China is the largest threat to America. Many will scoff and suggest that Russia, Iran, or some entity within the Middle East as being the largest threat. Those seem like the obvious threats on paper. But, China has engaged in a long game against America’s beacon and model of freedom. The desire to crush the examples of technological innovation, economic wealth, prosperity, and overall well being of a true nation that is operated by the will of the people is their ultimate goal. Many capitalist enterprises that trace their founding to America have allowed the Chinese government to infringe upon their liberties, in return for a new customer base. The most telling example of this is the recent outrage over the NBA reprimanding any player or affiliated individual who shows support for the protesters in Hong Kong, who are clinging to their freedom while on the cusp of militant Chinese control.
Unfortunately, our elected officials have been “playing footsie” with China for decades. Originally, the idea of exposing China to aspects of capitalism in order to spawn ideological change to the communist nation was the tactic deployed by Washington D.C. Allowing them to feel the benefits of engaging in free market trade was thought to be a way of eliciting a sea change to their authoritarianism. This has now shown fruitless, as the aspects that would become the opiate of to their masses were manipulated to look like capitalism on the surface, but maintaining it’s totalitarianism behind the economic facade. We have compounded this problem with the corruption of individuals within our own government, who have embolden China’s trajectory as they lined their own pockets. Whether it be accepting exorbitant amounts of money in which to run presidential re-election campaign back in the 1990’s, or its using the influence of their positions as public servants to install relatives, spouses, and siblings into roles that enrich their families as a whole, we’ve perforated our national security for personal, financial gain.
It now looks as though the United States Military itself is now infiltrated with Chinese operatives.
Four individuals, including two Chinese nationals, an active-duty United States Navy officer, and his wife, were indicted on charges relating to a conspiracy to unlawfully smuggle military-style inflatable boats, with Evinrude MFE military outboard motors, to the People’s Republic of China.
The Navy officer and two other defendants have also been charged with conspiring to violate firearms law, and the Navy officer has been charged with an additional firearms-related offense and with making false official statements.
The four defendants charged in the indictment are: Fan Yang, 34, a naturalized citizen of the United States and Lieutenant in the United States Navy residing in Jacksonville, Florida; Yang Yang, 33, wife of Fan Yang, and a naturalized citizen of the United States residing in Jacksonville, Florida; Ge Songtao, 49, a citizen and resident of the People’s Republic of China; and Zheng Yan, 27, a citizen and resident of the People’s Republic of China. The defendants were arrested on Oct. 17, 2019, and are currently detained.
All four defendants have been charged with conspiring to submit false export information and to fraudulently attempt to export articles from the United States. Additionally, Yang Yang, Ge Songtao, and Zheng Yan have been charged with causing the submission of false and misleading information into the U.S. Automated Export System, and fraudulently attempting to export seven vessels and eight engines.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
We will keep you posted on this developing situation.
Adrian Slade Show 