China: Top Threat To American Secuity

Russia, Russia, Russia. Americans have been spoon-fed a diet of news about Russian election interference, cyber attacks and military incursions. As a result of the frenzied coverage, most people are convinced Russia is the chief menace to America.  However, China stands as a far greater threat.

China's aggressive military spending, its extensive cyber spy network and its burgeoning economic dominance make the nation of 1.3 billion people a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.  The Asian superpower dwarfs Russia economically, technologically and militarily.

While Russian hackers have intruded computer networks, no country has compromised U.S. government and business security to the extent of the Chinese.  Most experts agree the Chinese have stolen more secrets than Russia to the detriment of America's security and industry.

Just this year a Chinese government hacker invaded the computers of a Navy contractor, stealing massive amounts of highly sensitive data related to undersea warfare.  The theft included secret plans for the development of a supersonic anti-ship missile for deployment on Navy submarines.

Website Security Today concluded that China is the number one culprit in stealing business intellectual property of U.S. companies.  By some estimates, countries pillage almost $600 million in American intellectual property annually.  Most of that economic damage is perpetrated by China.

Four in ten cyber attacks on American government agencies, defense and high-tech companies originate or can be traced back to China.  While Russia and North Korea are also prowling cyber space, the Chinese have been the most active and most successful in hijacking America's secrets.

Economically, China ranks second only to the United States.  China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a measure of economic output, is $24 trillion.  However, many economic experts believe China has already surpassed America if the statistics are adjusted for purchasing power.

China's manufacturing output overtook the U.S. almost a decade ago. Its exports are more than a third-larger than America.  Since 1978 when China initiated economic reforms, the GDP has grown tenfold.  The country has a work force of 806 million people, compared to 129 million for the U.S.

China's economy is averaging almost seven percent real growth per year.  The annual growth rate from 2015 to 2017 was 6.9 percent, 6.7 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively. During the same period, U.S. growth averaged less than three percent.  Russia's economy was virtually flat by comparison.

The China boom has allowed the nation to expand its global influence by investing in virtually every country worldwide.  By CIA estimates, China had direct foreign investment of $1.34 trillion in 2017. These investments purchase political and economic influence in a host of nations.

Using its new economic wealth, China has pumped up its defense budget.  Today its military spending is almost four times larger than Russia.  The Chinese are producing more weapons, buying the latest military technology and increasing defense research and development.

Even increased military spending by America will not close the gap soon.  That's because about one-half of America's defense budget goes to military personnel.  By comparison, soldiers' pay makes up a tiny portion of the military budget for China.  The lion's share goes to purchasing new weaponry.

China already boasts a powerful military and it is expanding rapidly.  The Chinese are building more aerial combat fighters, attack submarines, destroyers and are developing a super carrier for its Navy.  According to the CIA, China ranks first worldwide in combat aircraft, battle tanks and submarines.

While Russia has interfered in Ukraine and Syria, the Chinese have been on an island-building spree in the South China Sea to spread its military footprint. China has constructed port facilities, military buildings and airstrips on the man-made islands located more than 500 miles from the mainland.

The island buildup has become a major point of contention between the U.S. and China.  The installations pose a potential threat to about $1.2 trillion in bilateral trade that flows through the South China sea. The islands also enable sustained Chinese air and sea patrols far from its border.

In addition, the Chinese are the main sponsor for the rogue regime in nuclear-armed North Korea. Without China's purchase of North Korean coal and other products, the dictatorship would collapse.  No wonder Kim Jong Un doesn't mind kissing the ring of China's benevolent leader Xi Jinping.

Russia, under Vladimir Putin,  will always be on the threat radar.  But China represents the bigger challenge because of its growing military, economic and foreign influence.  The Chinese goal is to become the world's top superpower.  If achieved, American and global security will be at risk.