Fall 2024
Moderator: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to tonight’s debate on U.S. policy toward China. Our two debaters are former President Donald Trump and defense policy analyst Becky Romero. The format will consist of questions posed by me, with each candidate having two minutes to respond, with follow-ups allowed at my discretion. We will alternate who answers first. And each debater will be allowed a two minute closing statement. Let’s begin. The first question goes to Ms. Romero.Moderator: Ms. Romero, China has been expanding its economic and military influence across the globe. What should the United States do to counter China’s growing power?
Becky Romero: China’s economic and military expansion poses a long-term strategic threat to the United States and our allies. The first step is strengthening our own military, particularly our naval presence in the Pacific. We need to expand our carrier battlegroups back to fifteen and ensure that our allies in the region, like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, have the military capabilities necessary to deter Chinese aggression. Economically, we need to be smart. We must reduce our dependency on Chinese manufacturing by incentivizing American companies to bring jobs home and diversifying our supply chains. But we should also work closely with the European Union, India, and other economies to create a united front against unfair Chinese trade practices.Donald Trump: Let me tell you something: China has been ripping us off for decades. I stood up to them when nobody else would. We had the strongest economy, and we were bringing jobs back from China—factories were coming home! We need to keep hitting them with tariffs, because they cheat on trade, they steal our intellectual property, and they manipulate their currency. Biden came in and let them walk all over us again. I’d bring back my policies, make America energy independent, and get tough on China again. Our military is strong, but we have to be smart—we shouldn’t get into unnecessary conflicts, but we have to be respected. And under my administration, we were respected. China was scared of me, believe me.
Moderator: Ms. Romero, you mentioned working with allies to counter China’s influence. How do you plan to strengthen those alliances?
Becky Romero: The best way to counter China’s influence is to reinforce our global partnerships. That means deepening economic and military ties with NATO, Japan, South Korea, India, and the Philippines. We should also engage more with countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, where China has been aggressively expanding its Belt and Road Initiative. If we offer better trade deals and economic incentives, we can counter their influence and prevent nations from becoming financially dependent on Beijing.
But let’s not forget: countering China also means restoring America’s industrial base. Imagine if many U.S.-led transnational companies were encouraged to pull out of China and set up manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Central and South America. That would boost our hemisphere’s economies, reduce our reliance on China, and—here’s a bonus—it would decrease undocumented immigration as economic opportunities grow south of our border.
Donald Trump: (interrupting) Illegal immigration is out of control! Thanks to O’Biden, we’ve got an open border, crime, and drugs flooding in! People are pouring in from everywhere, and it’s a disaster. We had the safest border under my administration, and now it’s the worst it’s ever been.
Becky Romero: (chuckling) “O’Biden”, huh? Mr. Trump, if you were so tough, why didn’t Mexico pay for that wall like you promised? I mean, you had four years, and last I checked, Mexico didn’t send a check.
Donald Trump: (mocking) Oh, here we go, Becky. You sound like CNN. We built hundreds of miles of wall! But Sleepy Joe came in and stopped construction. If I were in office, it’d be finished! And Mexico—yes, Mexico paid indirectly, through trade and other agreements. They knew they couldn’t take advantage of us anymore!
Moderator: Mr. Trump, while we’re discussing China’s economic influence, critics say tariffs often end up hurting American consumers more than China. What do you say to those concerns?
Donald Trump: That’s fake news. Tariffs were working! We were bringing back billions from China. They had to pay, and they knew I meant business. The problem is Biden reversed everything, and now we’re weak again. China is laughing at us. When I was president, they weren’t laughing.
Becky Romero: Let’s be real here. While tariffs can be a tool, they’re not a strategy. And it’s the importer, American businesses – who pay the tariff, not the country where the imported goods are coming in from. You slapped tariffs on China, but did that stop them from manipulating their currency? No. Did it stop them from stealing our technology? No. Tariffs are only effective if they’re part of a broader, long-term approach. We need to combine trade policies with investment in domestic manufacturing and alliances with partners who share our concerns.
Donald Trump: (pointing) I don’t just talk—I act. I actually stood up to China, while you and the Democrats just talk about it. I took action.
