Editor's Note Oct. 11, 11:01 a.m.: The Washington Free Beacon recently learned that senior editor Bill Gertz entered into a previously undisclosed financial transaction with an individual or an affiliate of that individual whom Mr. Gertz had covered in some of his reporting.
Upon learning about this transaction, the Washington Free Beacon promptly asked Mr. Gertz for his resignation and that resignation was received and accepted. The Washington Free Beacon has appended this disclaimer to all of Mr. Gertz’s affected news stories.
_
Washington Free Beacon senior writer Bill Gertz appeared on Mark Levin's radio show Thursday evening to discuss his recent interview with Chinese dissident Guo Wengui about China's efforts to influence the 2020 presidential election.
In his conversation with Levin, Gertz reflected on his interview with Guo, who told Gertz earlier this week that the Chinese government has been deploying a prolonged campaign to defeat President Donald Trump in 2020. Gertz asserted the Chinese government may try to wait out Trump's time in office so it can negotiate trade deals with a new Democratic president if Trump loses in 2020.
Trump announced Thursday he would impose an additional 10-percent tariff on certain Chinese exports as a trade agreement between the United States and China has yet to materialize.
"The China threat to me is the most serious threat facing the country," Gertz told Levin.
He pointed to the economic integration between the U.S and China and how those relationships make it difficult for lawmakers and military officials to address Chinese aggression head-on, which he referred to as "an existential threat."
Levin and Gertz also discussed the growing military presence of Chinese forces in the South China Sea.
"There's a major push right now to try and build up of American courses in Asia so we won't have to go to war with China," Gertz said of the government's efforts to deter a war hypothetical war with China.
Looking towards the presidential race, Gertz warned the Chinese government would prefer to have a Democrat in the White House.
"It's going to be a huge problem if the Democrats retake the administration," Gertz said, pointing to former Vice President Joe Biden's recent downplaying of threat China poses to the United States.
Gertz pointed out that during the Obama presidency the Chinese government expanded their presence in Asian waterways, in addition to ramping up their theft of intellectual property from American companies and entrepreneurs.