New York Governor and 1928 Democratic Party Presidential nominee Al Smith used to say “Let’s look at the record,” when he ran for office. In the same vein, I respectively disagree with Frank Spotorno when he states that President Donald Trump was the “first President to stand up to China” (September 18, 2020 issue of Westchester Rising) – this simply has not been the case.
President Truman deployed U.S. troops to South Korea’s defense during the Korean War when Russia and China supported the invading North Korean armies. Later, in 1959, President Eisenhower condemned the PRC for its human rights abuses in Tibet, and continued military assistance to Taiwan.
Even after the US normalized relations with the PRC, American Presidents have been critical of China. During the 1980s, the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations continued sales of missiles, tanks and other defensive weapons to Taiwan and worked to strengthen relations with that country. During the administration of George W. Bush, the PRC was persuaded to bring North Korea back to the Six Party Talks on nuclear proliferation. In 2007, Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking for the Bush administration, criticized the PRC for its military build-up. American military assistance (approximately $ 14.1 billion) to the Taiwan government continued during the Obama years.
The Obama administration successfully negotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement in 2016 with Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and 8 other nations in the greater Pacific Rim region. TPP was seen as a strategic way to reduce these countries’ dependence on Chinese trade and bring these nations closer to the US. The Trump administration foolishly decided to withdraw from the TPP, and in so doing, opened the door for China to extend its influence in the region.
Our relations with China have become more complex over the last several years, and President Trump’s actions to date indicate that he neither understands America’s vital interests in Asia, nor has any long-term strategies to advance those interests. We can do better than this. President Ronald Reagan used to say “facts are stubborn things,” which voters need to consider as they vote this fall.
I see this election not only as a referendum on the incumbent President’s performance since 2017, but also as a choice between two futures and enduring American values. I believe that millions of Republicans, former Republicans and Independents will place country over party, and vote to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on November 3rd.
Stephen R. Rolandi, Larchmont
The writer is an adjunct professor of public administration in the New York metropolitan area and formerly served in the administrations of New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. A lifelong Republican activist, he previously served as National Vice President/Treasurer of the Ripon Society in Washington, DC. He is currently a member of The Lincoln Project and Republicans for the Rule of Law
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New York Governor and 1928 Democratic Party Presidential nominee Al Smith used to say “Let’s look at the record,” when he ran for office. In the same vein, I respectively disagree with Frank Spotorno when he states that President Donald Trump was the “first President to stand up to China” (September 18, 2020 issue of Westchester Rising) – this simply has not been the case.
President Truman deployed U.S. troops to South Korea’s defense during the Korean War when Russia and China supported the invading North Korean armies. Later, in 1959, President Eisenhower condemned the PRC for its human rights abuses in Tibet, and continued military assistance to Taiwan.
Even after the US normalized relations with the PRC, American Presidents have been critical of China. During the 1980s, the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations continued sales of missiles, tanks and other defensive weapons to Taiwan and worked to strengthen relations with that country. During the administration of George W. Bush, the PRC was persuaded to bring North Korea back to the Six Party Talks on nuclear proliferation. In 2007, Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking for the Bush administration, criticized the PRC for its military build-up. American military assistance (approximately $ 14.1 billion) to the Taiwan government continued during the Obama years.
The Obama administration successfully negotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement in 2016 with Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and 8 other nations in the greater Pacific Rim region. TPP was seen as a strategic way to reduce these countries’ dependence on Chinese trade and bring these nations closer to the US. The Trump administration foolishly decided to withdraw from the TPP, and in so doing, opened the door for China to extend its influence in the region.
Our relations with China have become more complex over the last several years, and President Trump’s actions to date indicate that he neither understands America’s vital interests in Asia, nor has any long-term strategies to advance those interests.
We can do better than this. President Ronald Reagan used to say “facts are stubborn things,” which voters need to consider as they vote this fall. I see this election not only as a referendum on the incumbent President’s performance since 2017, but also as a choice between two futures and enduring American values.
I believe that millions of Republicans, former Republicans and Independents will place country over party, and vote to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on November 3rd.
Stephen R. Rolandi, Larchmont.The writer is an adjunct professor of public administration in the New York metropolitan area and formerly served in the administrations of New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. A lifelong Republican activist, he previously served as National Vice President/Treasurer of the Ripon Society in Washington, DC. He is currently a member of The Lincoln Project and Republicans for the Rule of Law
