Commentary
What can the United States and its global allies do to blunt the economic warfare that has been aimed at the West by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for decades?
It’s common knowledge that the CCP relentlessly conducts unrestricted warfare (cyber, disinformation, economic, intelligence, military, political) against free societies despite joining the rules-based World Trade Organization. Through both charm and coercion, it cons its neighbors, debt traps vulnerable nations, persecutes minorities, and strives to intervene in the internal affairs of many nations.
There are a number of methods that free societies can use to reduce the CCP’s malign influence around the globe.
First, decouple from any technology trade goods that can adversely affect our national security. That would include any manufactured or service sector products in both the commercial and military arenas. We cannot afford to allow the CCP to get a leg up on intellectual property that could compromise free commerce and our military capabilities.
Next, in the United States, there is an urgent need to restore our industrial base of manufacturing rather than maintain reliance on the service sector of the economy. This would also include the critical primary industry of mining. The United States must return to mining and refining rare earth materials to reduce its dependence on China. We can also partner with allies to chip away at China’s monopoly in this sector. The CCP utilizes critical materials as a weapon to gain compliance in the supply chain and erect trade barriers.
Third, limit the number of Chinese students at our universities. Every student must remain loyal to the CCP while they attend school abroad. This could pose a security threat, as some students are tempted to spy on American individuals and institutions or to steal intellectual property. Every student coming here from an adversarial country ought to be rigorously vetted, just as foreign businesses are vetted before entry. Moreover, reject Chinese money aimed at influencing university research programs.
Fourth, reshore U.S. financial and tech companies back home. The CCP pressures these companies to share critical private information. Yet the CCP expects that its businesses abroad should be given a free pass from scrutiny regarding intelligence gathering, safety standards, quality control, working conditions, and so on. With the CCP, there is minimal reciprocity in its business practices.
Fifth, any entity associated with the CCP should not be allowed to purchase land in the United States, especially adjacent to military installations. We don’t know what the land would be used for or what nefarious activities could be carried out in any buildings on these properties. In addition, our shipping ports must be protected from CCP spyware.
Sixth, continue high tariffs on certain Chinese products to prevent dumping. Tariffs can also be used as a leverage point to bring trade representatives to the bargaining table to pressure China to lower its currency manipulation, levies, and trade barriers. China’s status within the Most Favored Nation framework ought to be rethought in light of its serial violation of globally recognized rules of commerce.
Seventh, build up our military infrastructure with private-sector partnerships to meet the challenges posed by the CCP’s military-civil fusion. This strengthening of the air, cyber, space, subsurface, and surface domains must prepare for the long game and absorb lessons from past and current conflicts. The CCP only respects strength.
Eighth, we must protect our energy grid, pipelines, and critical resources from China’s ongoing, sophisticated cyberattacks. This involves both defense and offense. We ought to develop the capabilities to respond to these hacks by penetrating China’s critical industries to disrupt their operations. We cannot stand by and allow severe attacks against any of our civil or military institutions.
Ninth, ban CCP lobbying of our political institutions at all levels to prevent corruption from seeping into U.S. governing entities and adversely influencing officials. Guardrails ought to be set up to avoid the temptation of money and power from sneaking in.
Tenth, constantly expose the systematic human rights violations against religious groups carried out by the CCP in China, as well as the transnational repression carried out by the Ministry of State Security. A rising awareness could lead to future reforms and popular resistance within China against the CCP’s crimes.
Eleventh, to isolate the CCP, the United States needs to bolster its traditional alliances and work to develop new global partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This can help contain the CCP’s hegemonic ambitions.
Twelfth, it’s way past time to start investing in the United States instead of hostile nations. Why should our government, our tech titans, and Wall Street assist the CCP’s prosperity when it blatantly breaks all the rules in human relations and is the primary pacing threat of the 21st century? Let the people of China help develop their nation’s potential while America focuses on caring for the needs of our citizens.
Finally, spread the principles of freedom and the rule of law throughout China by every imaginable means so that the Chinese become aware of alternatives to totalitarian rule. Most human beings hunger and thirst for justice, liberty, and opportunity. If they seek the truth, the truth can set them free.
