A Progressive Strategy Toward China

August 13, 2008, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all entered the White House with promises to be "tougher" on China—only to embrace a more pragmatic approach later. Today, rapid changes to the global economy, China's rise, offshoring of U.S. jobs, and overall economic weakness combine to give unique momentum to the case that the next president should also take a "tougher" stance.

A new report from the Center for American Progress argues that though we have serious policy differences with China, the urgency of our shared challenges, most particularly on the need for dramatic reductions in global carbon emissions, does not allow time for posturing that ultimately fails to deliver. Without a serious commitment by the United States and China, we will not be able to avoid the most dire consequences of climate change.