At the 14th World Peace Forum in Beijing on July 3, Dr. Thomas Fingar, former Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the U.S. State Department, delivered a candid take on how the "China threat" is wielded in American electoral politics.
Fingar pointed out that during an election cycle marked by deep partisan and ideological divisions, the U.S. Congress struggles to agree on substantive policies—whether on education, healthcare, or infrastructure—especially when such policies cost money.
To push things through, he said, Washington has fallen into the habit of cramming more and more issues into the "national security" basket. "Who can be against national security?" he asked. He cited early childhood education and AI funding as examples of how the "China threat" is invoked as a political contrivance.
He also warned that as the November election approaches, there will be lots of "China is bad" rhetoric—because it's a "freebie" for American politicians. In his view, "China" in electoral politics is an imaginary place where everything disliked is lumped together and no one has to explain it.
Fingar urged outsiders to "look past the rhetoric," noting that while the outside world may perceive a hardening U.S. stance toward China, the reality is more nuanced.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Cover & video: Deng Yingheng
