I may be a bit of a history nerd. Back in high school, I proudly declared myself the captain of our trivia team. Ah, the glory days… Lately, I’ve been asking people a simple question: Why did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor? To my surprise—and concern—very few know the answer.
Everyone remembers what happened on that infamous day, December 7, 1941. America, enjoying its isolation from global conflict, was suddenly attacked by Japan. Battleships sank. Kamikaze pilots delivered deadly blows. The United States was thrust into World War II, launching a campaign in Europe and island-hopping toward Tokyo.
But that still doesn’t answer the critical question: Why did Japan attack us in the first place?
To understand that, we need to rewind a decade. In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, a region of China rich in resources. Japan, rapidly industrializing, believed it needed to expand beyond its home islands. That invasion—eight years before Hitler invaded Poland—effectively ignited the eastern front of World War II.
In response, the United States imposed an oil embargo on Japan. Without American oil, Japan’s war machine ground to a halt. Backed into a corner, they lashed out with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Let me pause here and say: I believe in free trade, but I also support President Trump’s tough stance on China.
Today, America finds itself in a familiar standoff—this time with China. As of April 10, 2025, the tariff rate on Chinese imports is 125%.
We have not been fueling China’s war machine like we did for Japan in the 1930s, but for years we’ve powered their economic rise. Ever since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, we’ve poured money into a system that’s grown increasingly hostile to our interests.
China is using its manufacturing dominance not just to grow rich, but to assert global influence and to pursue its longstanding goal of reclaiming Taiwan.
China needs to be handled. I hope we can accomplish it economically, but I fear we may be approaching the military option. The United States must continue standing firm against Chinese aggression, but let’s be clear-eyed: this is what it sounds like when the war drums start to play. Sometimes the worst option is the only option.
