As the sun rises on a new Trump-era geopolitical chapter, Washington confronts a defining choice: Will America view the People’s Republic of China and its regnant Communist Party through the rose-colored lens of transaction and diplomacy, or will it soberly recognize Beijing as America’s foremost geopolitical adversary in a multigenerational cold war? The stakes could not be higher, and the answer ought to be simple. We should stop treating China with kid gloves—as a spirited economic or diplomatic competitor—and start treating it as the existential challenge to the American republic and the American way of life that it demonstrably is. In June, federal prosecutors in Michigan charged multiple Chinese nationals with conspiring to smuggle dangerous biological pathogens into the United States for use in American university research laboratories. The case centered on Fusarium graminearum, a fungus widely classified as a “potential agroterrorism weapon” because of its ability to ravage crops and cause serious harm to humans and livestock. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants received funding from the Chinese government and brought the pathogen into the U.S. for ostensible “lab work” at the University of Michigan. As if the University of Michigan needed to use smugglers to acquire research materials. This should have triggered alarm bells for anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear: Chinese researchers allegedly attempted to slip biological threats past U.S. borders under the guise of legitimate scholarship. The implications are chilling. In a world still scarred by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic—which, lest we forget, originated in Wuhan, China—we cannot afford to dismiss biohazard incidents like this as anomalous. What’s more, in November, additional charges were brought in Michigan against a third Chinese national in connection with similar smuggling allegations. This is part of a pattern of deep, yearslong subversion on American soil. How quickly many have forgotten that in 2023, federal agents discovered a Chinese biolab in California. As confirmed by testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins, the biolab contained at least 20 potentially infectious agents—including HIV, malaria, and COVID-19. And when the issue isn’t biological warfare, it’s information warfare—including the abundance of Chinese Communist Party-supported Confucius Institutes that have long proliferated as hubs of Chinese agitprop on American university campuses, as well as chronic attempts at corporate espionage and potentially vast surveillance and manipulation of Americans through TikTok and other means. Does anyone think any of this is acceptable behavior? Amid these concerns, the Trump administration has just signaled a troubling shift in its export control posture by permitting NVIDIA to sell certain high-performance artificial intelligence chips—including the company’s advanced H200 series processors—to China. This decision severely reduces the United States’ comparative computing and semiconductor advantage over China, thereby abetting the boosting of China’s military and surveillance capabilities at a time of heightened and harrowing great power competition. There is no economic justification for such a strategic empowerment of our preeminent adversary. These chips are the engines that drive modern AI. Allowing their sale to China, no matter the regulatory strings attached, is senseless. Concurrently, tensions in the Indo-Pacific are rapidly escalating. Just days ago, Japanese authorities protested after a Chinese military aircraft locked its fire-control radar onto Japanese fighter jets near Okinawa—an extraordinary action Tokyo rightly described as unjustified and threatening. The incident, in which a Chinese J-15 fighter intermittently targeted Japanese F-15s for minutes at a time, was denounced by U.S. officials as a destabilizing provocation. China’s aggressive posture toward Japan—a treaty-bound American ally under the U.S. security umbrella—reflects Beijing’s broader strategy to reshape the regional status quo. China is testing not only Japan’s resolve, but America’s commitment to its formal allies. China wishes that the region—and eventually, the entire world—be refashioned in its image. If Tokyo falters under Beijing’s pressure, it will embolden China’s ambitions and only further incentivize a People’s Liberation Army invasion of Taiwan. The rest, as they say, could be history. Could be. It’s not too late for history to take a different course. And President Donald Trump, who deserves tremendous credit as the first president since Richard Nixon visited Chairman Mao to fundamentally reset U.S.-China relations, must not now go wobbly. The U.S. must pursue an Indo-Pacific strategy that prioritizes Chinese containment—not mollycoddling or empowering. This means an all-of-the-above diplomatic, economic, and military strategy rooted in the cultivation and maintenance of robust, durable alliances—above all, those with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and Taiwan. Washington should accelerate intelligence sharing, expand joint military exercises, and deepen economic integration with these nations. The goal isn’t provocation with China, but time-tested “peace through strength”-style deterrence. Lecturing allies and telling them to settle down, as Trump allegedly recently did on a phone call with Japan’s precocious new prime minister, is not helpful. The Chinese Communist Party views the West—particularly the United States—not as a partner but as a rival to be surpassed and supplanted. Beijing’s posture and actions are consistent with those aimed at an adversary in a long, grinding cold war. Washington needs to view Beijing in the same way. American leaders must not confuse transactional engagement with strategic trust. They must not treat menacing geopolitical rivals as anodyne export customers. Nor can they treat valuable geopolitical allies as pawns whose legitimate concerns can be easily discarded for the short-term thrill of appeasement. The long, cold dawn of this century’s defining geopolitical struggle is well upon us, and America must stand firm. Communist China is certainly doing so. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Don’t Go Wobbly on China appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Active Shooter at Brown University

