The former White House advisor to U.S. Republican presidential candidate Trump recently spoke at a British think tank, stating that perhaps Trump’s greatest achievement during his presidency was achieving a bipartisan consensus on the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party within the United States.
On Thursday, Robert O’Brien spoke at a policy dialogue at the British think tank, emphasizing that Trump’s most influential policy change may have been in addressing the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party to our way of life and the future way of life for our descendants, thus leading to a bipartisan consensus.
According to O’Brien, the issue did not always present itself in a bipartisan manner before, with the Republican Party showing more concern about this matter compared to the Democratic Party.
With everything happening in Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and China’s attacks on India, O’Brien believes that a broad consensus has indeed been reached on this issue.
Furthermore, O’Brien expressed that facing the challenge and threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the life and death of the United States and our Western allies, the Democratic Party has also awakened.
He mentioned that the Biden team, as well as the Harris team, would likely take a tougher stance on China compared to previous Democratic administrations, avoiding policies such as the efforts made during the Clinton era to help China join the World Trade Organization or catering to China’s broad policies.
Democratic presidential candidate Harris recently stated at the Democratic National Convention that she would ensure that the United States, not China, emerges victorious in the current century-long competition.
Currently serving as the head of the China Center and Taiwan Studies at the Brookings Institution, Haas believes that America’s interests depend on enduring and effective relationships, where both sides understand how to manage tensions and pursue interests without resorting to force.
Haas has commented on Harris in the past, stating that although she does not appear eager to confront China, she believes that the United States must maintain the strongest and most lethal armed forces in the world. In his view, Harris approaches the risks in U.S.-China relations with a calm mindset.
Regarding the fundamental differences in foreign policy, O’Brien explained that the core difference lies in how each side views “peace through strength.”
He believes that the Biden administration has been focused on avoiding further escalation of tensions and avoiding provoking adversaries, which in reality, is just another form of appeasement policy.
Renowned China affairs and military historian Arthur Waldron stated to Voice of America that the United States should clearly define its position. Taking a position of appeasement or excessive accommodation could lead to Beijing miscalculating and underestimating America’s determination.
He pointed out that in the past four years, the U.S. has prioritized dialogue with China, but peace has been threatened. China has increasingly deployed military forces, encroached on Japanese territory, erased the long-standing border in the Taiwan Strait, and demanded that Manila evacuate Philippine sovereign territories.
Waldron argued that the opposite of appeasement is taking concrete actions: “Americans care a lot about words, but actions are key. We can increase tariffs or add an aircraft carrier – actions speak louder than words, and this approach is more effective than mere rhetoric.”