Becky Romero: (smirking) Yeah, you acted tough, but the results? Not so much. (holds up a red MAGA cap) If you were so tough on China, why do your MAGA caps still say “Made in China”? It’s hypocritical for you to claim to be tough on China when your own campaign gear supports them.
Donald Trump: (huffs) Oh, come on, Becky! That’s a cheap shot.
Moderator: Alright, moving on—next question.
Moderator: China has been increasing military pressure on Taiwan. How should the U.S. respond if China moves to invade Taiwan?
Donald Trump: Look, under my administration, China never would have even thought about invading Taiwan. They respected us, they feared us. But now? Biden is weak, and they see it. Afghanistan? A disaster. China is watching, and they think they can do whatever they want.The answer isn’t some long-winded strategy—it’s simple: strength. Taiwan should be armed to the teeth. They should have the best weapons, the best defense systems, and they should know America has their back. But we also need to be smart—we can’t rush into another endless war. China has a lot to lose, and if I were still in office, I’d make it clear that any move on Taiwan would cripple them economically and militarily. They wouldn’t dare.
Becky Romero: Strength isn’t just about talking tough. It’s about actually building the military force to deter China before they act. That means expanding our naval presence, strengthening alliances, and making it crystal clear that we will defend Taiwan if necessary. Right now, our Pacific fleet isn’t as strong as it should be, and that’s dangerous. You promised a 350-ship Navy but left office with fewer than 300 ships. Our naval presence in the Pacific remains insufficient to deter China effectively.
I support the AUKUS alliance because it bolsters our capabilities alongside Australia and the UK. We need to end strategic ambiguity and clearly state that we’ll defend Taiwan militarily. This requires real investment in our Navy and consistent policies that reassure our allies and deter our adversaries.
Donald Trump: (smirking) Oh, Becky, you act like I didn’t do anything! I made Japan and Australia step up their defense spending. We got tough on China economically. You think Biden has done that? No! He’s begging China for cooperation while they laugh at him.
And AUKUS? Listen, it’s fine, but let’s be honest—it was my administration that set the stage for all of this. Biden just slapped a new name on what I started. The world was stable when I was in charge. Now it’s chaos. You think that’s a coincidence?
Becky Romero: (leaning forward) If you had really been as tough on China as you claim, they wouldn’t have spent your entire presidency ramping up their navy and building military bases in the South China Sea. You talk about deterrence, but deterrence means actual action, not just slogans. If we don’t expand our own naval capabilities and reinforce our commitments to Taiwan, China will test us. We can’t afford to just hope they’re too scared to move—we have to make sure of it.
Moderator: Ms. Romero, you’ve advocated for granting statehood to Guam, primarily for national security reasons. Could you elaborate on how this move would enhance U.S. security in the Pacific region?
Becky Romero: Certainly. Guam’s strategic position in the Pacific makes it a linchpin for U.S. military operations. By elevating Guam to statehood, we send a clear message to potential adversaries, particularly China, that any aggression toward Guam would be considered an attack on the United States itself. This heightened status would serve as a significant deterrent, complicating any plans China might have regarding Guam and reinforcing our commitment to defending our territories.Donald Trump: Oh, come on! This isn’t about national security. Becky just wants more Democrats in the Senate! That’s what this is really about. You make Guam a state, and boom—two more Democrat senators voting for all the crazy liberal policies. And don’t think I don’t see the bigger picture—next, it’s Puerto Rico, then D.C., and before you know it, they’ll be turning every little island with a U.S. flag into a state just to rig the system.
Becky Romero: Mr. Trump, the people of U.S. territories are American citizens. Many of them have fought and died for our country. Are you saying they don’t deserve full representation?
Donald Trump: I’m saying this is a political game! It’s all about power. Look at Puerto Rico—same thing. They want statehood, but it’s all about locking in Democrat votes. That’s the only reason the left pushes this nonsense!
Becky Romero: Puerto Ricans can’t even vote for president. But you know who can? Edward Snowden—sitting over there in Moscow with your pal Vladimir Putin—he can vote absentee.
Donald Trump: Look, he’s not my ‘pal’! But I do get along great with him, and you know what? That’s a good thing! Better than Biden stumbling around and letting China and Russia run wild!
Moderator: Alright, alright. Let’s move forward.
Moderator: Should the U.S. impose tariffs on Chinese imports?
