The Foreign Affairs Interview Searching for an Endgame With China
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Jul 11, 2024 Former top policymaker on Asia and deputy national security adviser in the Trump administration, Matt Pottinger, discusses the evolving US-China policy, advocating for a tougher approach and setting clear goals. Topics include strategies for managing competition, engaging with allies, China's role in the illicit fentanyl supply chain, influencing China's future, analyzing China's rise to power, and navigating challenges under Xi Jinping's regime.
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New Consensus on China
- There's a new bipartisan consensus in the US on China being a threat.
- This shift, led by the Trump administration and embraced by the Biden administration, acknowledges China's challenge to US interests.
Détente's Downside
- Matt Pottinger uses the 1970s US-Soviet détente as a cautionary tale against managing competition.
- Détente worsened the US position as the Soviets exploited it to expand influence in Africa, the Caribbean, and Afghanistan.
Lead, Don't Water Down
- The US should lead by example, not by watering down its policies.
- Pottinger advocates for stepping forward, hoping allies will follow suit, as seen with the EU adopting similar China policies.