Ben Harnwell and Dr. Bradley Thayer discussed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) economic challenges and their broader implications for the United States on Saturday on the WarRoom, particularly in the context of manufacturing and the potential return of Trump to office with JD Vance as his vice president.

Dr. Thayer began by analyzing the CCP’s recent plenum, which was delayed from the previous autumn and just concluded. He interpreted this delay as a clear sign of the CCP’s uncertainty in addressing their severe economic issues.

“The Chinese Communist Party faces dire economic circumstances and they’re trying to figure out what they need to do to solve their economic problems,” Thayer explained.

He emphasized that the CCP’s primary economic concern is to ensure the continuous flow of U.S. investment and trade into China.

The discussion then pivoted to the impact of Trump’s policies on China and the potential implications of his return to office. Thayer highlighted the significance of Trump’s China tariffs, which the Biden administration has largely maintained. “Trump is going to end the flow of investment and trade,” Thayer noted, pointing out that the CCP views Trump as an existential threat. The CCP’s fear of Trump’s return is compounded by his potential vice president pick, JD Vance, who Thayer described as “an excellent pick in this regard.”

One of the key points raised in the conversation was the need to bring manufacturing back to the United States, particularly to the “rust belt” regions, including Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Thayer underscored the folly of the current policy: “It’s absolutely insane to be financially bankrolling your own mortal enemy.” He stressed that investment should be redirected from China to revitalize American manufacturing.

Key Point: The Rust Belt is a region in the United States characterized by its once-thriving industrial economy, particularly in steel production, manufacturing, and mining. This area, spanning parts of the Midwest and Northeast, includes states such as Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and New York.

The term “Rust Belt” emerged in the late 20th century as these areas faced significant economic decline, deindustrialization, and population loss. The decline was due to factors such as the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to other countries, automation, and the overall shift in the U.S. economy from manufacturing to services and technology. As factories closed and jobs disappeared, the region experienced urban decay, increased unemployment, and economic hardship.

Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to revitalize the Rust Belt through economic diversification, investment in technology and education, and redevelopment projects. The region remains culturally and historically significant, with many cities working to reinvent themselves in the face of changing economic realities.

The WarRoom conversation between Thayer and Harnwell also touched on Taiwan’s strategic importance to the U.S. economy and national security. Taiwan produces a significant portion of the world’s semiconductors, making it a critical asset. Thayer explained that losing access to these semiconductors would devastate the Western economy, potentially leading to a depression in the U.S. “Taiwan matters for the United States economically because Taiwan produces most of the world’s chips,” he said.

Thayer also pointed out the CCP’s determination to interfere in the upcoming U.S. elections to prevent Trump from returning to office. He warned of the various methods they might employ, including election interference through technology and illegally leveraging individuals crossing the U.S. border.

“The CCP will not, they do not want him to return to office,” Thayer stated, emphasizing the lengths the CCP might go to ensure a Democratic victory.

Harnwell and Thayer’s conversation highlighted the critical connections between U.S.-China relations, manufacturing, and the upcoming elections.

The emphasis was on the need for the U.S. to end its financial support of China through investment and trade and redirect those resources to revitalize American manufacturing, particularly in the part of the country known as the “Rust Belt.”

As Thayer succinctly put it, “That investment goes to Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana—not to our enemy.” The discussion underscored the urgency of addressing these issues to safeguard the U.S. economy and national security.

Bradley Thayer has co-authored several notable books about China. One of his key works is “Understanding the China Threat,” written with Lianchao Han. This book explores the ideological, military, and economic strategies of the Chinese Communist Party and its impact on global security. Thayer also contributed to “How China Sees the World,” which examines China’s foreign policy and strategic objectives. These books provide an in-depth analysis of China’s ambitions and challenges to international stability.

For more context, watch the full WarRoom segment featuring Dr. Thayer, who is a content expert on China and is also a WarRoom contributor: