Democracy Dies in Darkness

Opinion China is not an enemy

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July 3, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. EDT
President Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Dear President Trump and members of Congress:

We are members of the scholarly, foreign policy, military and business communities, overwhelmingly from the United States, including many who have focused on Asia throughout our professional careers. We are deeply concerned about the growing deterioration in U.S. relations with China, which we believe does not serve American or global interests. Although we are very troubled by Beijing’s recent behavior, which requires a strong response, we also believe that many U.S. actions are contributing directly to the downward spiral in relations.