The emerging policy of viewing U.S.-China competition as a new cold war is “wrongheaded and counterproductive,” according to Evan G. Greenberg, executive vice chair of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and chairman of Chubb Limited. In an article published in Foreign Policy on Tuesday, Greenberg called for a reassessment of the United States’ approach to its relationship with China.
“If the United States wants to create a more favorable balance of power in the face of China’s growing challenge, it will need to adjust its approach,” Greenberg stated in his article titled “Washington’s Playbook for China Must Change.”
Greenberg highlighted the deep interdependence between the U.S. and Chinese economies, noting that bilateral trade has remained at nearly $700 billion in recent years, despite both countries attempting to reduce dependencies. He cautioned against efforts to completely disentangle the intricate value chains that link the two economies.
Describing decoupling in technology and critical national security sectors as “selective,” Greenberg argued that a full separation would be unwise and potentially harmful to the American economy, which relies on “Chinese intermediate goods and capabilities” for many products.
He also suggested that the policy of treating China as an adversary in a new cold war is not gaining global support, as nations around the world are prioritizing their own interests rather than choosing sides. “Countries are exercising agency to maximize their interests,” he wrote.
Greenberg pointed to past U.S. efforts to impose its governance vision on other nations, citing Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya as examples where such strategies have failed. He emphasized the importance of America’s global alliance network as a key advantage in long-term competition with China.
“Any actions that devalue our alliances undermine our capacity to compete with China,” Greenberg warned. “Specifically, if America organizes its foreign policy around ceaseless confrontation with China, it will find few followers.”
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Report says U.S. 'new cold war' policy toward China 'wrongheaded'
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