Who Is Actually Weak on China? The GOP
In the last Cold War, the US had a clear edge in soft power. Anti-trade, anti-green and anti-democratic Republican policies are eroding that onetime advantage.
Election denialism isn’t a good look.
Photographer: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Republican lawmakers can’t seem to make up their minds about President Joe Biden’s approach to China. After blasting him as “weak” for allowing a Chinese spy balloon to traverse the US before shooting it down, they’ve since dubbed him “trigger-happy” after US F-22s took out several flying objects of unknown provenance over North America.
Even more confused and contradictory is the GOP’s own posture on China. Tough talk aside, the party’s growing illiberalism and policies on climate and trade are weakening, not strengthening US efforts to counter its main rival.