GOP Members Urge Biden To Adopt Cold-War Stance On China: 'Current Approach Will Yield Little Cooperation'

Amid evolving global dynamics, two prominent Republican figures have called for a significant shift in the United States policy towards China, advocating for a stance reminiscent of the Cold War era.

What Happened: Former Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), influential in shaping U.S.-China relations, have criticized President Joe Biden’s current strategy as ineffective, South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. They suggest that the administration’s tactics are akin to the 1970s détente with the Soviet Union.

"The current approach will yield little cooperation from Chinese leaders while fortifying their conviction that they can destabilize the world with impunity,” they wrote.

Their critique, published in Foreign Affairs magazine, comes against the backdrop of recent U.S.-China dialogues, which some interpret as China’s desire for stable relations. However, Pottinger and Gallagher argue that these interactions are a facade for China’s strategic ambitions.

They have raised concerns over TikTok’s influence in the U.S., with Gallagher pushing legislation to curb its reach. On defense, they call for increased spending and innovative strategies to deter aggression against Taiwan, stressing the importance of a strong US military presence in the region.

The policymakers propose a defense budget of up to five percent of GDP and a “deterrence fund” for Taiwan, underscoring the island’s significance and the risks of a military conflict initiated by China.

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Why It Matters: The call for a tougher stance on China is underscored by recent developments in the geopolitical landscape. A recent survey revealed that Southeast Asian nations now prefer China over the U.S. as their primary ally, indicating a shift in regional power dynamics.

However, trade data from April 2024 shows that the U.S. has surpassed China as Taiwan’s largest export market for the first time in over two decades. This economic milestone reflects the growing importance of Taiwan to the U.S. and could have significant implications for future trade and foreign policy.

Additionally, concerns about China’s use of artificial intelligence to manipulate videos and spread disinformation, as seen during Taiwan’s national elections, have raised alarms about potential interference in the upcoming U.S. 2024 elections. This technological warfare represents a new frontier in the information battle between the two superpowers.

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