Donald Trump: Look, tariffs work. They worked when I was in office, and they’ll work again. China has been screwing us over for decades, and I was the first president to do something about it. Tariffs bring manufacturing back to America. You know how many jobs we brought back? Thousands. And I’d do it again. We need to be tough, not weak. And the thing is, China needs us more than we need them. We have all the leverage. The problem is Biden won’t use it. Under my leadership, we made it clear: if you cheat on trade, you pay the price. And China paid billions in tariffs. Those tariffs should stay, and we should increase them if necessary.Becky Romero: Well, we certainly saw some short-term effects with tariffs, but it was never about a strategy. The trade deficit remained, and your approach didn’t stop China from manipulating their currency. You focused on punitive measures, which led to some tit-for-tat escalations, but it wasn’t a sustainable solution. My approach is about creating long-term solutions: holding China accountable for intellectual property theft, ensuring fair trade practices, and supporting the return of manufacturing—not just to the U.S., but to our neighbors like Mexico, where we can help create jobs and build stronger economic ties in the Americas.
Donald Trump: (interrupting) You want to talk about jobs? I created more jobs than anyone in history before O’Biden ruined everything! And I made sure China knew they couldn’t mess with us anymore. And your plan? What’s that going to do? Mexico? Central America? They can’t replace China! I started to build the wall, I created jobs, and China paid the price for their actions.
Becky Romero: (laughing) “O’Biden”? And the wall that you built? How’d that work out?
Donald Trump: (mocking) You supported Sleepy Joe, and look at where we are now. China’s still stealing our intellectual property, sending us fentanyl, and flooding our markets with cheap goods. Under my administration, China knew we meant business.
Becky Romero: (with a smirk) Oh, here we go with the Sleepy Joe insults again. Let’s get something straight: I believe in holding China accountable, not just putting on a show. Intellectual property theft? Still a massive problem. Fentanyl? China is still the primary supplier. Under your watch, China was still undermining American business interests. You didn’t fix the root causes—you just tried to bandage over the symptoms.
Moderator: Ms. Romero, to clarify. Are you accusing former President Trump of exacerbating the fentanyl crisis in the United States? What concrete actions would you take to stop China’s involvement in the fentanyl trade that you say Mr. Trump didn’t take?
Becky Romero: Fentanyl is killing thousands of Americans every year. The majority of it is coming from China, and they’re complicit in allowing these drugs to flood our streets. I would work with global partners to enforce strict sanctions on Chinese entities involved in fentanyl production and distribution. We need to increase penalties for those caught trafficking these dangerous substances. And I’d put the pressure on China directly—make them pay for their role in this crisis. This is a matter of national security, and we can’t afford to let China continue poisoning our people.
Donald Trump: (pointing) The real problem is the border. Under my watch, we made sure that drugs like fentanyl weren’t coming across. What’s going on now? Under Sleepy Joe the border’s open, and fentanyl is flooding in from all over, not just China. We need to close the border and stop illegal immigration before we can really get a handle on this. China’s part of it, but the open border is the real issue.
Becky Romero: (sighing) I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Yes, the border is important, but China is the primary source of fentanyl. If you had been as tough on China as you claimed, maybe the drug shipments wouldn’t be coming in so freely. The fact is, China’s involvement in fentanyl production needs to be addressed directly, not deflected to other issues.
Moderator: Let’s stay on this topic for a bit and talk about human rights and trade. Ms. Romero, you’ve proposed revoking China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations if they continue with their human rights abuses. What does this mean for the future of U.S.-China relations?
Becky Romero: That’s right. If China’s behavior doesn’t improve, the U.S. should no longer grant them PNTR status, especially when they continue to oppress their own people. It’s about holding China accountable for violating human rights and undermining global stability. While tariffs can help, the fundamental issue here is China’s disregard for basic freedoms. By cutting trade privileges, we signal that there are consequences for mistreating people, including the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong and the persecution of minorities like the Uighurs.Moderator: Mr. Trump, what about that? What should the U.S. do about China’s human rights abuses, such as the treatment of Uyghurs and the crackdown on Hong Kong? Should the U.S. revoke China’s PNTR status?
