Well, here we are again—another round of “historic” trade talks with China, another round of breathless media coverage, and another round of our so-called foreign policy elite telling us that the sky is either about to fall or about to clear up with a rainbow and singing birds.
You’d think after a few decades of watching this movie on repeat, folks in Washington would have figured out the basic plot: China isn’t playing fair, they never will, and the only real ace up our sleeve is to outgrow and out-innovate them. But here we are.
Now, Michael Pillsbury hit the nail on the head this week when he said these talks will be a test of competing narratives about China’s strength. On one side, you’ve got the cheerleaders who are convinced China’s about to collapse under the weight of its own debt, youth unemployment, and authoritarian nonsense.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
DONALD TRUMP TO MEET WITH CHINA LEADER TODAY AND TALK ABOUT TRADE DEALS
BULLISH FOR MARKETS 🚀 pic.twitter.com/ZEByvFGw5u
— Crypto Beast (@cryptobeastreal) June 9, 2025
On the other side are the realists—folks who understand that, while China has its problems (no doubt about that), it’s still a formidable competitor with plenty of tools at its disposal, including the much-discussed “rare earth card” that could put a major wrench in our high-tech industries if they decide to play hardball.
What’s missing from most of the Beltway chatter is the plain truth Pillsbury pointed out: the real “secret weapon” here isn’t some clever negotiating tactic or backroom handshake. It’s us. It’s the American economy when it’s firing on all cylinders, free from the suffocating grip of overregulation, excessive taxation, and the nanny-state mentality that’s been creeping in for years. President Trump understood this. He understood that a strong domestic economy doesn’t just give us leverage at the negotiating table—it’s the foundation for long-term competition.
Look at what Trump’s already done. The tariff strategy, while not popular with the Davos set, forced Beijing to take us seriously. The left-wing media squawked about trade wars and consumer prices, but what they never acknowledged is that China needs access to our market far more than we need theirs. Our tariffs exposed the fragility of their export-driven economy and made them blink. And yet, here we go again, with some in the media acting as if these talks are a lifeline for us. Please.
For decades, China and other foreign adversaries have crushed American industry and jobs with unfair trade practices.
Small businesses never had anyone fighting for them – until President Trump. pic.twitter.com/TrGcP9Q9P8
— Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) June 5, 2025
Then there’s the team Trump’s sending to London: a no-nonsense group that isn’t afraid to play hardball. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer aren’t there to sip tea with their Chinese counterparts. They’re there to deliver a message: America is back in the driver’s seat. After years of apologetic foreign policy under previous administrations, it’s refreshing to see negotiators who understand that strength and resolve matter.
But let’s be clear: this is a long game. China isn’t going to roll over because of one round of tariffs or one tough meeting. They’re patient. They’re strategic. And they’ll use every tool in their arsenal—from rare earth exports to cyber tactics to diplomatic maneuvering. The only way we win this is by making sure our economy is stronger, more dynamic, and more resilient than theirs over the long haul.
That means continuing to unleash American energy, rolling back red tape, fostering innovation, and standing firm on trade. It also means resisting the siren song of those in Washington who want to “compromise” away our advantages in the name of some mythical global harmony.
So as the latest chapter in the U.S.-China trade saga unfolds, remember this: the real battle isn’t in the conference rooms of London or Beijing. It’s right here at home. The best way to beat China is to be so strong, so dynamic, and so self-sufficient that they can’t compete, no matter how many rare earths they stockpile or tariffs they slap on our goods. Let’s hope our leaders remember that as the talks continue.
