For all of the hyperventilating about Russia the past few years, it is China that poses a much greater threat to the United States -- militarily, economically and technologically. (The dunderheads of the mainstream media aren't bright enough to realize this, but maybe they'll get a clue in the next few years. We can always hope.)
In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of young Hong Kong residents have been demonstrating and packing the city's airport because of real and perceived threats to their freedom. Several months ago, Hong Kong's government announced support for an extradition policy that would allow local authorities to detain and extradite people who are wanted in territories that Hong Kong does not have extradition agreements with, including mainland China and Taiwan.
The other day, during one of those impromptu interviews President Trump likes to engage in between the White House and his Marine One helicopter, Orange Julius proclaimed it's up to China and Hong Kong to resolve their issues. He's definitely backed away from supporting the Hong Kong protesters' demands for permanent independence from the People's Republic of China.
The Trumpster does not want to see another Tiananmen Square-style crackdown, but he also fears angering and alienating Chinese President Xi JinPing, due to the delicacy of negotiations over a trade agreement and the pain tariffs are inflicting on American farmers and other industries.
This is a fine line the president walks. My only wish is that he would refrain from heaping praise on President Xi -- the type of flattery he has given repeatedly to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Xi, like Kim, is a ruthless autocrat, and while it's okay to be respectful and businesslike, the Trumpster must guard against feeding his rabid critics with more fodder by dishing out unwarranted extolment. It is, as the vernacular goes, a bad look.
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