Have you been able to keep up with all of 2020's plotlines?
Do you remember the Australian fires? The March stock market crash? The rumors of Kim Jong-un's death?
As a reminder, Kobe Bryant's death, Trump's impeachment, and the Pentagon declassifying UFO videos all happened this year, too.
A lot has happened in just the past few months. So you'd be forgiven for having forgotten about many of these things.
Even now, as we stumble through a pandemic and the economic fallout that came with it, long-running world events continue playing out, even when you don't hear about them much.
But that doesn't make them any less important.
The U.S. and China have been at odds for a while now. First there was the trade war. Then came back-and-forth blame for who was really responsible for the pandemic. Likewise, China has been condemned by the international community for its treatment of Uyghur Muslims. Beijing has very publicly lashed out and fought back in all of these situations, and the country's leadership has made it clear it has no intention of backing down.
We've talked in these pages time and again about how the country has been using its military might in the Pacific. Countries like Japan and Taiwan have been on a constant state of high alert because of it. China's strained relationship with the U.S. further crumbled because of it. Other countries like India and Australia have started taking notice and joined the conversation because of it.
It's gotten to the point that serious discussions are happening regarding what should be done about it. A relatively informal association of the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia is considering formalizing the agreement and bringing in other countries.
China's growing aggression in the area has forced longtime allies to begin thinking about the steps they need to take to stop Beijing from doing whatever it wants. It's a strengthened alliance that could take any number of forms to carry out any number of actions. While pundits muse that this might take the form of something like an Asian NATO, there are a number of factors suggesting that won't be the case.
Instead, what could happen is a coalition built upon agreements for allies to aid each other the next time China has a border dispute with India or flexes its muscle in the East China Sea.
Put simply, the hope is that China might rethink its actions if it believes an act on its part might lead to actual retaliation against it.
Nations all over are waking up to China's long-game political warfare as well as the country building up its military machine. It's a story that's been unfolding for years now and still faces a lot of uncertainty ahead.
You'll Never Be On The Inside!
So join Outsider Club today for FREE. You'll learn how to take control of your finances, manage your own investments, and beat "the system" on your own terms. Become a member today, and get our latest free report: "The Definitive Guide to Buying the Market."
We never spam! View our Privacy PolicyAfter getting your report, you'll begin receiving the Outsider Club e-Letter, delivered to your inbox daily.
China, of course, will do what it must to press ahead with its plans. In the immediate future, that involves continuing to develop weapons it can use to threaten and, if need be, attack its enemies.
The country has already made strides in the past few years by developing hypersonic missiles that are more advanced than anything the world has seen. But the country's military is looking to outdo itself in that area with every passing day.
That's why China is coming up with weapons that can slip past our own missile defenses and deliver their deadly payloads before we can react.
Countries like the U.S. are taking note of that and coming up with a solution to fight back. It's no secret that much of the missile defense technology in this country is outdated. What was brand-new during the Cold War is now ready to be retired. Instead, cutting-edge laser weapons meant to counter China's deadly new technology are taking the place of longtime defenders like the Minuteman III. These projected-energy weapons are being adopted by all branches of the military. It's creating an industry that's only set to grow right alongside China's ambitions for conquest.
And as that industry grows, there's one parts supplier that will benefit the most.
Every defense contractor working on any kind of laser weapon, from Lockheed Martin to Northrop Grumman, needs the laser diodes this company makes for its weapons to work.
It's the only company capable of supplying these components. So its stock is set to skyrocket as countries gear up to stand against China's continued aggression.
Don't miss out on your chance to get in early before this company becomes a household name.
Keep your eyes open,
Ryan StancilContributing Editor, Outsider Club
Ryan is an associate editor and regular contributor to Outsider Club. Since 2014, his articles have offered commentary on technology and geopolitics to help readers make sense of the constantly changing landscape and how it affects their investments.