China has been conducting intelligence-gathering operations in the United States for some time now. From spy balloons to fake students, China has been penetrating American institutions, monitoring American military operations, and pushing aircraft and ships closer and closer to American territorial waters. Those aren't the acts of an ally. These are the acts of a nation that is up to something. It's not clear what; China can surveil American military bases in the continental United States until their eyes bleed but, barring intercontinental ballistic missiles, they have no capacity to strike at those bases.

It's worth remembering China continues to make overtures to Russia - and Iran.