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(Daily Signal)—When President Joe Biden steps down in January, he’ll hand his successor a world far more dangerous than the one he inherited four years ago. Under his watch, the U.S. returned Afghanistan to the barbarous Taliban and watched wars break out in Europe and the Middle East. But when all is said and done, history may judge Biden most harshly for his failure to hold Beijing to account for its aggression in the South China Sea. If not reversed, this appeasement could invite a war even more horrific than the ones currently underway.
Last month, the Philippines—an ally with whom America has a defense treaty and security commitment—was forced to withdraw a coast guard vessel it had anchored at Sabina Shoal, an atoll well within its exclusive economic zone that China claims as its own. Beijing besieged the shoal to block Manila from resupplying the ship it had placed there to prevent a Chinese takeover. With the ship badly damaged by the ramming it endured, and some of its crew members in need of medical attention, Manila had little choice but to abandon the shoal, which is now vulnerable to Chinese occupation.
The saga over Sabina Shoal came on the heels of a nearly yearlong standoff over the Philippines’ efforts to resupply personnel stationed on a crumbling World War II-era vessel beached on Second Thomas Shoal. That standoff ended after the two sides entered a “provisional agreement” that enabled the Philippines to resupply the ship.
That Beijing should dictate how Manila can operate within its own exclusive economic zone is outrageous. That the U.S. didn’t come to its ally’s defense as Chinese ships rammed holes into Philippine vessels is unconscionable.
During the height of the drama over Second Thomas Shoal, Biden reiterated that if Beijing crossed the threshold into armed conflict, America would come to Manila’s defense. It was an important reminder of Washington’s commitment, but such statements are the equivalent of giving China a green light to continue engaging in activities short of open warfare.
Biden should have known better after what he experienced as President Barack Obama’s vice president. In 2012, the Obama administration watched China illegally seize Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines. The next year, Beijing started building artificial islands to fortify its claims over several other rocks and underwater shoals in the contested Spratly Islands, sending the entire region in an uproar.
Obama protested to no avail, then warned Beijing not to militarize the islands, which it proceeded to do with no consequences.
The fact that China and the Philippines aren’t shooting at each other might partially explain the administration’s false sense of security. But Beijing’s incursions are part of a sophisticated strategy of gray zone warfare designed to extract concessions without the costs and risks associated with war. If they are allowed to continue, the best-case scenario will be that Beijing gradually occupies much of the territory it claims in the South China Sea without firing a shot, strengthening its position in one of the world’s most strategic waterways and making the region far more dangerous for the U.S. and its allies.
Even more worrying is the ever-present risk of war resulting from these incursions. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has publicly warned that any Filipino death resulting from China’s actions would be “very close to what we define as an act of war.” There have been a frightening number of encounters over the past year that could have easily led to such an outcome. Indeed, the transition from gray zone incursions to all-out war appears to be just one miscalculation away, and if that happens, the U.S. will find itself in a hot war with its most capable adversary. More must be done to ensure this outcome never occurs.
To preserve peace, the next U.S. president will need to abandon Biden’s timidity and actively push China back from the precipice of war. This will require intense diplomacy of the sort rarely seen since the end of the Cold War. It will be unpleasant, but that’s the nature of the brinkmanship Beijing is engaged in.
It may also require physically intervening to call China’s bluff and force it to stand down. For example, the U.S. should strongly consider sending Coast Guard or Navy vessels to accompany Philippine resupply missions or to escort a Philippine ship to replace the vessel that withdrew from Sabina Shoal last month.
Such actions would not be overly provocative, provided they are carried out in a professional manner that is designed not to needlessly humiliate Beijing, but they would give China a powerful ultimatum—pick a fight with the U.S. or back down. Beijing would choose the latter; the last thing it wants is to overplay its hand and end up in a war with the U.S.
China is engaged in a high-stakes game of chicken in which the side that flinches first loses. This works to its advantage when it goes head-to-head against the Philippines, but with the U.S. firmly on its ally’s side and willing to mobilize to show its support, the tables will turn and China will be forced to back down. But it won’t do so until it’s sure the United States is serious.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
