1906
Strategic Failure Engaging Communist China
Captain James Fanell (US Navy, retired) and Bradley Thayer, authors of Embracing Communist China: America’s Greatest Strategic Failure: John Batchelor interviews Fanell and Thayer regarding America’s strategic failure in foreign policy toward Communist China. The authors argue Washington’s long-standing engagement strategy failed to reform the Chinese Communist Party, allowing Beijing’s elite capture of American institutions and aggressive military maneuvers surrounding Taiwan, including Joint Sword exercises. To counter this existential threat, Fanell and Thayer advocate urgent reforms: admitting institutional intelligence failures, establishing an independent Team B, relocating investment oversight to the Pentagon, completely severing economic ties with Beijing, and encouraging regional nuclear deterrence across Pacific allies to restore vital long-term regional stability. (1)