When we talk about “peace through strength,” the strength side of the equation usually gets the most attention. But before we can determine how to best build and exercise strength, we first must be clear about what we mean by peace, particularly when it comes to China. A peace that has to be compelled through strength alone is not harmonious or even stable. And as much as some may wish, there is not and will never be a decent peace with the Chinese Communist Party.
It was telling that at last week’s summit, Xi Jinping’s pitch for why the United States should abandon Taiwan was framed around ensuring “peace and stability.” For decades, the United States has blindly pursued stability vis-à-vis China, desperately looking for the magic key that finally would unlock a cooperative, productive relationship. First it was economic integration. Then it was manufacturing supposedly shared transnational challenges like climate change. Meanwhile, China quietly cheated, stole, and took advantage of us to advance its actual objective—creating a new global order with Beijing at the center to America’s detriment.
Xi clearly believes he can continue dangling the possibility of stability like Lucy with her football, and there appear to be some in the United States still dutifully falling for it like Charlie Brown. All the while, China continues conducting the largest peacetime military buildup in modern history, putting its defense industrial base on a wartime footing, worming its way into our energy grids and universities, and blatantly conducting political warfare targeting our will and unity.
It’s too late to avoid conflict with China—we are already in one. Acknowledging this reality does not mean we recklessly escalate to an all-out armed conflict, but it does mean we recognize that China has been conducting economic and political warfare against us for decades while preparing for a direct military conflict. So, given China’s clearly hostile posture, what does “peace through strength” with China look like? At least as long as the Chinese Communist Party is in control, it certainly does not mean a stable, cooperative, win-win relationship. At best, it means doing what Reagan did to the Soviet Union: weakening an adversary to the point where they can no longer meaningfully coerce or harm Americans citizens. And when faced with an adversary like the CCP, just like with the Soviets, stability is illusory.
The end of history has indeed ended. It’s time we finally get realistic and buckle up for what comes next.
