China's Attack on America

Google's disclosure that Chinese-based hackers infiltrated Google's network, including accessing the email accounts of Chinese activists, led to reports that 34 companies had their networks breached. Subsequent news stories expanded on Chinese cyber attacks directed against the American government.

The hidden nature of such attacks, and the ability of the Chinese government to deny their involvement, cannot mean that we simply must grin our teeth and bear it. The Obama administration is reported to feel constrained to press China hard on this due to a lack of definitive proof, but such a standard will only embolden China to continue making such attacks against America.

We need to make China pay a real price for such behavior, or we will never stop it.

How Much Do I Love Thee?

The Obama administration delivered another gift to labor unions, by imposing tariffs on tires imported from China.

So Americans can pay higher prices for tires and have worse relations with China - so Obama can deliver more favors to the unions.

A few days later, Obama spoke to union members in Pennsylvania and Ohio asking for their support for this health care plans.

If you think that's a coincidence, I've got a bridge you can buy.

China Games

China seems to be up to its old tricks. In a recent incident, five Chinese ships surrounded the USNS Impeccable, a U.S. Navy surveillance ship, in international waters. The five Chinese vessels harassed the Impeccable and its crew, before the ships separated.

This is reminiscent of an incident during the first few months of the Bush administration, when in April 2001 one of our surveillance planes collided with a Chinese fighter jet that was pressuring our plane to leave its patrol area. Our plane had to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil, which prompted China to hold its crew and plane hostage before releasing the crew (but they kept the plane).

The incident's significance lie in China's efforts to test the mettle of President Obama. Our response should be to increase our patrols and surveillance activities, to demonstrate we won't be intimated.

I wonder if, in fact, we are doing that.