Chinese expansionism and global influence are facing sharp scrutiny at the 27th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) in Manila. US lawmakers and security experts denounce Beijing's military aggression, economic coercion, and political interference in democracies worldwide.
In a joint naval drill in the East China Sea on December 27, 2022, Chinese and Russian warships participated. China's aggressive expansionism and expanding global influence came under intense scrutiny at the 27th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) in Manila. Security experts and US lawmakers expressed warnings about Beijing's escalating military aggression, economic coercion, and covert political interference in democracies worldwide.
Held at the Batasang Pambansa, the forum featured strong criticism from former US Congressman Robert Pittenger, US Senator Bill Cassidy, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger.The speakers accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of using military expansionism, political infiltration, and economic subversion to undermine the global order. Pottinger, the PI-SF’s founder, characterized China as a major supporter of authoritarian governments. “We have many challenges in the world today, spawned in large part by the nemesis in this region—China,” he said. “We are affected in Iran, North Korea, and Russia. For each of those threats and challenges we have, much of their commitment, their support, and their investment come from China. We all understand that.”Pittenger cited China’s military and economic connections with Russia, North Korea, and Iran, cautioning that its support inflames conflicts and gives authoritarian rulers more confidence. He also emphasized how China uses illegal financial networks, economic extortion, and cyberwarfare to impose political control over weaker countries. “This mission began 10 years ago with the sole purpose of providing information so that you could make good decisions,” Pittenger said. “We learned that through the state revelations, there were many people who didn’t understand the oversights related to what we do to manage information sharing and intelligence sharing,” he added. Meanwhile, Cassidy, speaking via video message, accused Beijing of using corruption as a weapon to undermine democracies. “The geopolitical importance of the Philippines as both a freedom-loving world and to the Chinese Communist Party is quite evident. Yet, it’s got the whip of its brain on it. There would never be a war with China that the Philippines would be unable to win. One of the main reasons we’re at odds with China is because they do not respect international rules, principles, or norms,” he said. Cassidy cautioned that China uses illegal financial incentives to co-opt foreign leaders and render them economically reliant. He claimed that by investing in infrastructure and development projects in disadvantaged countries, the CCP then uses such countries as leverage for geopolitical dominance.Outrage in Manila has been stoked by Beijing’s unlawful forays into the West Philippine Sea, its construction of manmade islands, and its harassment of Filipino fishermen. Cassidy also cited China’s extensive practice of debt-trap diplomacy, which involves using large infrastructure loans to influence governments in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.For his part, Pottinger described China’s strategy as a “silent Cold War,” using disinformation, economic dependency, and military intimidation to subvert democratic values. “For too long, we have indulged the fantasy that economic engagement would liberalize China….But Chinese leaders we now know have shown tremendous determination to avoid the fate of the Soviet Union less by emulating democracies than by exploiting, outmaneuvering, and undermining them,” he said. Pottinger attacked China’s response to Covid-19, claiming that Beijing’s suppression of the Wuhan epidemic caused a worldwide calamity. He also referred to China as “the biggest polluter in the world” and denounced its environmental damage, unfair trade practices, and intellectual property theft. Citing Beijing’s “no-limits” agreement with Vladimir Putin shortly before Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he issued a warning about China’s close relations to authoritarian nations.In order to resist Beijing’s pressure, Pottinger called on democratic countries to fortify military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, limit China’s access to Western cash and technology, outlaw CCP-controlled platforms like WeChat and TikTok, and fortify political and economic ties. “For years, Chinese leaders have hidden their true intentions behind the facade of a country eager to join the international system and willing to abide by its norms. Dual messaging, that is, deceptive external propaganda for foreign ears twinned with authoritative internal guidance for party members, comes naturally with the party,” he added. In addition to calling on democratic leaders to oppose China’s economic lures and reveal its influence operations, Cassidy emphasized the necessity of more robust anti-corruption laws
CHINA GLOBAL INFLUENCE MILITARY AGGRESSION ECONOMIC COERCION POLITICAL INTERFERENCE DEMOCRACY PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE-SECURITY FORUM (PI-SF) MANILA US LAWMAKERS SECURITY EXPERTS
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