DOD Officials: Growing Aggression from China, North Korea Is Not Biden’s FaultKristina Wong 17 Mar 2022
Although top Pentagon officials recognized that China and North Korea have become more aggressive than ever in recent years, they refused to say it is tied to the Biden administration’s time in office during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner agreed with Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) that the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is more than before.
Pacific Command Commander Navy Adm. John Aquilino also agreed there is “increased aggression.”
Banks then cited National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s assertion in August 2019 that the Trump administration’s policies made it more likely that the U.S. was going to be “dragged into a war with China” than before.
Banks asked Ratner if the same could be said 14 months into the Biden administration as both agreed that China’s aggression had only grown since then.
“Dr. Ratner, what, what’s changed? What’s changed between the summer of 2019 and where we sit today? What is the fundamental difference in our foreign policy today that led to an increased aggression, as Admiral defined it, and China’s posture toward Taiwan. What’s different? Why now?” Banks asked.
“I don’t attribute Xi Jinping is growing aggression and assertiveness to the United States,” Ratner said.
Banks pressed further, “OK, what’s changed? What’s changed?”
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https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/03/17/dod-officials-growing-aggression-china-north-korea-not-bidens-fault/
