The four speeches that are Trump Admin's attempt to iterate a new China policy are all out. What does everyone think?
June 24, 2020 — National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien — "The Chinese Communist Party’s Ideology and Global Ambitions" — https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/chinese-communist-partys-ideology-global-ambitions/#_ftnref1
July 7, 2020 — FBI Director Christopher Wray — "The Threat Posed by the Chinese Government and the Chinese Communist Party to the Economic and National Security of the United States" — https://www.fbi.gov/news/speeches/the-threat-posed-by-the-chinese-government-and-the-chinese-communist-party-to-the-economic-and-national-security-of-the-united-states
July 16, 2020 — Attorney General Bill Barr — "Attorney General William P. Barr Delivers Remarks on China Policy at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum" — https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-william-p-barr-delivers-remarks-china-policy-gerald-r-ford-presidential
July 23, 2020 — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — "Communist China and the Free World’s Future" — https://www.state.gov/communist-china-and-the-free-worlds-future/
My own quick thoughts:
- criticism of US companies engagement with China undermined by complete unwillingness to use federal government as organizer of collective action: "Look, every business leader has got to make decisions for themselves." "We will see if these companies hold firm. I hope they do. If they stand together, they will provide a worthy example for other American companies"
- Pompeo both calls for a "new alliance" yet stresses that each country must go-it-alone, choose their own path. "Not every nation will approach China in the same way, nor should they." If US is so sure of its vision on China, shouldn't it lead the nations of the world to react the same way?
- they've ended engagement, but haven't seemed to put forward a new doctrine?