KENNEDY: THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT REGULARLY CALLS
TAIWAN THE MOST SENSITIVE AND
IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH THE
UNITED STATES.
AND NOW THEY'RE RAISING THE
STAKES EVEN HIGHER.
AND IT COULD HAVE MAJOR
RAMIFICATIONS FOR OUR
MILITARY.
SENT FIGHTER JETS AND BOMBERS
TO PATROL TAIWAN AND A SENIOR
CHINESE DIPLOMAT AROUND THAT
BEIJING WOULD INVADE THE
SELF-GOVERNED ISLAND IF ANY
U.S. WARSHIPS MADE PORT VISITS
THERE.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS LEGALLY
OBLIGATED BY TAIWAN RELATIONS
ACT, THE TRA AS YOU KNOW TO
RESPOND TO ANY CHINESE USE OF
FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN AND WHILE
THE AGREEMENT IS NOT AS
BINDING THE DEFENSE TREATY,
MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WASHINGTON
IS LIKELY TO INTERVENE IF
CHINA INVADES.
SO WHY IS CHINA PUSHING OUR
BUTTONS?
AND WILL THIS LEAD TO OUR
HOST AND THE COMBAT VETERAN
BRIAN SUITS.
WELCOME BACK.
>> HEY, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
KENNEDY: LET'S DISCUSS THIS A
LITTLE BIT.
DOES CHINA WANT A HOT WAR WITH
THE UNITED STATES?
>> NO. BUT THEY DO WANT TO
REMIND US THAT THEY GET A SAY
IN WHAT HAPPENS IN ASIA
BECAUSE LATELY, THE UNITED
STATES HAS BEEN KIND OF
RUNNING THE TABLE ON LEADING
THE AGENDA IN NORTH KOREA AND
THE CHINESE ARE REMINDING US,
YOU KNOW, HEY, WE GET A SAY ON
SOME OTHER CONTENTIOUS
ISSUES.
BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY, WHAT HAS
SET THEM OFF IS THAT CONGRESS
AUTHORIZED THE U.S. NAVY TO
MAKE PORT CALLS IN TAIWAN.
AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A
LONG TIME.
THE CHINESE HAVE SAID, OH, --
THE CHINESE DIPLOMATS IN DC
LAST WEEK SAID YOU DO THAT --
THE DAY YOU VISIT THE PORT
CITY IN TAIWAN IS THE DAY THAT
THE PEOPLE -- BY 1948, IT'S A
DIFFERENT CHINA.
NOW, THEY DO BELIEVE
MILITARILY THAT THEY COULD DO
IT WOULD COST BILLIONS.
KENNEDY: WELL, NOT TO MENTION
HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST THEIR
MILITARY ISN'T AS BEEFY AS
OURS.
BUT ALSO, IT WOULD LAUNCH
RIGHT INTO A REALLY DISGUSTING
TRADE WAR THAT, YOU KNOW,
CHINA WOULD CERTAINLY BE ON
THE LOSING SIDE OF THAT.
THAT'S A BIG WIN FOR US.
BUT IT'S PROBABLY WHAT THEY
DON'T WANT.
WHAT I'M WONDERING HERE IS
THERE'S SOME AGREEMENT THAT WE
HAVE WITH BEIJING ABOUT TAIWAN
LEADERS OF OUR RESPECTIVE
COUNTRIES GOT TOGETHER AND
SAID. OKAY. LISTEN.
CHINA, YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE
OF NORTH KOREA.
THIS COULD END THE WORLD.
FINE, WE'LL DO IT.
BUT JUST LEAVE US ALONE WITH
TAIWAN.
>> IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF
SAYING ON THE ONE HAND ON THE
BACK LINE, YOU WANT US TO USE
WHATEVER INFLUENCE WE HAVE
WITH THE DPRK.
YET, YOU'RE NOT EVEN
NEGOTIATING OUR CLAIM THAT
TAIWAN IS A BREAK AWAY
PROVINCE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY
WANT IS THEY DO WANT AN
AGREEMENT THAT THE U.S. STAYS
OUT OF IT SO THAT IN 20 YEARS,
CHINA PROBABLY ABSORBS TAIWAN
WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
I THINK YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
GRASP ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS THAT
IS UNPARALLELED IN MY
UNIVERSE.
BUT I THINK CHINA IS GOING TO
WAIT FOR THINGS TO HEAT UP
WITH NORTH KOREA.
AND WHILE WE'RE BUSY
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS WHITE
HOUSE, AND THEY SAY AMERICA IS
TACTICAL DISTRACTED IN THE
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH KOREA.
THEY ARE ALSO, BY THE WAY,
STRATEGICALLY DISTRACTED.
AND RIGHT WHEN WE THOUGHT --
KENNEDY: THANKS, TWITTER.
OR TELEGRAPH HIS PUNCHES.
YOU JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW THE
TWITTER FEED.
SO THE CHINESE KNOW THAT WE
ARE STRATEGICALLY DISTRACTED.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS
SAYING HOW CAN WE WORK THIS IN
OUR ADVANTAGE?
>> YEAH. IT'S NEVER BEEN
STRONGER.
THE CONDITIONS HAVE NEVER BEEN
BETTER, YOU KNOW?
BECAUSE THERE'S A
CONSIDERATION WITH THE CHINESE
MILITARY WHO HAVE GROWN UP
WITH A MORE MODERNIZED CHINESE
MILITARY.
THEY DON'T REMEMBER THE DAYS
OF THE HUMAN WAVES AND THE
TECHNOLOGICAL BACKWARDNESS IN