An idea has taken root, especially among Republicans, that since China is now the main security challenge America faces, America’s costly support for Ukraine against Russia is a distraction from dealing effectively with the challenge posed by Beijing.

However, since China and Russia are so closely aligned, thwarting Russian ambitions in Ukraine and elsewhere is a crucial element of the U.S. effort to contain China.

President-elect Trump’s designated national security adviser, Michael Waltz, co-authored an essay in The Economist published just before the November 5 election stating that “American munitions and defense production are aiding Ukraine instead of deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”

But if China is considered a greater threat than Russia, then it must be recognized that China is not just a threat in the Indo-Pacific, but worldwide. Part and parcel of that overall threat is the threat posed by any state closely aligned with Beijing, especially since Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping describe their relationship as a “no limits partnership." We should take them at their word that they consider........

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