NSC Interim National Security Strategic Guidance
"We must also contend with the reality that the distribution of power across the world is changing, creating new threats
(a strong dose of Mearsheimer and Gilpin here!). China, in particular, has rapidly become more assertive.
It is the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system."
"Our democratic alliances enable us to present a common front, produce a unified vision, and pool our strength to promote high standards, establish effective international rules, and hold countries like China to account."
"And we will engage in meaningful dialogue with Russia and China on a range of emerging military technological developments that implicate strategic stability
(trying to get China to sign onto nuclear arms reduction treaties so as to cap China's nuclear arsenal?)."
"Taken together, this agenda will strengthen our enduring advantages, and allow us to prevail in strategic competition with China or any other nation. The most effective way for America to out-compete a more assertive and authoritarian China over the long-term is to invest in our people, our economy, and our democracy. By restoring U.S. credibility and reasserting forward-looking global leadership, we will ensure that
America, not China, sets the international agenda (these are President Obama's words), working alongside others to shape new global norms and agreements that advance our interests and reflect our values. By bolstering and defending our unparalleled network of allies and partners, and making
smart defense investments, we will also deter Chinese aggression and counter threats to our collective security, prosperity, and democratic way of life. At the same time, revitalizing our core strengths is necessary but not sufficient. In many areas,
China’s leaders seek unfair advantages, behave aggressively and coercively, and undermine the rules and values at the heart of an open and stable international system. When the Chinese government’s behavior directly threatens our interests and values, we will answer Beijing’s challenge. We will
confront unfair and illegal trade practices, cyber theft, and coercive economic practices that hurt American workers, undercut our advanced and emerging technologies, and seek to erode our strategic advantage and national competitiveness. We will
ensure that our supply chains for critical national security technologies and medical supplies are secure (specific elements of partial decoupling?). We will continue to defend access to the global commons, including freedom of navigation and overflight rights, under international law. We will position ourselves, diplomatically and militarily, to defend our allies. We will
support China’s neighbors and commercial partners in defending their rights to make independent political choices free of coercion or undue foreign influence (But what are the alternatives for these countries? They desperately need railroads, roads, and bridges instead of political shock therapy.). We will promote locally-led development to combat the manipulation of local priorities. We will
support Taiwan, a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner, in line with longstanding American commitments (TRA and strategic ambiguity, or more explicit guarantee to defend Taiwan?). We will ensure that U.S. companies do not sacrifice American values in doing business in China. And we will
stand up for democracy, human rights, and human dignity, including in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. On all these issues, we will work to forge a common approach with like minded countries."
"We also recognize that strategic competition does not, and should not, preclude working with China when it is in our national interest to do so. Indeed, renewing America’s advantages ensures that we will
engage China from a position of confidence and strength. We will conduct practical, results-oriented diplomacy with Beijing and work to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation. We will welcome the Chinese government’s
cooperation on issues such as climate change, global health security, arms control, and nonproliferation where our national fates are intertwined. As we do, we will rally our allies and partners to join us, pooling our negotiating leverage and showing our collective power and resolve."
