear weapons development program.

Now, the EU is considering and indeed likely to lift the Arms Embargo on the Chinese totalitarian despots, even as they become openly and increasingly aggressive. It seems the EU is working overtime to decidedly and overtly position themselves as a strategic competitor of rather than a partner with America, to say nothing of their lack of support for democratic governments.

But before we give too much credit to the ‘newly enlightened’ American congressmen, let’s consider this additional remark:

“I don’t want to paint too bleak a picture. We have tremendous opportunities in trade and other friendly relations, but we don’t know what Chinese intentions are,” he (Cooper (D-TN)) said.

Trade? You mean the largest trade deficit in the history of economics? You mean the $1.00 flip-flops and endless supply of Happy Meal toys? Is that the ‘opportunity’? Forgive the many who are unimpressed with that opportunity. America buys plastic gadgets and the EU sells them weapons. Nope. Not bleak at all.

That last comment of wisdom notwithstanding, a bi-partisan congressional delegation is sounding the warning bells.

Are Americans listening? Can Americans fit that thought process in between the Happy Meals, trips to the mall and ball games on TV?

We had better hope so.