Decoding China’s Responses to Trump’s Trade Sanctions

In the run-up to President Trump’s long-anticipated announcement of tough new actions against China’s mercantilist trade and economic policies, top Chinese officials launched a public-relations blitz to discredit anything the U.S. might do to hold China to account. Their strategy has been to position China as the aggrieved party by claiming the mantle of rationality, global integration, and fairness. Chinese officials evidently believe that in appearing to take the high road they have an opportunity not only to undercut worldwide support for the U.S. actions, but also to sow seeds of dissension and doubt in the U.S. body politic. But it is important to understand China’s PR blitz for what it really is: an audacious spin campaign that elides the truth about China’s long record of subverting global trade rules and fleecing competitors to gain economic advantage. In an article for National Review, ITIF President Rob Atkinson decodes the true meaning behind the official statements from the Chinese government.