Pompeo just delivered a speech on China at the Nixon Library in which he said US relations w/ China should be based on “distrust and verify.” He didn’t call on Chinese citizens to rise up against the CCP or to change the direction of the party, though he praised dissidents.
2. Pompeo said Nixon "engaged Beijing with clear eyes.” But he also said, while at the Nixon Library & in the presence of Nixon’s family members, that “the kind of engagement we have been
pursuing has not brought the kind of change in China that President Nixon hoped to induce."
pursuing has not brought the kind of change in China that President Nixon hoped to induce."
3. Pompeo said "the old paradigm of blind engagement with China has failed.” This is a straw man. If Nixon "engaged Beijing with clear eyes,” as Pompeo said, so did other US leaders. They gambled on various approaches. But they all knew the history of CCP rule — from Mao to Xi.
4. Pompeo said he believes "free nations” will triumph because the "CCP is repeating some of the same mistakes the Soviet Union made.” But he also said “it's true that unlike the Soviet Union, China is deeply integrated into the global economy.” This is the crux of the challenge.
5. Pompeo said he has seen a global “awakening” to the China challenge: “I've heard this from Brussels
to Sydney to Hanoi.” Vietnamese have always seen China as a hegemonic power, as have people in other parts of Asia — well before nation-states. The US isn't in the lead on this.
to Sydney to Hanoi.” Vietnamese have always seen China as a hegemonic power, as have people in other parts of Asia — well before nation-states. The US isn't in the lead on this.
