So why refuse them now? Because somebody decided to see if they could push Cheeto Hitler.

No, because we decided to start using military aircraft instead of civilian aircraft. You know, the same way we would react if another country that has civilian airlines flying in and out decided to have their military penetrate our airspace? We would have opinions about that.

I know. The sky is falling, falling down. All our allies are going to abandon us now.

No, you know that's an exaggeration. But it is a serious misstep. China's playing a long-term, subtle, and global game to build up their economic strength, access to foreign economies, and establish a dominant role in international institutions and markets. The hallmark of the early Trump administration has been threatening our putative allies - treating them as contentious rivals instead - but this goes beyond that. "Do what we say or we'll blow up your economy" might not lead Colombia to lease China a military base - but it's certainly going to open them up to exploring ways to increase bilateral trade with China rather than the U.S.

US Policy FAQ

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