Exclude China, Include Taiwan from the Vital RIMPAC Exercise

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

The Rim of the Pacific naval exercise set to begin a week from today is a perfect metaphor for President Obama’s failed security policies. 

The unstated reason for this massive, month-long drill, known as RIMPAC, is to demonstrate shared resolve and improve regional capabilities to resist the growing threat posed by Communist China.  

Both purposes are undermined, however, by Team Obama’s decision to allow China to participate. Former U.S. Pacific commander Admiral “Ace” Lyons warns that China’s five ships will be able to collect vital intelligence on ours and our allies’ – including insights into how we plan to fight them should that be necessary. 

Adm. Lyons recommends that we invite Taiwan to participate in RIMPAC.  Doing so would have two benefits:  First, we’d stop excluding an important democratic nation explicitly threatened by China, and second, the Chinese would surely drop out.     

This is Frank Gaffney.