Xi’s China guarantees Asia-Pacific another year of rough sailing – Asia Times

WASHINGTON – The time 2024 was harsh and 2025 didn’t get any smoother. Depending on Xi Jinping, how difficult points get.

No matter the economic difficulties the People’s Republic of China ( PRC ) faces, he will continue to prosper and has a strong military behind him.

What does the PRC have PLANned?

Only focusing on Northeast Asia, Taiwan is in Xi’s sights. He has stated in public that he wants it, which indicates that he is putting his popularity on the line for it.

Taiwan will continue to be subject to military force. As well as subterfuge, spy, and the criticism KMT-controlled Congressional Yuan making life – and national security – difficult for President Lai Ching-te and the DPP management.

Does Xi invade Taiwan in 2025?

Simply he knows, but Xi may strike anytime he wants. One doesn’t think he’s two centuries from being able to do so.

As the Maritime Militia, the People’s Liberation Army, and the China Coast Guard work to possess more of the country’s sea area, there will be more instances of Chinese bullying.

Meanwhile in South Korea, pro-North Korea and pro-China ( and anti-American ) leftists are aiming to establish a one-party state. This long-term aim seems within reach.

This dynamical war is promoted and supported by China, which erodes the ROK-US alliance and causes division in South Korea’s free society.

The strengthened South Korea-Japan ties that President Yoon engineered are in difficulties.

Japan is also on Xi’s list

With an intention to prevent Japan from falling prey to Taiwan when the time comes to Taiwan, the PRC may start conducting activities around the Senkaku territories and elsewhere in the Nansei Shoto, Japan’s southern territories.

Around Japan, the Russians may be accumulating. Don’t believe Putin to be good in 2025.

Kim Jong Un in North Korea is on a roll thanks to Beijing and Moscow, as Tokyo is also aware.

Xi may enjoy the pro-China parts in Japan’s ruling school, suggesting there’s a deal to be cut.

This effective passive-aggressive actions. It detracts Japan from building a correct defence, which many Japanese leaders, not the least of which is Prime Minister Ishiba, fall for.

Before discussions begin in Lima, Peru, on November 15, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ( L ) shake hands. Photo: Pool

Beyond Northeast Asia, Beijing continues to engage in political hostility throughout the Pacific Islands, and Beijing further insinuates itself into nearly every country and place in the Pacific, also British people.

It all resembles Japan in the 1920s and 1930s, with the aim of governing and excluding the Asia-Pacific place.

Xi won’t let up and will possibly turn up the heat everyday.

The only restrictions on Xi are Donald Trump and the Americans.

What about Washington?

Nobody in the Trump government frightened China’s Women’s Republic. But now they are gone.

Beijing isn’t sure what to think of Trump, but it did not like him very much the second time.

Then he’s talking about serious tariffs on Chinese imports, for example.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz have been considerate of the danger from the PRC for years. Beijing also slapped a&nbsp, go ban&nbsp, on then-Senator Rubio for talking about the CCP’s stilettoing of animal rights in China and beyond.

Rubio also did something a few decades ago that frightened Chinese communist command: He required the US Intelligence Community to&nbsp, report&nbsp, on the outside money of CCP leaders – inclluding Xi Jinping. The statement had been scheduled weeks earlier. The new management might want to force the intellect group to follow their orders.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is also calling for “peace through power” and&nbsp, called&nbsp, out” Communist China” by name.

However, at least one senior national at DOD is talking about” assistance circles” with the Chinese socialists. The idea is that the US will make a concession, such as reducing American troops in Asia-Pacific, and the Chinese will follow suit. Leading to a love-fest as each area outdoes the another.

This is the Biden administration’s spendthrift “modern financial idea” in terms of foreign policy, and it threatens to destroy the US placement in the Asia-Pacific by doing the same to the US economy over the past four years.

This writer recently heard a supposed senior DoD official saying that the US should not stand up for Taiwan because a defeat would have disastrous consequences. Others in the Trump presidency appear half-hearted, if that, about defending Taiwan from socialist servitude.

But, retreat in progress? Devil of a plan.

And there’s Elon Musk. He and Tesla are &nbsp, in sleep with&nbsp, the Chinese. Did he prevent the Administration from relying on the PRC? Anyone knows.

Image: ABC News / Jarrod Fankhouser

What does Trump mean for Japan?

Why believe the Americans aren’t around instead of worrying about it or asking Trump to fund US troops in Japan or question Japan to do something it doesn’t want to?

And therefore consider what Japan needs to do to stand together in defense. Japan won’t be able to control whatever. However, it did advance even further if pathologic dependence on Americans is used to support refraining from doing much.

Japan is trying to build security relations with all – Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, India and Italy, among people. This is great, but it matters little in terms of painful power. Just the Americans offer that, though.

Luckily for Tokyo, the Americans aren’t going anywhere.

Or at least I hope they’re no. The so-called “restrainers” in the Trump administration really might consider that forward-deployed US troops in Japan are unwanted and even confrontational.

Tokyo needs to pay close attention to this mindset in Washington.

But also remember, the American people ( and also parts of the US federal ) are far more willing to help those who help themselves.

So Tokyo ought to act like it’s on its own – while thanking God ( and Washington ) that it isn’t (yet ).

But get available today.

Instead of preparing for a war over Taiwan, the Chinese government is focusing on&nbsp, evacuating&nbsp, individuals from the Nansei Shoto in the event of problems.

War aren’t won by emergency.

Inquire Hawaii to take some war planners to Tokyo if they need some assistance figuring out what to do.

Have the Chinese ambassador set up a meeting with the secretary of state, the defence secretary, and the national security advisor and ask,” What do you need from us?” Simply tell us”.

The time 2025 is about five times late to ask this. But it’s best to do it right away. Tokyo does get 2026 is to late.

Grant Newsham is a former US minister and former US Marine agent. He is a colleague at the Yorktown Institute and the Center for Security Policy, and he served as the first Sea liaison officer with the Japan Self Defense Force. He is the author of the book,