China’s global ambitions pose an existential threat to Western democracy, prosperity and security, but the Biden administration, preoccupied with domestic economic renewal and social justice, has not articulated a comprehensive policy.
Cooperation on climate change could materialize, but the consequences for economic competition — fundamentally the trade and investment relationship — and China’s military remain paramount.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s nine-month review of China policy offered little new. She continues negotiations with an adversary that won’t offer substantive concessions or honor commitments from past agreements, and is embarking on a radical transformation of its socialist-market economy aimed at burying democratic capitalism.
After 11 months, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has yet to articulate a comprehensive plan and budget requirements…