Getting China Wrong

The West's strategy of engagement with China has failed, as the country has become more repressive, aggressive, and intent on establishing itself as the world's preponderant power. This study identifies the assumptions underpinning engagement and explains the counterstrategy that China's Communist Party rulers devised to exploit the West's openness while defeating its plans. The democracies must take seriously the Party's determination to crush opposition, build national power, and fulfill its ideological and geopolitical ambitions if they wish to preserve their prosperity, protect their security, and defend their common values.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2023
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

The West's engagement strategy with China has proven unsuccessful, resulting in a country that is wealthier and more powerful than it would have been otherwise. However, the growth and development achieved have not led to a relaxation of the Chinese government's grip on political power, the abandonment of mercantilist economic policies, or acceptance of the rules and norms of the existing international system. Instead, China has become more repressive at home, more aggressive abroad, and more determined to establish itself as the world's preeminent power.

The democracies underestimated the resilience, resourcefulness, and ruthlessness of the Chinese Communist Party. For too long, the United States and its allies failed to take seriously the Party's unwavering determination to crush opposition, build national power, and fulfill its ideological and geopolitical ambitions.

In this timely and powerfully argued study, Aaron Friedberg identifies the assumptions underpinning engagement, describes the counterstrategy that China's Communist Party rulers devised to exploit the West's openness while defeating its plans, and explains what the democracies must do now if they wish to preserve their prosperity, protect their security, and defend their common values.

The West's engagement strategy with China has failed due to several factors. Firstly, the democracies underestimated the resilience, resourcefulness, and ruthlessness of the Chinese Communist Party. For too long, the United States and its allies failed to take seriously the Party's unwavering determination to crush opposition, build national power, and fulfill its ideological and geopolitical ambitions.

Secondly, the West's approach to engagement with China was based on the assumption that economic integration and trade would lead to political liberalization and democratization. However, this assumption was flawed, as the Chinese government has used economic growth and trade to strengthen its own power and control over its citizens.

Thirdly, the West's approach to engagement with China was often characterized by a lack of strategic thinking and a willingness to compromise on core values and principles. This was particularly evident in the case of the United States, which has often sought to engage with China on issues such as human rights and trade while simultaneously ignoring its authoritarianism and human rights abuses.

To address these challenges, the democracies must adopt a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to engagement with China. This should include a combination of economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and cultural and educational exchanges.

Economic sanctions should be used as a tool to pressure the Chinese government to respect human rights and democratize its political system. Diplomatic pressure should be used to promote political reform and human rights in China and to isolate the country from the international community if it fails to do so.

Cultural and educational exchanges should be used to promote understanding and appreciation between the West and China and to build bridges between the two cultures. This can include programs that bring Chinese students to the West and Western students to China, as well as cultural events and exhibitions that promote cross-cultural understanding.

In addition, the democracies must work together to develop a common strategy for dealing with China's rise as a global power. This should include a commitment to promoting regional stability, promoting human rights and democracy, and countering the spread of authoritarianism and authoritarianism.

Finally, the democracies must recognize that the Chinese government is not a monolithic entity, but rather a complex system of institutions and actors that are influenced by a variety of factors, including economic, political, and social forces. This means that any strategy for engaging with China must be flexible and adaptable and must be able to respond to changing circumstances and developments.

In conclusion, the West's engagement strategy with China has failed due to a combination of factors, including underestimating the resilience, resourcefulness, and ruthlessness of the Chinese Communist Party, a flawed approach to engagement, and a lack of strategic thinking and a willingness to compromise on core values and principles. To address these challenges, the democracies must adopt a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to engagement with China that includes economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, cultural and educational exchanges, and a common strategy for dealing with China's rise as a global power. By doing so, the democracies can preserve their prosperity, protect their security, and defend their common values.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 154 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509560325