America's approach to China went awry because it fixated on some liberal end state. That implied transformation either within China, at the level of politics, or internationally, according to the "responsible stakeholder" paradigm. There were good reasons for this assumption, but it didn't work.

While every strategy requires goals, it's somewhat hubristic to repeat the logic of aiming to shape China or the PRC's engagement with the world, especially under the current balance of power. Still, America cannot tolerate many aspects of China's coercive regional approach and selectively revisionist international ambitions.

The better strategic end might therefore be one which looks inward, i.e., which focuses on bolstering America's national strength and capabilities and which optimizes our approach to international institutions. While the results of such an approach may approximate "containment," it means maintaining an agnostic view of China-specific end states, e.g., the PRC being "contained."