The question of our time is whether the world’s democracies will stand up to China’s growing power or simply allow it to continue unchecked. The answer, as the book We Were Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop! makes clear, is far from certain. The path forward is clouded by a dangerous political shortsightedness in the West, particularly in the United States, where half-measures and a fundamental misunderstanding of the economic threat continue to dominate policy. While the European Union’s response is even more lacking, the onus falls on the U.S. to lead the charge, a task made difficult by a fragmented and often misguided political strategy.
The book points to the failures of the Biden administration’s approach in 2024, which adopted policies that failed to recognize the enormous error of America’s free trade with China since 2001. President Biden may understand the military threat posed by China, but he has failed to grasp the economic engine that powers China’s military and geopolitical ambitions. This is a critical blind spot, one that allows a dangerous status quo to persist and for our trade deficit to continue funding a strategic rival.
Similarly, the proposed policies of President Donald Trump reveal an equally concerning lack of economic insight. While Trump correctly identified the economic danger, his proposed solution (a 10% tariff on Chinese imports) is a prime example of a half-measure that is doomed to fail. The book argues that such a tariff is simply a drop in the ocean, as it will not significantly alter the flow of Chinese goods into the U.S. Why? Chinese production costs remain roughly half those of the United States. For a tariff to have any meaningful effect, it would need to be 100% or higher, a level that would actually begin to level the playing field for American manufacturers. This fundamental reality, the book notes, is tragically ignored by the White House and many of its advisors.
The situation is further complicated by the political landscape. The book highlights the potential of individuals like Robert E. Lighthizer, a diplomat with a proven understanding of this economic problem, to offer a viable path forward. However, it expresses concern that Lighthizer is being left out of the inner circle in favor of less competent advisors.
This raises a sobering question: if the best minds are sidelined, how can the U.S. hope to craft a strategy that is both effective and long-lasting? The warning in this book is not just for the public but for the very policymakers and advisors who hold the power to change our current trajectory.
To fully understand the extent of this historical error and the path forward, it is essential to read the powerful and urgent analysis in We Were Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop! Drawing on a clear and compelling line of logic, Edouard Prisse exposes the original errors, false assumptions, and misguided predictions made by political leaders, mainstream media, and respected publications such as Foreign Affairs, Brookings Institution Press, and The New York Times. This book offers a rare and unflinching analysis of how Western optimism blinded us to the deeper strategic ambitions of the Chinese regime. Head to Amazon to purchase your copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1967963053
