This Is How to Compete With China

[Valin]

National Interest:

Ben Carson

Sept. 24 2015

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington this week reminds us that China stands as America’s most serious long-term strategic challenge. Yet the Obama administration’s China policy has been inconsistent and ineffective, at best.

 

(Snip)

 

Maintain a strong military presence in Asia that would serve as a deterrent to Chinese aggression. In that vein, Washington should strengthen or continue to pursue initiatives such as the rotational deployment of U.S. Marines to Australia, the re-establishment a U.S. military presence in the Philippines and support for Japan to undertake a combat role in collective security.

 

Stand by—and increase military cooperation with—U.S. allies that have been unnerved by China’s provocations. Encourage these countries and others in the region—such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the Philippines and Vietnam—to strengthen security cooperation with each other.

 

Challenge China’s outlandish territorial claims. This includes sailing or flying by China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea with U.S. military aircraft or vessels to make clear that America does not recognize the islands’ legitimacy under international law.

Impose harsh economic penalties on Chinese firms that steal—and are end users of—American intellectual property. Those found guilty of these practices will face stiff restrictions in, or be denied access altogether to, the U.S. marketplace.

Retaliate against China for conducting persistent, large-scale cyber espionage against the U.S.

 

Finally and most importantly, grow the U.S. economy. Lower taxes, reduce regulations, eliminate wasteful government spending and tackle the national debt. Ultimately, making the U.S. economy more competitive vis-à-vis China’s is the best way to contend with China’s rising economic prowess.

 

U.S. global leadership is derived from—and maintained by--the strength of our resolve and the credibility of our promises and threats. It is also undergirded by the ingenuity of the American people and the dynamism of our market economy. In our strategic competition with China, let’s remember to protect and reinforce that which has made our global leadership possible in the first place.