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OPINION:
Few nations in modern history have shown more goodwill to a rising power than the United States has to China. For over four decades, Washington pursued engagement — opening markets, universities and diplomatic channels — hoping China would reform. Instead, the Chinese Communist Party exploited these overtures, turning U.S. openness into a strategic advantage.
The betrayal is profound.
America fought alongside China in World War II, with more than 120,000 U.S. servicemen making the ultimate sacrifice in the Pacific to defeat Imperial Japan and help liberate Chinese territory. Yet, just five years later, the CCP sent troops to kill Americans in the Korean War. More than 36,000 Americans died. It was a debt repaid in blood, not gratitude.
In 1971, the U.S. supported China’s entry into the United Nations and even handed over Taiwan’s Security Council seat, believing Beijing would act responsibly. Instead, China hijacked key United Nations bodies, including the International Telecommunication Union, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization. More egregiously, it leveraged its influence at the World Health Organization to suppress early warnings about COVID-19 and actively block Taiwan from international health efforts.
Washington also backed China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 by welcoming Chinese goods into American markets. Rather than liberalize, China embraced unfair trade tactics by dumping products, manipulating currency and heavily subsidizing state-owned enterprises. The result: a massive and persistent trade surplus that hollowed out American manufacturing and devastated working-class communities across the nation.
America funded scholarships for generations of Chinese students, welcoming them into top universities and research institutions. In return, Beijing launched the Thousand Talents Plan, incentivizing Chinese nationals to systematically steal cutting-edge technologies from U.S. labs, universities and corporations.
America invented the internet and ushered in the digital age. China responded by building the world’s largest cyber army. Its state-sponsored hackers breached U.S. agencies, stole millions of federal personnel records and targeted U.S. companies and infrastructure.
America helped China develop its biotechnology sector through scientific collaboration, academic partnerships and open data exchange. Yet what did Washington get in return? A COVID-19 virus that originated in China, devastated American lives and crippled the economy. More than 1.1 million Americans died. Beijing refused transparency, delayed information sharing and actively obstructed international investigation, turning a global crisis into a geopolitical weapon.
Even more dangerous is how China distorts America’s “One China” policy. Although the U.S. does not recognize Beijing’s sovereignty over Taiwan, China twists this nuanced position to justify coercion and military intimidation. Taiwan is not the goal; it is merely the pretext. The real objective is regional dominance and a global order reshaped by authoritarian rule. These provocations are not misunderstandings; they are deliberate acts of aggression.
The message is clear: The CCP does not seek partnership but rather strategic advantage. It exploits openness, rejects reciprocity and fundamentally betrays trust. This isn’t just a betrayal; it is an undeclared confrontation.
Beijing supplies military technology to Russia in Ukraine, props up Iran’s theocracy and fuels North Korea’s weapons programs. It is building an axis of authoritarianism reminiscent of Cold War-era ideological blocs. The CCP’s ambition for power is global, not merely regional, through coercion and control.
This struggle is not about mere trade imbalances or technology competition. It is the defining geopolitical challenge of our time.
Before America again turns a blind eye, we must ask: How many lives must be lost before we call this what it is? After 9/11, when 3,000 Americans died, we launched a global war on terror not just for justice but also to prevent recurrence. How many have died because of China’s actions? More than 36,000 in the Korean War, more than 1 million from COVID-19 and tens of thousands from fentanyl, much of it sourced from China’s supply chain. When will we respond with the seriousness these losses demand?
Tariffs and talks are no longer enough. The scale of damage demands a new strategy.
As we once confronted the Soviet Union, we must now rise to meet the challenge posed by Beijing with urgency, unity and unwavering resolve. America must respond with clarity and conviction. That means investing in domestic resilience, reshoring critical industries and fiercely defending our institutions against CCP infiltration. We must strengthen alliances and recognize that we are facing not a misunderstood rival but rather an authoritarian regime determined to undermine the free world.
Taiwan is one such vital ally. More than a beacon of democracy, it is a strategic partner. Its leadership in semiconductors, cybersecurity and President Lai Ching-te’s “non-red supply chain” initiative makes Taiwan indispensable to any serious U.S. strategy to counter Chinese economic coercion.
America must not repeat mistakes. The engagement era is over. It’s time to pivot from naivete to strategic clarity, from appeasement to deterrence. We must stand firm with democratic allies on the front lines.
This time, the stakes are not just global. They are generational.
• Vincent C. Chen is the former student leader of Taiwan’s Wild Lily movement, a senior executive in Taiwan’s telecommunications industry and an advisory board member at two leading Taiwanese think tanks, Taiwan Thinktank and the Foundation for Future Generations.
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