Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Sid Salter: If Biden Means Tough China Talk, Wicker's SHIPYARD Act is a Good Place to Start

 In his “interim” national security document issued in March, President Joe Biden sounded sharp concerns about China, and he ramped up that tough talk in his first address to a joint session of Congress in April.

“China and other countries are closing in fast. We have to develop and dominate the products and technologies of the future,” Biden said in the congressional speech, warning Chinese leaders that the United States will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo—Pacific “just as we do for NATO in Europe – not to start conflict – but to prevent one.”

That the U.S. president would express concern over U.S. relations with China makes sense.

Following the collapse and disintegration of the former Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, the world’s attention turned to the U.S.’s new role as the world’s solitary superpower. While Russia’s massive stockpile of nuclear weapons and the abundant fossil fuel reserves over a massive landmass with other ample natural resources, the former USSR’s economic collapse also posed another natural international relations question.

As a rising power with a huge population and an exploding global economy, will China rise to challenge the U.S. as the hegemon in their region and to a broader extent on the global stage? From that position, other vital considerations arise.

China intends to become a global superpower. How close are they to achieving that status?

America still is the world’s largest and most powerful military force and has the world’s largest and strongest economy, but how rapid will China’s rise to military parity or, more ominously, military primacy be – as well as their growing economic might?

Despite global concerns over the future of shipping, trade and maritime security issues in the South China Sea, it remains advantageous for China to keep imports of food and feed grains coming to supplement what they can’t successfully produce on their own.

Parenthetically, while the U.S. role in global commercial shipbuilding has become almost invisible, America still maintains the largest and strongest navy in the world.

With 11 active aircraft carriers (with two more Gerald Ford-class flattops under construction and two more ordered after that through 2034), 69 destroyers, and 70 nuclear submarines – all supported by about 3,700 aircraft – the U.S. Navy can effectively project American military might anywhere on the planet.

China is America’s top naval competitor, but with two carriers and 14 nuclear subs, the U.S. advantage is steep. Close behind China is Russia, a nation with the largest and most powerful nuclear ballistic missile submarine in the world.

So, if President Biden’s rhetoric on China is something he believes, he could do worse than to throw his support behind a sweeping piece of legislation designed to bolster American naval superiority and shipbuilding capacity moving forward authored by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi.

Wicker, R-Mississippi, introduced the Supplying Help to Infrastructure in Ports, Yards, and America’s Repair Docks (SHIPYARD) Act of 2021, which would provide $21 billion to make upgrades to the Navy’s four public shipyards and $4 billion for private shipyards in the U.S. that support the Navy fleet.

The legislation is now sponsored by eight senators, including Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Angus King, I-Maine, Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, and Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire. 

China’s rise to military power on the world stage was not accomplished by internal industrial military weapons production but with a national defense import shopping cart in world markets. Arms transfers to China from Great Britain, France, Russia, and the U.S. increased dramatically in the post-Cold War period from 1990 – 2015 to rank China as the world’s second-largest conventional weapons importer.

Bolstering America’s shipbuilding efforts and the U.S. Naval fleet – in which Mississippi is a key player – should be part of President Biden’s emerging national security strategy.

 

Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

 



9 comments:

Anonymous said...


so, why is Minnie Pearl Hyde-Smith not a co-sponsor?

Anonymous said...

"Come on, man. China's not a threat to us..."

Wow said...

Solid.

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone listen to a redumblican after they sold their soul today.
Liz has balls, Wicker and the rest don’t have a seed.

Anonymous said...

Sid, we already have superiority in this area.
What we need is to update our cyber security and not continue to waste money on military technology that is becoming antiquated or, over imagine military equipment to the point the the loss of ONE is irreplaceable.

We need to be more self-sufficient as well.

China's gained by not looking at everything in terms of short term profits, to see the potential of science and technology into the future and the value of educating and utilizing their " best and brightest". We think in financial quarters at best and they look decades and centuries ahead. Their culture can postpone short term satisfaction for long term gains. Our culture has become so spoiled we can't do without any pleasure or entertainment for the good the our Nation. We want it all and want it now or think God will divinely intervene after we've failed to use the gifts He gave us!
We could have continued to progress better without Chinese Machiavellian demands on our citizens. But, we decided electing attractive, incompetent people we liked was better than to elect competent people with ideas and plans and problem solving rather than problem causing skills.
Wicker has lost all credibility in his support of Q world and delusional conspiracies when he knows better. He's a coward and Liz Cheney isn't. The truth matters and telling truth to power is even more important.
The GOP just traded a woman who voted conservatively 80% of the time for a Trump kneeler who voted with him 48% of the time on real conservative bills rather than the " pander to the crazies" bills.


Anonymous said...

Roger bought a Lamar Adams timber deed…..and you want us to listen to him about global issues?

Roger is a dunce

Anonymous said...


The military industrial complex, kicking back money to politicians for years!

Anonymous said...

The public is lied to from every angle to pump up support for military spending. The marvelous mastering of smoke and mirrors to diminish the relative cost of the military is astonishing. And to keep Ingalls busy Mississippi's congress(wo)men will jump on board every useless project that the War Hawks throw out.

Anonymous said...

A strong navy is essential. How can an informed person argue otherwise?
RMQ



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.