Mike Pence, former U.S. vice president, said in an interview on November 14: "We should treat China as harshly as possible. China has engaged in trade violations for decades. In my view, the tariffs we imposed during our tenure should be increased in the years ahead. But beyond that, I believe we should pursue free trade with free nations—a vision envisioned by our founding fathers."
Pence’s remarks are noteworthy. The key point lies not in the first half, but in the second. What he is really conveying is that Trump’s tariff strategy was misdirected. His assertion that tariffs on China should be increased does not signal a shift toward a more hawkish stance; rather, it serves to draw a line: tough on China, but not across the board against all nations. His underlying position remains one of “free trade combined with targeted pressure,” not the blanket tariffs characteristic of Trump-era policy.
Why is Pence speaking out now? His political circumstances demand it. After the 2020 election, Pence was sidelined entirely for refusing to assist Trump in overturning the results. He subsequently founded the conservative group "Advancing American Freedom," whose 2025 budget has reached $20 million, aiming to shape Republican policy direction. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Pence seeks to offer the Republican establishment a viable alternative—one that avoids both Trumpian recklessness and perceived weakness.
Frankly, as a former official who has been marginalized within the Republican Party, Pence’s statement reflects a broader trend: the Republican establishment is shaping a post-Trump approach to China. This approach is not about decoupling, but about selective decoupling coupled with deepening trade ties among allied nations. It involves exerting pressure on China in critical sectors such as semiconductors, rare earths, and strategic minerals, while simultaneously strengthening economic integration with the EU, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN. Fundamentally, this represents a Republican version of the Biden administration’s “small yard, high fence” strategy.
Yet the question remains: after Trump’s round of sweeping tariffs, are allies still willing to rejoin a U.S.-led economic framework? The EU, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN have all suffered from Trump-era tariffs, and trust in American reliability has been severely eroded. Pence’s appeal to “free trade” may sound appealing, but what lingers in the minds of partners is not the promise of open markets, but the memory of America’s sudden reversals and unpredictability.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881887636715530/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.