Under Xi Jinping, the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, Chinese aggression toward other nations is coinciding with Beijing’s increased repression domestically. Making matters more challenging, China is backing Russian imperialism against Ukraine with the goal of weakening and breaking up NATO.

It might seem simpler to focus on squeezing Russia and trying to warm relations with China, as President Joe Biden’s recent meeting in Bali seems to presage, but simple doesn’t mean smart or effective. China has the will and, increasingly, the capability to catastrophically undermine the U.S. Beijing is also collaborating with Russia, which is still a top-tier strategic foe of America. We must deal with reality as it is.