Donald Trump: Look, I was very tough on China. I sanctioned them, I called them out, but at the same time, we have to be smart. We can’t be the world’s policeman. We need to focus on making America great again. I supported Hong Kong, but Biden let them fall to China. The Uyghurs? What’s happening there is terrible. We should continue sanctions, but let’s not forget, China is a major power. We have to be strong, but we also have to focus on America first.
Becky Romero: Let’s be clear: the United Kingdom turned Hong Kong over to China in 1997, and Joe Biden was still in the Senate at the time. It is absurd to blame him for something that was decided decades ago.
Donald Trump (interrupting): Wrong! Biden let them fall, everyone knows it! But Becky’s out here defending Sleepy Joe again! You supported him in the 2000 rigged election, too! What a disaster!
Becky Romero: Excuse me, Mr. Trump, it is my turn to speak. You had your time, now let me finish.
Moderator: Mr. Trump, please allow Ms. Romero to continue.
Becky Romero: Hong Kong was a tragedy, and we should have done more to support its pro-democracy movement. If we don’t stand for human rights, we lose moral authority in the world. That weakens us in every other negotiation with China.
Moderator: Let’s wrap up with a final question. If you had a chance to change U.S. policy toward China, what would it be?
Becky Romero: I would immediately end China’s PNTR status if their human rights violations continue. I would also strengthen our enforcement on intellectual property rights, especially tech and innovation. Finally, I’d push for the return of manufacturing to North America—setting up in Mexico and Central America—to create jobs and bring vital supply chains closer to home. We can’t just be reactive; we need a long-term strategy for American workers and businesses.Donald Trump: (grinning) I’d get tough again. China’s been stealing from us for too long. I’d reimpose tariffs, renegotiate trade deals that protect American jobs, and stand up to China like I did before. We’d make sure China knows they can’t mess with us, and I’d hold them accountable for everything they’ve done—intellectual property theft, fentanyl, and trade imbalances. I’m the one who made them pay.
Moderator: That concludes our question section. Each of you now has two minutes for closing statements. President Trump, you go first.
Donald Trump: Thank you. When I was in office, we had the greatest economy in history—everyone was doing well. Wages were up, unemployment was down, and our stock market was breaking records. China was paying billions in tariffs to us, and jobs were coming back. We were making America great again.Then came Joe Biden. He sold us out—just like he and his family always have. Let’s not forget, his son, Hunter, made millions in China. Millions. And you expect Biden to stand up to them? Please. He’s weak, he’s compromised, and China is laughing at us.
I stood up to China when nobody else would. I put tariffs on them, called them out for their currency manipulation, and rebuilt our military—the biggest defense budget ever. China respected us. They never would dare to move on Taiwan under my watch.
So here’s the choice: do you want weak leadership that lets China walk all over us, like Biden and, frankly, the Obama administration did? Or do you want tough, proven leadership that gets things done? I took on China before, and I’ll do it again. We will win against China, bring back jobs, stop the economic bleeding, and make America great again!
Moderator: Ms. Romero, your closing statement.
Becky Romero: Unlike Mr. Trump, I don’t and have never had a multi-million-dollar bank account in China. Unlike Mr. Trump, I’ve never collected $7 million from a Chinese state-owned bank to rent office space in Trump Tower. And unlike Mr. Trump, I’ve never paid taxes to the Chinese Communist government. That’s the reality.
If we’re serious about competing with China, we need a strategy grounded in action, not slogans. That starts with a stronger military—particularly a U.S. Navy capable of deterring Chinese aggression. To protect Taiwan, safeguard our Pacific allies, and keep global trade routes secure, we need more than rhetoric—we need ships in the water. We must restore our fleet to at least 15 carrier battlegroups and modernize our capabilities to maintain dominance in the Pacific.
But this isn’t just about military power. We must also reclaim our economic strength. That means revoking China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations status if they continue to trample human rights and violate trade agreements. It means encouraging U.S. and transnational companies to move their manufacturing operations out of China and into Mexico, Central America, and South America—strengthening our own hemisphere while reducing illegal immigration.
Finally, we need consistent leadership—one that understands that working with allies like Japan, Australia, and the European Union makes us stronger, rather than treating alliances as disposable. America must lead not just with strength, but with intelligence and conviction. That’s the kind of leadership we need to take on China—not erratic policies based on personal deals or political theater.
Moderator: Thank you to both of our debaters for this engaging discussion. That concludes tonight’s debate.
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