Communist China is seeking to mediate a cessation of hostilities with Iran and, if possible, save its puppet regime there. The transparent ulterior motive, however, is to ensure continued Chinese access to Iranian oil exports.

 

That agenda has become critical with President Trump’s successful removal of Venezuela’s Nicholas Maduro and his subsequent control over that other main supplier of oil for the Chinese Communist Party.

Suddenly, the tables have turned on Xi Jinping, who was using his monopoly on processed rare earth minerals and dumping of U.S. Treasuries to extract concessions from Mr. Trump and erode the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.

 

It remains to be seen how the President will wield his new-found leverage over our mortal enemy, the CCP. But Donald Trump now has the option of checkmating Xi’s ambition to seize Taiwan and otherwise threaten America.

 

This is Frank Gaffney.