The news media and Democrats are creating panic over market corrections and China’s reaction to President Trump’s tariffs. but in reality the tariffs against China are designed to protect national security against the Chinese military. China’s military spending mirrors its trade deficit with the United States. For example, China announced its military spending in 2024 was $231 billion similar to the previous year. China’s trade deficit with the US in 2024 was $294 billion. In 2022, China budgeted $230 billion for military spending, but spent $292. Its trade deficit with the US in 2022 was $382 billion. A similar pattern has taken place since the 1990s—China uses the US trad deficit for its military spending.
Trump makes no bones about China’s use of its trade deficit with the US to increase military spending. He said, “China is a massive surplus. That they take and they spend on their military we don’t want that. I don’t want them to take $500 billion, $600 billion a year and spend it on their military. I don’t want them spending money on their military.” In the decade from 2014-2024, Chinese military spending increase 61% from $182 billion to $296 billion. During that time the US trade deficit with China has fluctuated from a low of $279 billion (2023—most recent under Trump) to a high of $418 billion (2018—also under Trump), averaging $351 billion over the ten-year period. Every president since Bill Clinton allowed China Most Favored Nation trading status has seen China’s military spending increase with the increasing US trade deficit.
China says it will fight to the end over Trump tariffs, sending chills down the spines of the news media and Democratic Party politicians. China’s Foreign Ministry Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday, “I believe the actions of the US side do not reflect a willingness to engage in serious dialogue.” He said that the US should “adopt an attitude of equality, respect and reciprocity” if it “truly wants to negotiate.” A lack of equality and reciprocity is exactly what China has been doing for decades in trading with the US. It’s the same old communist playbook—accuse your opponent of exactly what you, yourself, is doing. In this case, China has adjusted its tariffs and manipulated its currency for greater advantage over the US for decades. There is nothing fair, equitable or reciprocal about China trade policy toward the US.
Democrats and the media are focused on the near term. They think the sky is falling because markets are correcting and China is upset over Trump tariffs. They think they can win Americans against Trump if they fearmonger enough. They should be focused on the national security threat China has become because of the trade deficits with the US. China increasingly has become aggressive over Taiwan. China has become more strident in its rhetoric against the US and in favor of Russia and Iran. Our national security is at stake. Proverbs 14:8 says, “The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.” Don’t be fooled by the deceitful panic about trade with China. It’s, say it with me…Stupidocrisy.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/china-us-defense-budget-compared-xi-1875995
https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/CHN/china/trade-balance-deficit
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.CD?locations=cn
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#2014
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-vows-fight-end-trump-raises-tariffs-104-rcna200138
