The Daily Signal - Gov. Dunleavy: Russian and Chinese Military Activity Near Alaska Is ‘Becoming More Frequent'

Episode Date: September 20, 2024

The U.S. military is responding after Russia and China increased their military activity near Alaska.  The U.S. military deployed 130 Army airborne soldiers with mobile rocket launchers earlier this month to the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska. The action comes after Russia and China conducted joint military exercises close to Alaska. “There's been naval exercises, there has been joint flyovers … not necessarily our airspace, but identification airspace, which is between the Russian airspace and our airspace,” Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said, adding that the military activity near Alaska is “becoming more frequent.”   Earlier this month, Russia and China carried out a week of joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan. On Monday, the U.S. Naval Institute reported that the U.S. "detected Russian aircraft operating in the Alaska air-defense identification zone.” “I think these are, you know, chess cases and probes,” Dunleavy said of Russia and China’s actions. “But because of the instability in the world, and to some degree, I think some of these countries are questioning America's resolve, [so] you may be seeing more of these activities in the future.” Mainland Russia is only 55 miles from Alaska, making America’s northernmost state key to national security, especially as Russia is actively building its Arctic military capabilities. The Daily Signal had the opportunity to visit Dunleavy at his Anchorage office and discuss the national security threat Russia and China pose to the U.S., and why Russia has its eye on the Arctic. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the Daily Signal podcast for Friday, September 20th. I'm Virginia Allen. Russia and China have been carrying out operations close to Alaska. Why? Well, governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, says it's almost like a chess match that both China and Russia, they're testing their strength and how the United States will respond to this show of strength and to the threat that they're. pose. While now, America has deployed 130 Army airborne soldiers with mobile rocket launchers

to islands off the western coast of Alaska. Governor Dunleavy joins the show today to explain this threat that both Russia and China pose to the U.S. and how the U.S. should respond, as well as Russia's particular interest in the Arctic. Stay tuned for my conversation with Governor on Levy after this. This is Rob Blewey from The Daily Signal. In today's media landscape, it's more important than ever to have a trusted source of news

and conservative commentary. That's why we are asking for your support. Your donation helps us continue our mission of delivering accurate, factual reporting on the issues that matter most to you. Whether it's $5 or $500, every contribution makes a difference. Visit dailysignal.com slash donate

to help us keep Americans in formed and fight for conservative values. The Daily Signal is your voice for the truth. Well, I am so pleased to be joined today by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy here in your office in Anchorage, Alaska. Thank you so much, Governor, for taking the time. It's great to have you here. So I want to dive in by talking about a situation that's evolving pretty quickly related to China and Russia specifically. Alaska has a really strategic location.

It's actually only 55 miles from mainland. inland Russia. Right now we're seeing that both China and Russia are performing exercises, very close to Alaska. What do we know about these exercises that are being performed? Well, there's been naval exercises, there has been joint flyovers in what, you know, not necessarily our airspace, but identification airspace, which is between the Russian aerospace and our airspace. And it's becoming more frequent. There's no doubt about it. We just got word today that the North Koreans fired some intermediate missiles. I'm not sure exactly where they landed, but they probably were tests again.

And so it is a dangerous neighborhood. We've been very close to the Russians for some time. We understand the Russians, the Chinese. It's a new phenomenon with them referring to themselves as a near-Ardication and plying our waters in the Bering Sea with their warships. So they're amping up their, I think these are, you know, test cases and probes, and they're doing their exercises. But because of the instability in the world, and to some degree, I think some of these countries are questioning America's resolve. You may be seeing more of these activities in the future.

Alaska has a robust military presence, especially with its Air Force and its Army. We don't really have a visible naval presence. Our Coast Guard presence is also robust. But nonetheless, I think what you're seeing is are these countries probing our defenses? We had those balloon flyovers, you know, months ago, it was the year ago. And so I think they're testing us. Yeah, it's an intimidation tactic in a way. What's the U.S. response been?

The U.S. has sent personnel out to Shemina Island, which is in the Illusions. It's a military base out of the Illusions. I think they're having discussions with their personnel. their staff here in Alaska. I think you're seeing more activity with our fighter intercepts. And I think I hope there's a robust discussion happening in Washington with regard to ensuring Alaska it's more ice breakers so we can patrol our waters. But also, what does this mean for the future?

