September 19, 2023
Why Aren’t the Presidential Candidates Debating China?
The 2024 presidential race is the first since America woke up to a double shock from China: Not only has Beijing spurned U.S. “engagement” and emerged as our top strategic rival, but America also faces the real risk of losing a war to China over Taiwan by 2027, if not sooner. Responding to these shocks is the primary national-security challenge facing the next commander in chief.
Underestimating the China risk is a longstanding American strategic error.
The candidates, however, are saying surprisingly little about the subject. The first Republican primary debate all but ignored it. There was only one question about China, which North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum answered. Discussion shifted to securing the southern border, with China mentioned later only in passing. Voters deserve a direct discussion of the Chinese military threat.
Read the full article and more from The Wall Street Journal.
More from CNAS
-
Commentary
Indo-Pacific Security / Technology & National Security
Sharper: China's AI RiseArtificial intelligence has become a strategic priority for Beijing and Washington, yet both countries continue to pursue dramatically different strategies in their bid for gl...
By Charles Horn & Cadence Barker
-
Indo-Pacific Stability Depends on Eastern Africa’s Prosperity
Commentary
The Strait of Malacca, Taiwan, and the South China Sea dominate the Asian debate. However, chokepoints further from home could prove similarly devastating....
By Derek Grossman
-
Superpowers and AGI
Reports
Executive Summary Artificial intelligence (AI) systems continue to progress at a steady pace. This trend has fed forecasts that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—generally...
By Jacob Stokes
-
Trump Is Linking Economic Investment With Military Alliances: Political Analyst
Video
Derek Grossman from the University of Southern California, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, says Trump is most interested in making money of...
By Derek Grossman
