Rep. Andy Kim calls for a foreign policy focused on coalition building in US-China relations. Importance of comprehensive approach, boosting America's strength, and investing in talent pool. Significance of diplomatic engagement with China and proposal for more diplomacy. Persistence and open dialogue crucial in international relations.
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Quick takeaways
Rep. Andy Kim believes the US should focus on coalition building and diplomacy instead of a hawkish approach towards China.
Kim emphasizes the importance of strengthening US alliances and investing in domestic capabilities to position the US as a responsible global power.
Deep dives
Concerns about US-China Relations
Congressman Andy Kim expresses concern about the US approach towards China, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy. He believes there is too much focus on military security and not enough attention given to broader questions of strategic competition. He advocates for strengthening US alliances and investing in domestic capabilities to better position the US in the global landscape.
Coalition Building and Diplomacy
Kim emphasizes the importance of building coalitions and engaging in diplomacy, especially with partners in the Indo-Pacific region. He argues that the US needs to be seen as a responsible global power and should not solely focus on military deterrence. He calls for more engagement and dialogue with China to improve understanding and to show respect to coalition partners.
Rebooting US Foreign Policy and Democracy
Kim highlights the need for a wider reboot of US foreign policy and the healing of a broken democracy. He argues that the US needs to invest in itself, address workforce issues, fix the broken immigration system, and strengthen its position as a reliable global partner. He emphasizes the importance of bipartisan cooperation and acknowledges the challenges of pushing for a new approach when many colleagues have differing views.
The trajectory of the U.S.-China relationship has global implications, with most Democrats and Republicans in Congress calling for a more hawkish approach. Rep. Andy Kim disagrees, calling instead for a foreign policy focused more on coalition building.
Kim sits on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. He’s one of the few members of Congress who has visited China. And when speaking with leaders and policymakers from the region, he says they tell him that “the [United States] cannot be the instigators of the tension. … You need to show that you are a responsible global power.”
The Democratic representative from New Jersey joins Ravi Agrawal for this special FP Live taping of Global Reboot. You can watch the video version of this interview here.
Global Reboot is produced in partnership with the Doha Forum.