This is John Batcher speaking to colleague Grant Neutham, Colonel Grant Neutham,

the United States Marine Corps retired for his new book When China Attacks

Awarding to America. Grant very carefully identifies the Chinese goal, hiding their capabilities

as long as it took for buildup.

And then he remembers a conversation he had with a member of the National Security Council in the

late 20th century. It is surprising to learn that at that point 30 years ago America

believed that China was not a threat.

More of this later this week, Grant Newsom, when China attacks awarding to America.

Ultimately, it was a charade, a false face, as you said. America. on them until fairly recent times, but the idea of regional domination, paying back their

enemies for supposed past wrongs, and ultimately domination, or the domination of the communist system

worldwide and probably into outer space as well if you listen to them that has

always been the objective but but as was said, I think by Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader,

you know, bide your time, hide your capabilities and don't show your teeth.

But and that's how they did it and it worked very well. They

presented this facade of a country that just wanted to make money, wanted to get

rich, wasn't interested in foreign affairs, getting involved in that nasty business,

had no military objectives beyond just maintaining control in the PRC. I remember actually asking the very prominent guy at the National

Security Council, this would have been the early 90s. I said, what happens when China gets

a Navy that can operate worldwide and he assured me that

China had no interest in a blue water navy just wouldn't happen and that was