“A policy of non-participation in international economic and political relations.”
It used to be that a couple of oceans and the Monroe Doctrine would keep them from our shores. But they couldn’t, they can’t, and they won’t leave us alone. Even President Grant had to act to keep the French out of Mexico and off our border.
Right now, China is building a deep water port in the Caribbean, it controls both sides of the Panama Canal, and is wheeling and dealing with every tin horn South American El Supremo they can.
They figure that by attacking and destroying Bremerton and San Diego, by some means, they will have neutralized the US Pacific fleet. And they are very clear about having to “distract” America with a disaster to do so as well. They want the Pacific to be their ocean, not ours.
Yeah, go hide somewhere and ignore the world, full, as it is, of murderous scoundrels, pirates, dictators, conquerors, fanatics and criminals. But don’t expect them to do the same. Ever.
We could solve the Chinese problem very simply, without firing a shot.
Quit sending them money.
Trouble is, the people in DC have gotten us into a position where the “free trade uber alles” rules the day - even to our demise.
Want to take on China and kill the minimum number of people? Then go to DC/NYC and kill some economists - especially the ones that infect the GOP’s foreign policy thinking with the idea that free trade will make dictatorial countries into western democracies. A loonier idea I’ve not yet encountered.
We could kill no more than about 100 people here in the US and then re-establish some common sense in our trade policies that would de-fang China without needing to get into a military engagement. We already are seeing just how sensitive the Chinese economy is to a decline in US consumer spending. Now extrapolate that to a situation where China has no market in the US for all their crap - and they go back to the 1970’s in foreign influence.
Sadly, we’re now addicted to their purchase of our debt.
It’s going to be a long road out of this quagmire.
“We should follow the foreign policy advice of the Founders – friendship and commerce with all nations.”
Does that really sound like non-participation to you??