China is creeping up on a former U.S. airstrip as a potential military base. The Pentagon’s focus on platform investments may distract it from stopping the next Chinese land grab.
- Craig Singleton, adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former diplomat, said the United States must figure out levers of influence in countries where China is interested in developing military installations.
- Singleton said Beijing is “hardly content” to limit military interests to the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea and is building a network around the world.
- The United States can take a low-cost approach to undermine China’s intentions by helping other countries become aware of loopholes in port agreements China is offering, explained Singleton.
