Former National Security Advisor on challenges between U.S. and China
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - In a pre-taped segment for Sunday's Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan spoke with Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster (Ret.) about some of the current challenges between the United States and China.
I think China's sending a message, ‘Hey, we're in charge now. You're finished’ to the west and to the United States. And I think it's indicative of what they hope to achieve...which is to create kind of an exclusionary area of primacy across the Indo-Pacific region. They've laid claim to the ocean in the South China Sea, for example. So I think this really calls for us to have a strong response, I think, you know, with Secretary Blinken’s visit there, it may portray a bit of weakness."
When asked what he meant by that, McMaster said, "I think we've been so anxious to have this discussion with the Chinese and the Chinese have been really playing hard-to-get in terms of the discussion. I think what they hope with the optics of this meeting, and I'm sure Secretary Blinken is quite aware of this is, to create a perception that we're going there to pay homage to the Chinese Communist Party, because they want to use that kind of perception of China's strength relative the United States to bludgeon countries in the region and say, ‘Hey, time to bandwagon with us. This is our era, what they call the new era of international relations.'"
During the interview, when Brennan mentioned that during the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union communicate in regards to "military incidents to avoid escalation," she asked McMaster if the framework between the U.S. and China, since they don't have one, is ambiguous, at risk, or if it's a choice.
"We must always say, 'Hey the doors open for that kind of communication.' But I think it's up to the Chinese Communist Party, it takes two to be willing to have that kind of that kind of that line open. The CCP has become very aggressive, not only against the United States, but a broad range of nations, and not even to mention, no short of military aggression, how about cyber attacks? How about campaigns of economic aggression against Australia, Lithuania and others? So I think it's important to look at the behavior of the party, because they talk a great game right- the new era of great power relationship, you know, a community of common destiny for all mankind. That sounds like a great program, right? That's not what I would want to sign up for, though, with the Chinese Communist Party in charge," McMaster responded.
