Republicans should issue aid warning over Netanyahu’s China threat
Tom Rogan
Video Embed
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has legitimate grievances with President Joe Biden. He has no good excuse, however, for rebuking House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). McCarthy has provided stalwart support to Israel since entering the speaker’s office.
Still, Netanyahu most certainly did rebuke McCarthy when he published a photo of his meeting with the Chinese ambassador on Wednesday. The image of Netanyahu’s smiling face as he reads a book by America’s preeminent adversary, Xi Jinping, is telling. This photo was clearly designed as a message to America. And not a very nice one.
CHARISMA AND DIPLOMACY: XI TAKES RISK IN MAKING WANG YI FOREIGN POLICY CZAR
The photo follows McCarthy’s call to the Israeli Knesset in May to “strengthen its oversight of foreign investment — particularly Chinese investment.” McCarthy’s words follow similar efforts by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others. They reflect deep American concern over Israel’s willingness to open its impressive high-tech industry, including in the field of artificial intelligence, to Chinese access. The fear? That China has used and is using this Israeli tech access to develop improved People’s Liberation Army capabilities. And while Israel has taken some steps to mitigate this risk, they are woefully insufficient. Moreover, Netanyahu has shown a dedication toward strengthening relations with China. Recently accepting an invitation to visit China later this year, Netanyahu once memorably referred to Israeli-Chinese cooperation as “a match made in heaven.”
The U.S. should not silently tolerate Netanyahu’s stance.
The critical ingredient of any close alliance is the trust that an ally will have your back in the worst-case scenario. Namely, in war. Such support might not entail an ally fighting alongside you, but it must surely mean your ally won’t enable your adversary. This is not a theoretical concern.
Most U.S. military and intelligence analysts believe that China will invade Taiwan by 2030. President Joe Biden has said four times that the U.S. will resist that invasion militarily. Yet, because of advanced People’s Liberation Army capabilities designed to deny the U.S. military access to the East China Sea, China has the capacity to inflict grave losses on the U.S. Hundreds, far more likely thousands, of Americans would die in a war over Taiwan even if China was defeated. But it’s very possible the PLA could defeat the U.S. military.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The question must be asked, then, why is Netanyahu so happy to overtly disregard U.S. security interests regarding China?
As I’ve argued previously, the U.S. should not accept this kowtowing with China from any of its closest allies; be it the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, or New Zealand. And the U.S. shouldn’t accept this from its closest Middle Eastern ally. A nation which the U.S. provides $3.8 billion in aid to every year. Israel’s democratically elected leader, Netanyahu has every right to pursue whatever foreign policy he sees fit. But if Netanyahu is determined to enable China, it would be nonsensical for the U.S. to pay him in tandem.
Republicans should make clear to Netanyahu that he is risking much with his disdainful arrogance.