Cadence of Conflict: Asia, January 25, 2021

China thinks they own the American president they helped install. Reportedly, a factory was set up in China to create fake ballots, likely as part of the election fraud network Biden boasted about on TV. But, politicians who steal elections stand against the will of the people by definition. Usually, the public doesn’t find out, which allows those politicians to govern to a limited degree. But, when the public knows a politician willfully stands against the people, that leader can only remain in power with an iron fist.

Iron fists don’t gel with America. That’s something China will eventually figure out the hard way. Biden will figure it out the hard way sooner. China believes chaos in America will work to China’s military advantage. It won’t. When the people turn on Biden, he will turn on China like the forked-tongue politician he is. That will be his attempt to gain unity in the American public against a common enemy. He will pound and shame China harder than Trump would have.

So, in a sense, when the Chinese were set up for disappointment, they not only took the bait; they made it even worse for themselves. They don’t like other countries meddling in their goals, yet they reportedly melded in America’s election. Good old-fashioned honesty and respect would have served them well. Instead, the Chinese gambled on trusting an experienced American politician.

Indo-Pacific

Chinese Survey Ship Caught ‘Running Dark’ Give Clues to Underwater Drone Operations // USNI News

Trade & Tech

Huawei smartphones will lose another Google service soon // GizChina (China)

Trump Halts Huawei Supply in Final China Blow, Reuters Says // Bloomberg

China

Companies are giving up on the United States and betting big on China // CNN

China authorises coast guard to fire on foreign vessels // Aljazeera

PLA troops in South China Sea learn ‘essential’ battlefield English // SCMP

China’s first deep-water oil platform ready to set off for South China Sea // CGTN (China Govt)

Taiwan

U.S. carrier group enters South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions // NBC News

Military Faceoff

US Navy halts deliveries of Freedom-class littoral combat ship // Defense News