Trump and Hegseth's new stance of 'there is going to be everlasting peace with China' is concerning going on their comments concerning that alone. China respects Trump, not the United States. We won't have Trump forever. Look at nothing more than their posture toward us first in Trump's first term, then while Biden was in office. They no longer gave a shit what Trump did once Biden was in and they talked down to us. Now with Trump back in they suddenly respect us again. What does this tell anyone how they will see us once he's gone for good next time? Anyone who has read anything on Chinese history has to understand how China views anything.. and most importantly how long they are willing to wait to get their intended goals. They plan today for what will only come about 50 years from now. We plan 4 years at a time if that. China is about China. They are not about the United States doing well. Their aim is to rise up as the dominant power in the world with other nations submissive to them. It may not be as in the past where the goal was conquest of land but really what will the difference be when they rise above everyone making all others their bitch. In the eyes of China, at this moment, Trump is a barrier they can wait out for 3 more short years. Once he's gone if we don't have someone just like him in office they will go back to dealing with us just as before he arrived.. because it's him they respect, not the rest of us. Everyone here I'm sure knows this so I'm not sure the point of even sharing it. But everlasting peace with a main adversary is not an option and it's beyond me why we don't take any and every step to start treating them that way.. in the interest of national security and survival. By assisting them now we're building them up to be what will attack us in the future. This is not how you deal with an adversary that does all they can to steal from and rise above you. One that is planting the seeds today for what we be obtained 50 years from now. All we can do is continue to trust the ghosts in charge who promise us the world.. or do we?