Is this something that's temporary or is this something that's going to gain momentum and we see more presence and more testing of our defenses? We don't know yet. If you were a betting man, how would you say it's going to go, are we going to see this escalate beyond just China and Russia, essentially using this to intimidate each other's strength? I think if we don't meet these tests with our own robust presence, I think you'll see an increase in it. I think that's how these folks in this neighborhood, this part of the world, how they test things.

And they're really testing the current administration and what they will do. you know, we're going into an election. Obviously, we're going to see how that goes. But I think they're trying to figure out, you know, is America the America that it was, or is there going to be a new America that may not respond to these threats? So we're going to find out,

but I'm hopeful that folks in Washington see it for what it is. Yeah. Well, let's talk for a second about the situation in the Arctic. We've seen that China has been ramping up its Arctic military capabilities. Explain what's happening.

there. What is making the Arctic such an appealing asset for Russia and China? Well, it's, the Arctic is, you know, the climate is warming. The Arctic is becoming, is, is becoming less ice in the Arctic for longer periods of time. So there will be attempts to actually circumnavigate the Arctic. And I think some countries, like China, are once again probing and seeing how far they can go into the Arctic, and can they potentially lay claim to some of the minerals and resources underneath the ice?

And so they're flexing their muscles, they're testing us, they're testing our neighbors in the Arctic to see exactly what we'll do, what our response is going to be. So, again, where this goes, I think if the Chinese believe that there's going to be no response,

I think you'll see an increased presence and how that manifests itself in the future, it's only a guess, but I don't think it's going to be good for America. I don't think it's going to be good for our Canadian neighbors or our Nordic neighbors as well. Yeah. So in many ways, it sort of comes down to a battle over resources in a way. It's a battle over resources, but I think it's also a battle over projecting one's presence internationally and international waters as well. Okay. That makes sense. And on that topic of resources, talk through a little bit if you would the natural resources within Alaska. Within Alaska, we've got it all.

We've got oil, gas, timber, rare earths, 49 of the 50 rare earths, gold, copper, graphite, lead, zinc. I mean, not just a little bit, but enormous deposits of these minerals elements and rare earths. and timber as well. We have tremendous resources in Alaska. And these are resources that we believe, if allowed to be developed by our federal government, because much of this is on federal land, we could be the answer to a lot of problems that America has with regard to resources. Antimony, for example, has come up that the Chinese are withholding export of antimony. We have antimony deposits in Alaska. What is antimony? It's a rare earth. It's an element that is using specific applications. And we have it here in Alaska.

The Chinese have it. But it's a strategic, it's a strategic rare earth element. We have it. Yeah. And so, again, with our mining, oil and our gas, we have currently 66 sanctions against this by our own federal government, prohibiting offshore oil exploration in the outer continent of shelf, limiting NPRA oil exploration,

not following through on the ANWR leases, which were in law in 2017. The list goes on and on and on. And these are sanctions against the 49th state. We are part of this country. We have more sanctions against us than I believe Iran has against them by our own federal government.

So we just need to be able to develop our resources on federal land and on our state lands and become, again, the solution to many of these problems. We don't want to offshore our national security of China or Russia. In order to do that, we have to develop our resources. here at home.

If you all were permitted to develop your resources here at home, could America be 100% energy independent? Oh, definitely 100%. Yes. I think if we're not exporting now, especially, we are exporting natural gas, I think we could be a net exporter across the board on energy of all kinds. Absolutely. And what's your response to folks who would say, but what about the environmental impact of that? Yeah.

You want to do it here in America because you could protect the environment. you offshore, you have no say over how the environment is treated. And if history is any indication, the Russians, the Chinese and others, they don't treat their environment very well. So you spoil the environment over there. You give money to nefarious regimes. Child labor, minority treatment, of minorities is also in question. And from a strategic standpoint, when you offshore your your mineral exploration and your smeltering and processing, you leave the country in a vulnerable position. And we see that now. Yeah. Is anything going to change under the current administration in this regard? There's no indication. If anything, it'd probably get worse, to be honest with you.

