U.S. Withdrawal from Global Institutions Sparks Chinese Outcry as Military Leaders Detail Hypocrisy

By Nicole Weatherholtz | Thursday, January 22, 2026, 8:08 PM EST

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer told Newsmax on Thursday that China is lashing out online because the U.S. is stepping away from international organizations that he argued Beijing has exploited.

Shaffer described the response as a reaction to Washington’s retreat from multilateral bodies and spending commitments. “This is desperation,” he said on “Newsmax at This Hour.” “We’re pulling out of organizations that the Chinese and other globalists controlled, and that’s what they’re upset about — we’re not funding it.”

Shaffer framed the video’s climate-themed warnings as part of a broader political narrative aimed at shaming the U.S. for shifting priorities. “And this whole climate fiction,” he added, “I’ve got a degree in environmental studies. There’s no such thing as man-made climate change.”

He credited President Donald Trump with elevating skepticism about climate policies and messaging while casting Beijing’s content as an attempt to preserve influence. “God bless Donald Trump for telling everybody that Al Gore and the left were full of nonsense,” he said. “By the way, on that point, how many windmill farms do you see in China?”

Shaffer claimed China manufactures renewable energy equipment for export but avoids broad adoption at home, describing it as evidence of hypocrisy. “China builds all these things but don’t have one,” he stated.

He argued that China’s frustration stems from what he characterized as a changing U.S. posture confronting Beijing and reducing U.S. financial participation in global institutions. “So, the Chinese are upset because we’re calling them out,” Shaffer said. “We’re calling the globalists out. We’re walking away.”

Shaffer asserted the shift will deliver significant savings for American taxpayers and undermine Beijing’s influence campaign. “We’re going to save the taxpayers trillions of money,” he said. “And the Chinese don’t like it.”

Retired Air Force Brigadier General Blaine Holt echoed Shaffer’s view that the video reflects weakness in Beijing, suggesting Chinese leadership is under domestic pressure. “Well, it’s classic China,” Holt said after watching the clip. “They are furious at home because they’re very weak at home right now.”

Holt noted intensifying internal rivalries and potential upheaval within China’s military leadership. “Politically, you’ve got all these factions going after each other, vying for control,” he said. “I’m hearing recently that we may find out that the leader of the Chinese military may be under lock and key as we speak.”

Holt emphasized that China has long relied on international institutions to shape outcomes but warned U.S. changes erode this leverage. “The way that the Chinese have manipulated America and have had their way with us is through international organizations,” he said. “And if we’re going to change the game, then in Beijing, they’re — oh, poo, now what do we do?”

Holt added that the evolving U.S. approach aims to clarify competition while defending American interests. “We recognize that at times we’ll be hostile with China or a competitor,” he said. “But you’ve got your zone of influence — you can get out of ours.”