Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit is fast fading into the past. After the extravaganza honoring the Chinese Communist Party leader, Americans were left with little to show for the summit that supposedly accomplished a lot. The New York Times account characterized the event as “heavy on ceremony and light on outcomes.”
Indeed, the event was much more about choreography than issues. In this case, the display was worth much more to the Chinese than any deal. The Chinese goal was to convey an atmosphere of trust between the two nations. To back up this impression, an elaborate state dinner provided a Silicon Valley-rich, financial establishment-friendly platform to send the message that everyone shared the same tired optimism so often conveyed at past summits.
The Need for a Reality Check
Such impressions clash frontally with the reality of China. Everyone knew this, and thus the summit, with all its exuberant extravagance, ended on a sour note of fakeness.
The elaborate affair did not change the fact that China remains an adversary nation that actively works to undermine American interests. China still oppresses its people, as evidenced by the imprisoned Catholic businessman Jimmy Lai.
The present policy with China treats an enemy like a friend. It pursues an open policy of preparing to fight China in the Pacific while continuing to do business with it at huge trade deficits. America is involved in conflicts in which China helps the enemy. These contradictory U.S. policies make no sense. China cannot be trusted.
Reasons for Distrust
One can pick six reasons China cannot be trusted almost at random from media reporting on Chinese policies around the time of the summit.
First, China’s scandalous theft of intellectual property continues unabated to the detriment of American and European companies. The Gatestone Institute has an article titled “China Is Not Our Friend.” It gives recent examples of how China buys Western companies, strips them of their intellectual property, technology and know-how for the benefit of “mirror companies” in China and then closes the Western firms.
A second reason is that China is increasingly supplying the Houthis with drone and weapon components that they are using to disrupt global oil delivery. This aid undermines global security, increases oil prices and greatly impairs the vital Red Sea route for maritime traffic.
“Iran Has a Secret Weapon in Its War with America: Help From China.” This is the title of a September 23 article in The Wall Street Journal. Chinese entities have shipped thousands of key components used in missiles and drones. Iran has reportedly used satellite images from Chinese entities to target strikes on American bases, including one that killed three American soldiers.
A third reason is China’s purchase of 80% of Iran’s exported oil. Chinese procurement funds prop up the regime, helping it to stay in power.
Secret Weapons and Unkept Commitments
A fourth reason for serious distrust is that the Xi government is expanding its nuclear arsenal at seven secret sites. An article in The Telegram reports that satellite images reveal significant construction at nuclear facilities, which experts say is leading to a record expansion of its weapons programs. This build-up is happening despite statements by Xi Jinping repeatedly saying that nuclear weapons should be prohibited and destroyed.
The fifth reason is that China is quick to promise to buy more American goods but often fails to follow through. Just before the summit, a New York Times article reported how China has not yet bought the 25 million tons of U.S. soybeans it promised to buy at the last summit. It was also “a little behind schedule” on $17 billion in the purchase of other U.S. agricultural products.
Meanwhile, and this is the sixth and final reason, Red China is flooding America and the West with its surplus production.
Some say all America has to show for its efforts to please Xi are the two giant pandas the dictator sent to Zoo Atlanta on loan for ten years…
No More Wishful Thinking
The aforementioned reasons for distrust join many other concerns, ranging from fierce competition for AI dominance to threats to U.S. ally Taiwan. China is clearly acting like a smiling adversary waiting for opportunities to strike. America is, unfortunately, acting like an optimistic player who hopes the worst will not happen.
However, the worst can happen. America needs to develop policies that reflect reality, not wishful thinking. Until that happens, China will continue to advance in its efforts to destroy America, and Jimmy Lai will languish in prison.
First published on TFP.org.