While the children may be nestled all snug in their beds, with visions of iPhones dancing in their heads, I hope, dear parents, that you will think twice about the gift of technology this Christmas.No doubt a shiny new smartphone, Nintendo Switch, Meta Virtual Reality headset, or cool AI toy will be at the top of many children’s and teens’ Christmas lists this year. However, these “gifts” can arrive with hidden costs: anxiety, sleep loss, social pressures, addictive algorithms, exposure to pornography, a connection to predators, and development of a gaming addiction. Many parents buy the myth that their child is immune from online risks or think that relying solely on parental controls will be enough.To that end, Enough Is Enough just released its Naughty and Nice List of Holiday Gifts for Children and Teens that provides a much-needed guide of gifts to buy and to avoid. Perhaps it’s no surprise, but AI toys, smartphones, and Roblox gift cards are on the “naughty" list.Even in my own family, I know that resisting the pressure to give tech products is strong. My grandsons want Roblox gift cards, so they can continue to play the online games they have enjoyed for years.But the so-called “reward” of tech does not always outweigh the risks. The reality is that the online exploitation of minor children is a global pandemic, and it's growing exponentially worse, year after year.At the very foundation, an internet-connected device is literally handing a child both the good, bad, and dangerous digital world — no guardrails, no safety net, no filters. A gaming platform will inevitably lead to increased screen time, possibly even leading to an online gaming disorder — now a DSM-5 mental disorder. Virtual reality is designed to feel real and may even become preferable to a teen.Digging deeper, the risks are even greater than parents might realize. Many parents buy the myth that their child is immune from online risks or think that relying solely on parental controls will be enough.But consider these sobering facts:Younger and younger children are being targeted “on an industrial scale” by internet groomers, with a three-fold increase in imagery showing 7- to 10-year-olds. Global financial sextortion is one of the fastest growing crimes targeting children, in particular minor-aged boys. The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health indicated social media could pose a “profound risk of harm” to the mental health and well-being of children, stating it’s a “defining public health challenge of our times.”Predators use social media and even online gaming sites to groom children. A California man was recently sentenced for luring minors through Snapchat before sexually assaulting them. The FBI reported that a 22-year-old man used Discord to groom minors and sexually extort them.The aforementioned Roblox — a gaming platform extremely popular with children — enables predators to contact children and is facing over 35 lawsuits as a result. The platform was described by Hindenburg Research as an “X-rated pedophile’s hellscape.” Parents should rethink buying Roblox gift cards this holiday season.Moreover a congressional hearing where two Meta whistleblowers testified confirmed every parent’s worst nightmare: If their children have used Meta’s virtual reality devices, their children have likely been sexually exploited.RELATED: How smartphones expose your kids to predators — and why Congress must step in Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesParents need to be aware of the growing trend of AI toys, falsely marketed as safe and educational for kids as young as 2. Most AI toys are powered by the same AI technology that has already harmed children, and the embedded chatbots are programmed to listen and speak with the child like a trusted friend and mimic human emotions. Examples include: Loona Robot Dog and Smart Teddy.Recently, an AI teddy bear marketed to children told a tester “where to find knives, pills, and matches when asked ... spoke graphically about sex positions, sexual kinks, and ‘teacher-student role-play.’”As our society becomes increasingly tech-focused, parents are becoming more aware of the negative impact tech can have on their children. But can they win the battle with their kids over the latest tech and more tech time?Schools nationwide are rapidly embracing smartphone-free schools because they are distracting to students. Many schools are reporting success, and even students themselves have seen the benefits of not having their phones on them during school hours.Some parents are wisely rethinking handing their phones to their children as a way to calm or distract them. One couple used a smartphone to pacify their 6-month-old daughter, saying they’d hand it to her frequently. Despite that the phone worked to calm the little girl down, the parents eventually realized it wasn’t what they intended, saying their daughter was “zoned in” on the phone.They may think you’re the Grinch, but the rewards of a tech-free holiday are great. You may be asking: If not an internet-connected tech gift, what do you suggest?I realize that deciding on something else to give will take a little creativity.Many children — especially older ones — enjoy experiences. Teens may relish time spent with their families taking a cooking class, going bowling, going to sporting events, or trying out an axe-throwing venue. Children of any age could appreciate an outing to a retro arcade, new board games, books, or art kits.Even an outing to their favorite restaurant — where quality time can be spent with mom or dad — is a great option. In lieu of a material present, some families have successfully planned a place to visit or vacation together.Instead of using the holidays to reinforce potentially unhealthy tech habits or introduce new tech gifts, consider delaying tech by not giving in to the notion that children need tech to be happy and productive. Grandparents my age remember fondly a merry childhood well before the computer and internet technologies were invented.They may think you’re the Grinch, but the rewards of a tech-free holiday are great. And maybe, just maybe, your children will have sugarplums instead of iPhones dancing in their heads.

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