What does the United States aim to achieve in dealing with China? Are there any assumptions by the United States about the state of China? What about the other way around? What illusions does China hold about the United States?
In the ongoing conflict between the United States and China, both parties seek to dominate the other side. China wishes to create an international totalitarian system around communism, including a totally state-controlled economy, a world-class military, and a new set of rules. The United States seeks to maintain the status quo of democracy and the rule of law—in their words, maintaining rules-based order and competition from a position of strength. Fundamentally, it comes down to freedom versus communism. But in the process, what illusions do they hold for each other that need to be pointed out?
Joining me to discuss this very issue is Doug Bandow. Mr. Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, specializing in foreign policy and civil liberties. He worked as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and editor of the political magazine Inquiry. We discuss what illusions China holds about the United States and what illusions the United States holds about China.