China has been buying oil from Russia, and that money helps keep Russia’s war machine running. That’s a major concern for the United States. During a recent interview on Fox Business, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said President Trump is preparing to hold China accountable for those oil purchases. He also said the real key is breaking America’s reliance on China for rare earth minerals—things we need to build everything from phones to fighter jets.
As veterans, we know how important supply lines are. If you don’t have ammo, fuel, or spare parts, your unit doesn’t move. The same goes for our country. Right now, China controls a huge chunk of the world’s critical minerals. We’re talking about the metals used in missiles, drones, night vision gear, and much more. If China decides to cut us off, we’re in trouble.
Burgum said President Trump understands that, and he’s taking steps to fix it. One way is by reopening coal and energy production here at home. Under Joe Biden, we were shutting down our coal plants, which are critical for providing steady, reliable power. China, meanwhile, added 94 gigawatts of coal power last year. That’s like building 94 cities the size of Denver when it comes to electricity. They’re powering up while we were powering down. President Trump is flipping that script.
But back to China and Russia. China is not just buying oil from Russia—they’re also providing military tech and other support. According to reports, 80% of Russia’s high-tech military gear is coming from China. That’s not a small number. It means China is helping to keep the war in Ukraine going. And there’s more: Secretary Burgum pointed out that North Korean troops are now fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, and that wouldn’t be happening without China’s approval.
This is a dangerous alliance forming between China, Russia, and even North Korea. President Trump knows this and is trying to avoid the mistake Biden made—pushing these enemies closer together. Historically, Russia and China haven’t been allies. But Biden’s weak leadership gave them a reason to team up. Trump wants to pull them apart again, and he has a plan to do it.
One big part of that plan is energy. China is the biggest oil importer in the world, buying over 11 million barrels every single day. That gives us leverage. If we can produce more energy here at home, we don’t just help our economy—we can also undercut China’s grip on global energy markets. That’s smart strategy.
Also, let’s not forget the race for dominance in artificial intelligence and advanced tech. China is pouring resources into AI, and they’re using coal to power all those data centers. We need to match that energy production and beat them in the tech race. That won’t happen if we’re shutting down our own power plants.
The bottom line is this: China is helping Russia, and that’s keeping the war in Ukraine going. They’ve also got control over minerals we can’t do without. President Trump is working to fix both of those problems. He’s making sure we don’t rely on China for the things that matter most—energy, minerals, and technology. That’s the kind of leadership we need.
As veterans, we understand the importance of readiness and independence. You don’t want to be in the middle of a fight and realize you’re depending on your enemy for supplies. That’s where Biden left us. Trump is changing that. He’s bringing back American strength, and he’s making sure we’re ready for whatever comes next.
