Castro Op-Ed in the Nikkei Asian Review: “U.S.-China – Compete, Not Cheat”
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, authored an op-ed in the Nikkei Asian Review today on why the United States must compete, not cheat, with China. A preview of the op-ed can be found below, with a full version available here.
“By initiating a trade war that has affected hundreds of billions of dollars in trade, and pursuing an ‘us-or-them’ diplomacy toward our close allies, the Trump administration has certainly moved in that direction.
“But the U.S. must approach China with confidence and not fear. The American people are not afraid of economic competition nor demonstrating our innovative capacity and versatility. It's why decades of American diplomacy supported economic and political institutions across the globe that equally promoted competition and a fair playing field.
“Success will require the U.S. to find be confident once again. We can do this while discouraging actions that abuse these institutions through cheating and subverting agreed upon norms. The United States and China should compete, not cheat.
[…]
“Despite the escalating economic rhetoric we see, there is room for cooperation between the two countries but the political space is tightening.
“The recent breakdown in economic relations follow growing concern in Washington over Beijing's political and security policies. This includes China's actions in the South and East China Seas, decreased political freedoms within China, and a lack of support in addressing North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The United States and China cannot afford to let these issues go unresolved as we work through economic differences in the relationship. While in the past, the relationship continued due to economic cooperation despite U.S. concerns over Chinese political and security policies, we are now at risk of losing the remaining avenues of constructive cooperation.
“A path forward will also require leadership from both Washington and Beijing and a clear expression of interests. For its part, the Trump administration has implemented tariffs on Chinese exports without effectively communicating what Chinese behavior must change for a withdrawal of tariffs. This leads to economic uncertainty and impedes progress on negotiations over U.S. concerns. A failure to set out objectives also promotes the idea that the United States is fighting for the sake of fighting, without a clear aim in mind.
[…]
“If the United States-China relationship is to be stable and productive for both countries over the next decade, we need to find a framework for cooperation and competition. We must find space for our two nations to compete fairly, frankly, and in a way that promotes well-being from Washington to Beijing.”
Read the full version here.
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