The eyes of the world are fixed on the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is one of the highest-stakes diplomatic meetings in decades, a true opportunity for national resolve.
For decades, the American people have watched in disbelief as their leaders traded their jobs and safety for false global harmony. Trump changed the tide. Fighting for trade access. Aggressively limiting Chinese spy tech. Designating China as a currency manipulator.
Recommended Stories
In the first Trump administration, I had a front-row seat as the president stood up as the primary defender of American interests both here at home and on the global stage. This China summit is the ultimate opportunity to prove the United States will not be a silent observer of managed economic decline in the West.
IN FOCUS: THE RED LINES TRUMP MUST PROTECT IN CHINA
The U.S.-China relationship touches the interests of every American. Following numerous shortsighted policy decisions from Washington, factories in small towns were shuttered as a direct result of globalist policies that favored short-term gains over long-term national stability. This summit is an opportunity for Trump to hold China accountable as our country faces a wave of state-sponsored competition backed by Beijing. Trump has proved time and again that his primary interest is prioritizing Americans’ economic security over foreign interests.
A major opportunity for Trump is to address the issue of illegal Chinese product dumping. This practice is a calculated effort to destroy the competitive edge of American manufacturers. By saturating our agricultural and other markets with cheap, artificial products, China effectively kills off local competition and creates a dangerous dependency on its state-controlled supply chains. This is a problem that requires a firm hand and a clear message: the U.S. will no longer tolerate the systematic destruction of its industrial base through these unfair trade tactics.
Protecting our broader agricultural sector should remain a key priority. The Chinese Communist Party has spent years attempting to reach into the American food supply by investing in domestic food processing, even attempting to smuggle in illegal agricultural seeds. This is a direct threat to our economic sovereignty, growth, and national security. We must never allow a foreign adversary to hold the keys to our grocery stores or our farming communities.
Recent policy reports indicate that the Chinese government continues to threaten U.S. agriculture through these acquisitions and influence operations. Strengthening the American food supply chain means removing the CCP from the equation entirely. Our farmers deserve all we can do to protect their land and livelihoods from hostile foreign influence while ensuring that our food stays safe and domestic.
Another example of this malicious practice is in the vaping market. The influx of unapproved Chinese vapes into our retail stores is a public health crisis that demands attention this week. These products frequently evade Food and Drug Administration oversight and represent a significant risk, especially to young people across the country. Allowing China to flood our neighborhoods with unregulated and potentially dangerous products is an affront to our laws and our families. Now is the time for China to stop the flow of these unauthorized products while allowing American producers to innovate and clear illegal CCP items off the shelves for good.
The conversation must also include the sensitive equipment found in our hospitals and clinics. It is an alarming reality that Chinese medical devices, which many Americans are likely unaware of, pose a stark threat to American patients. Many of these devices are designed with integrated technology that serves as a gateway for Chinese intelligence agencies. These surveillance components allow the CCP to monitor our citizens and potentially compromise our most private health information.
Texas and Florida have already shown significant leadership by taking aggressive steps to remove these risks from their hospitals and medical centers. Trump can now take that momentum to the summit to demand transparency and security.
This meeting is about the strategic independence of the U.S. economy in an increasingly volatile world. Relying on an adversary for essential goods is a vulnerability that we can no longer afford to ignore. By standing firm against the influence of the CCP, Trump can ensure that the U.S. remains the dominant force in the global market for the next century.
OPINION: THE TRUMP-XI OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR RELATIONS AS COUNTRIES SPIRAL TOWARD CONFLICT
Negotiating from a position of strength is the only way to achieve lasting peace and prosperity, not only for the American people but for people worldwide. Trump can once again prove he is the only leader willing and able to stand up to the CCP and put American workers, patients, and families first.
Trump is uniquely equipped with the language of strength and courage. This summit is the stage where he can remind China and the world that America will always come first. By standing firm on trade, technology, food, and health, Trump will define the next era of American leadership.
Chad F. Wolf served as acting secretary of homeland security during President Donald Trump’s first term.
