August 07, 2019
America should apply Cold War lessons to China: Compete hard, hold fast to our values
As global stock markets gyrate in response to mounting economic tensions between Washington and Beijing, the specter of a U.S.-China Cold War looms large. The intensifying rivalry between Washington and Beijing has already provoked a wave of anxiety among former officials, academics and pundits. Former U.S Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warns that America’s tougher approach risks creating a new "economic iron curtain." Financial Times columnist Martin Wolf says it could turn “a manageable, albeit vexed, relationship into all-embracing conflict, for no good reason.”
The alarmists have it wrong. As China has become more repressive at home and assertive abroad, the United States needs more Cold War thinking — not less. It is imperative that Washington learn the lessons from the Cold War, both positive and negative, in order to rise to the challenge that Beijing poses to American security, prosperity and values.
Read the full article in USA Today.
More from CNAS
-
A Divided Washington Is (Sort of) United on China
Commentary
The two parties might be divided on almost everything else, but their legislative agendas for China have a lot in common....
By Jordan Schneider & Coby Goldberg
-
Joshua Fitt Discusses U.S.-China Relations on i24 News
Video
On November 8, 2020, Joshua Fitt, a Research Associate with the CNAS Asia-Pacific Security Program, appeared on i24 News to discuss the potential implications of the 2020 pres...
By Joshua Fitt
-
How Should the US Respond to China’s New Five-Year Plan?
Commentary
China’s evolving strategy requires a fresh American policy response....
By Emily Jin & Coby Goldberg
-
Assessing the Impact of Dialectical Materialism on Xi Jinping’s Strategic Thinking
Commentary
Xi Jinping has made his views rather plain to Party members....
By Coby Goldberg
