Topic: South China Sea

The National Security Strategy outlines a desire for unrivaled soft power and a robust industrial base to meet wartime production demands. Regarding Asia, the document clarifies that the US interest in Taiwan is primarily about maintaining military overmatch and protecting shipping lanes in the South China Sea, through which one-third of global shipping passes. The strategy emphasizes that the US does not support unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit to announce a historic upgrade in defense cooperation. The two nations are forming a joint military task force and increasing intelligence sharing to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific. A trilateral summit with the Philippines was also held to address maritime security in the South China Sea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the People's Liberation Army to prepare for maritime military conflicts and improve cyberspace defense. Tensions have escalated in the South China Sea, where Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been ramming and using water cannons against Philippine ships. The conflict centers on competing sovereignty claims within the "Nine-Dash Line," which an international court previously ruled has no legal basis.

During a visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Biden emphasized the importance of the AUKUS deal and warned China against aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Senator Marco Rubio called for the U.S. to establish "red lines" for Iran, suggesting that any attack by proxies should be treated as a direct attack by the Iranian government.

A US-Taiwan defense industry forum in Taipei featured representatives from 25 American defense contractors discussing multi-billion dollar weapons deals. While the U.S. pledges support for Ukraine, significant military hardware, including F-16 fighter jets, is being prioritized for sale to Taiwan. This shift highlights the defense industry's focus on the South China Sea as a more profitable long-term market.

The U.S. reaffirms its defense commitment to the Philippines after a Chinese ship allegedly directed a military-grade laser at a Philippine vessel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed joint patrols to ensure a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The United States and the Philippines announced an agreement granting the US military access to four additional military sites, bringing the total to nine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin finalized the deal to counter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Strategic locations in northern Luzon place US assets within range of shore-based missiles near Taiwan.

China is criticized for breaking a 2015 promise not to militarize the Spratly Islands, where anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles have since been deployed. The Chinese government maintains that "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan is the goal but refuses to rule out other courses of action if necessary. The hosts analyze the "apologist" tone of Chinese representatives in international media.

A retired Navy captain reported that a pilot was forced to eject from an F-35C stealth fighter in the South China Sea due to a severe reaction to a COVID-19 booster. The pilot reportedly experienced intense chest pain, described as being hit with a baseball bat, 72 hours after receiving the shot. The resulting crash on the USS Carl Vinson injured seven crew members.

A Navy nuclear engineer, Jonathan Toebbe, was arrested for attempting to sell submarine secrets to a foreign government using a data card hidden in a peanut butter sandwich. Meanwhile, the USS Connecticut reportedly struck an "unknown object" in the South China Sea. The hosts suggest the sub may have collided with a Chinese vessel in a "hush-hush" incident.

The nuclear-powered submarine USS Connecticut sustained damage after striking an unknown object underwater in the Pacific. While official reports used the broad term "Pacific," other sources indicate the incident occurred in the South China Sea. The collision resulted in several minor injuries to sailors and forced the vessel to return to port for repairs.

The United States and Indonesia are building a new $3.5 million maritime training center at the Malacca Strait to counter Chinese influence. The hosts connect this geopolitical tension to the recent negative COVID-19 reporting coming out of Indonesia.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the British government for banning Huawei from its 5G networks and suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. Pompeo emphasized the need for a global effort to expose the "true face" of the Chinese Communist Party. The U.S. and UK are also working toward a free trade agreement.

President Trump signed the Taipei Act, which threatens consequences for nations that fail to recognize Taiwan's independence. Following the signing, the US sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait. Despite these aggressive diplomatic and military moves, Trump maintained that he has a "great relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping following a lengthy phone call.

Steve Bannon discusses his new film and the geopolitical strategy of "barbarian management" used by China. He advocates for a 72-hour ultimatum for China to remove military assets from the South China Sea. Bannon credits Trump with reorienting the global supply chain away from East Asia through the new NAFTA deal.

China considers the South China Sea to be an internal territorial sea, ignoring international court rulings to the contrary. Steve Bannon warned that the Chinese regime views its sovereignty over this region as non-negotiable and is prepared to defend it. He predicted that the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea would eventually lead to a "shooting war."

George Clooney calls for a boycott of the Sultan of Brunei's luxury hotels in response to new Sharia laws punishing gay sex with stoning. The hosts argue Clooney is being used as a "distraction" to mask geopolitical tensions. They point to a joint venture between Brunei and China regarding a strategic port in the South China Sea, suggesting the boycott is actually a move to pressure a key partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China is inevitable and refused to renounce the use of military force to achieve it. Taiwan's president rejected the "one country, two systems" framework proposed by Beijing. The discussion notes that China has been using economic pressure to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.

Vice President Mike Pence issued a warning to Beijing, accusing China of a coordinated campaign to undermine President Trump and meddle in U.S. elections. This comes amid an escalating trade war and planned U.S. military exercises in the South China Sea. The hosts question if this is a distraction from the Russia narrative.

The hosts discuss perceived cultural incompatibilities with China, citing reports of rude behavior by Chinese tourists. They acknowledge the deep integration of Chinese technology and finance with the U.S. but support Trump's "hard-sell" approach to stopping Chinese expansion in the South China Sea.