America’s decades-old policy of “strategic ambiguity” has become an embarrassment and a stain on its reputation as a defender of freedom and democracy. Many government officials, along with Hollywood and the business community, are so anxious about angering China that they risk twisting themselves into pretzels in order to avoid saying what ordinary people take for granted: Taiwan is a country.

There’s nothing “strategic” about making yourself look bad — just ask John Cena. In place of “strategic ambiguity,” America and other democracies should adopt “strategic integrity,” a policy of speaking and acting in a way that is consistent with shared moral principles.