Okay. What does, if you were advising our next president, regardless of who it is, to say, okay, these are the steps that need to be taken in order for America to both protect the environment and move towards energy independence, help our partners overseas. What steps would you say, hey, this is what we can do here in Alaska to be a part of that strategic claim? Well, we remove the executive orders that have been piled on by this administration, allow us to develop the resources both on federal and state lands, unleashed all of these opportunities for the job creation possibilities, wealth creation, but again, national security. and being a solution to our energy and our mineral issues here in the United States of America.

If you want a green economy, which some do, you need the minerals and elements that we have. If you want to be a leader in energy, we need to develop our oil, gas, and our renewable resources as well. There's no more, in my opinion, there's no more talk really about transition. It's additionality. We need as much energy as possible. We can certainly provide that energy for ourselves and our allies. And we just need to have the opportunity to do it. So I would advise anyone at sitting in the White House to just cut loose the handcuffs that they put on us.

Let us develop. You mentioned that national security side. Explain that a little bit more. How does energy development tie in so closely? Well, if you have to get your energy from the Iranians, if you have to get your minerals and you refine materials from China, you're in a vulnerable position. You cannot, you're beholding to foreign nations that are not friends of the United States. We don't need to put ourselves in this position. And if you do care about the environment, you don't want it being done over there where there's no environmental

protections. You want it done here. Yeah. What do we know about how closely China and Russia are kind of working together against the U.S.? They're working very closely together. Okay. They share the same continent. I think you'll see over the years, especially with Russia's, um,

falling population and their demographics going in the wrong direction, that they'll probably end up in some respect being a client state of China. China will use them for their resources in Siberia. And I think you'll see these regionalistic partnerships strengthen between China, Russia, probably North Korea. And I think Russia will become beholding to China as one of its major partners that, imports their natural resources.

So I think it's the strengthening of those ties. And again, it's going to do America well to work with our allies in East Asia, the Japanese, South Korean friends, and others, Filipinos, Philippines, in order to strengthen our ties and become less reliant on those countries that are not friends of ours. Governor, I'd like to get your reaction to just the current political climate in the U.S. within the past couple of months, there's been two assassination attempts

on former President Donald Trump. Your reaction to where we stand as a country? There's a lot of chaos. There is a lot of vitriol. We, many of us believe that, well, I hope all of us do, but I know many of us believe that there should be no violence

in our political process. That's what makes us different. President Trump was actually shot, an individual was killed. Two other individuals were worried. This is unprecedented. Then we heard about what happened in Florida at the golf course. There was a report that there were explosives found today in a vehicle close to where President Trump was.

This stuff's got to stop. There's got to be an increased security presence for President Trump as he's campaigning. And there's got to be an increased presence for President Biden and candidate Harris. We cannot become a country that settles its disputes by harming political candidates. Can't have it. And so I think Americans all need to take a deep breath, rely on our history and our institutions to get us through this process in this period of time, and show the world that we're still a leader across the board. We've talked about a lot of pretty heavy topics. So let me ask you, are you optimistic for the future of our country? Yeah, I am. You know, they've kind of America out for so long, many times, you know, in our almost 250-year history that we weren't going to make it, whether it was in. at this inflection point of that inflection point.

We're in a tough time now. But nonetheless, I think America's gonna be around for quite some time. I hope that we are still a leader in this world. We have all the makings to continue our leadership role. We just gotta believe in ourselves and make sure that we have people in place they're gonna put good policies in place.

Absolutely. Governor, anything you'd like to add before I let you go? Well, don't forget to vote. And again, we are America, can take care of itself, can take care of its allies, and continue to be the leader in this world for freedom and opportunity. Excellent. And Alaska is a cornerstone for all of that.

Governor, thank you for your time. Thank you. Well, with that, that's going to do it for today's episode. Thanks so much for joining us here on the Daily Signal podcast. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, so you never miss out on new shows. We'll see you right back here around 5 p.m. for our top news edition. The Daily Signal podcast is made possible because of, listeners like you. Executive producers are Rob Lewy and Katrina Trinko. Hosts are Virginia

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