From Trade Deals to Truth Bombs Trump’s Legacy in the China Conflict In a wide-ranging discussion on American Thought Leaders, retired U.S. Marine Colonel Grant Newsham offered sharp insights into the nature of U.S.-China relations, the strategic posture of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the foreign policy approach of President Trump. The conversation began by dismantling a common accusation that Trump was unduly aligned with Russian interests. Newsham pointed out that among the U.S. presidents involved in Ukraine, only Trump provided lethal aid—specifically Javelin missiles—which played a key role in halting Russia’s initial 2022 invasion. He noted that Russia has suffered more than half a million casualties since then, challenging the narrative that Trump was acting in favor of Putin. Turning to Trump’s broader foreign policy, Newsham addressed criticism labeling Trump as “transactional.” He argued this label should not be an insult, noting that presidents should prioritize tangible outcomes for the United States when engaging with foreign powers. He emphasized that national sacrifices—especially the lives of American military personnel—must serve clear national interests, rather than be treated as routine or altruistic gestures. Trump’s insistence on reciprocal defense commitments, Newsham stated, reflects a rational cost-benefit approach. The conversation then shifted to Trump’s engagement with authoritarian leaders. Newsham asserted that friendliness toward dictators is not unique to Trump; prior presidents such as Obama and Bush also extended cordiality to Vladimir Putin. Rather than a sign of weakness or complicity, Newsham sees this as part of standard diplomatic negotiations. He added that past presidents failed to secure meaningful gains in these interactions, whereas Trump’s approach often involved leveraging American power effectively. On the subject of China, Newsham delivered a stark assessment. He asserted that the CCP does not believe in win-win cooperation, but instead sees global interactions as zero-sum. According to him, the Chinese leadership views the survival of the American system as incompatible with its own. Newsham cited translated speeches by Xi Jinping that frame American values like freedom and human rights as enemies to be destroyed. He dismissed the idea that genuine good-faith deals can be struck with the CCP. A major theme of the interview was China’s strategy of “Comprehensive National Power” (CNP), which Newsham explained as an all-encompassing effort to accumulate global leverage. This includes control over strategic resources like African lithium, the lethal impact of fentanyl in the U.S., and widespread influence across Latin America and the Pacific Islands. In this framework, weakening the U.S. is not a byproduct—it is the goal. Every gain by China, Newsham argued, is intended to result in a loss for its adversaries. Newsham praised Trump’s administration for being the first to recognize the CCP as an existential adversary. He highlighted the tariffs and trade pressure applied during Trump’s first term, noting that the CCP was forced into uncomfortable negotiations. He also referenced the Abraham Accords as evidence of Trump’s success as a state- level dealmaker, calling it the most impressive agreement he’s witnessed in decades. The conversation then pivoted to what Newsham called the CCP’s “kryptonite”: the exposure of its top leaders' wealth. He described how CCP elites have secretly moved vast fortunes overseas, owning real estate, bank accounts, and businesses in Western countries—places they publicly denounce. This hypocrisy is particularly egregious given that, by the regime’s own data, some 600 million Chinese citizens live on five dollars a day or less. Newsham emphasized that if this wealth were publicly exposed, it could cause destabilizing unrest among the Chinese population and deepen rifts within the CCP’s internal power structure. Newsham drew attention to a 2022 U.S. law mandating that the intelligence community and the Secretary of State produce an unclassified report on CCP leaders’ foreign wealth. Despite the legal requirement to deliver it within one year, the report is now well overdue. Ironically, the law’s leading sponsor—Senator Marco Rubio—is now Secretary of State, raising further expectations for its release. He proposed that the U.S. government not only finalize the report but disseminate the findings through public channels. One idea he offered was a weekly broadcast, perhaps through Voice of America or Radio Free Asia, which would expose a different CCP official each week—detailing their foreign assets, luxury homes, and offshore holdings. Such transparency, Newsham argued, would instill fear among the ruling class and galvanize public interest inside China. The interview closed with a call for practical action. Newsham stressed that financial research into these assets is not difficult for a capable intelligence community, and that the real challenge lies in disseminating the findings effectively. He concluded that while military deterrence remains vital, exposing elite corruption through financial transparency might be the most powerful non-kinetic tool the United States can wield against the Chinese regime.

Source: American Thought Leaders The Epoch Times Mar. 22, 2025 YouTube URL