Peter Beinart tells us in the NYT that the left is generally pleased with Biden’s support of Ukraine, but worries he is pushing us into a new Cold War with China, which will result in higher defense spending and a sluggish international response to climate change. In other words, the left is softer on China than it is on Russia. Does that make sense?
All you have to do is look at a map to understand the strategic significance of Taiwan, which is clearly under threat from China. If the Chinese invade, or find a better way to take control of Taiwan, they will be the complete masters of their sphere of influence, and Japan and South Korea will inevitably become vassal states. This can only be prevented by patient diplomacy and a buildup of our military forces in the region. Both of these are happening as we speak.
I can’t help but think that the left dislikes Putin more than Xi because he purports to be an ally of Trump and the American right in a universal war against wokeness. If I’m correct, the left is almost as deluded as the right on this issue; Putin is a ruthless imperialist and an autocrat, not a champion of traditional values.