Thomas Friedman’s Misguided Views on U.S.-China Relations
Thomas Friedman likely believed he was being witty when he named his latest article How Elon Musk and Taylor Swift Can Resolve U.S.-China Relations. The title alone is designed to grab the attention of Swift’s fans, who idolize her as a world savior, and Musk’s followers, who are convinced he can do the same, not to mention their critics who watch their every step with equal, if not greater, fervor. Essentially, it was the New York Times’ way of generating clicks by leveraging the fame of billionaires instead of providing substantial journalism.
The article was easy to click on but difficult to digest.
Friedman opens his piece with a slight nod to truth, which is rare enough to startle regular readers of The NYT who are used to hearing mainly negative news about China:
“I just spent a week in Beijing and Shanghai, meeting with Chinese officials, economists, and entrepreneurs, and let me get right to the point: While we were sleeping China took a great leap forward in high-tech manufacturing of everything.”
No expert on China would dispute this, although many Americans still perceive the distant nation through a Cold War-era lens, imagining it as a land of backward rural landscapes under communist rule. This perception reveals more about American ignorance regarding China, as most have never visited nor plan to.
Friedman then attributes the acceleration of China’s manufacturing capabilities to Donald Trump’s tariffs and anti-China sentiment, even noting that Trump’s nickname on Chinese social media is “Chuan Jiaguo,” which translates to “Nation Builder.”
Friedman’s superficial grasp of China was disappointing, especially since the article’s title promised a far more creative and novel discussion.
Contrary to Friedman’s suggestion, it wasn’t Trump that triggered China’s technological and industrial surge, often likened to the “Sputnik moment.” In reality, China has been experiencing a continuous surge in advancement for the last four decades, from eradicating extreme poverty to leading in renewable energy adoption, without any help from Trump’s antics.
Friedman introduces what he calls the “Elon Musk-Taylor Swift paradigm” for managing US-China relations. Rather than abruptly imposing tariffs, which would trigger a supply-chain conflict benefiting no one, he proposes a gradual increase. This, according to Friedman, would allow the US time to foster more homegrown talent like Musk in big manufacturing and give China time to open up more to foreign entertainment and consumer goods, symbolized by Taylor Swift.
While Friedman correctly criticizes the folly of a trade war with China, his analysis comes off as simplistic and deeply rooted in Western capitalist angst over zero-sum games:
“It’s important to the world that China continues to be able to give its 1.4 billion people a better life — but it cannot be at the expense of everyone else.”
He inevitably draws parallels with the Soviet Union, suggesting that unless the US responds to China as it did to the USSR’s Sputnik launch with a robust scientific and industrial initiative, it will be doomed:
“But if we don’t use this time to respond to China the way we did to the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, with our own comprehensive scientific, innovative and industrial push, we will be toast.”
Toast! A universal favorite, yet here it symbolizes potential failure.
Friedman discusses the perceived threats of China’s economic ascendancy, its dominance in electric vehicles, and its near self-sufficiency which could potentially lead to a monopoly in global manufacturing. He fears that China’s technological advancements could mean fewer opportunities elsewhere, ignoring the West’s own history of exporting factories and exploiting cheap labor.
“But here’s what’s scary: We no longer make that many things China wants to buy. It can do almost everything at least cheaper and often better.”
This is a frightening prospect for the average American accustomed to inexpensive imports rather than supporting local industries, a trend driven by a high cost of living and governmental indifference.
Meanwhile, Friedman critiques China’s low consumer spending:
“If I were drawing a picture of China’s economy today as a person, it would have an awesome manufacturing upper body — like Popeye, still eating spinach — with consuming legs resembling thin little sticks.”
From a capitalist viewpoint, minimal consumption is seen as a problem rather than a potential indicator of sustainable living. In an era where overconsumption is depleting the world’s resources, such a stance seems particularly thoughtless. What if we valued community-building over mindless spending?
While Friedman acknowledges the importance of China supporting its vast population, his brief concession does little to offset his overall tone of Western superiority. He fails to discuss China’s larger population compared to the West or acknowledge the Western practice of offshoring jobs for cheaper labor—a capitalist hallmark rooted in greed.
Friedman suggests that China should increase its imports, claiming the population is deprived of foreign goods under the Communist regime, including cultural and educational products.
“Its youth need more outlets for creative expression — without having to worry that a song lyric they write could land them in prison.”
I question whether Friedman has truly experienced China’s vibrant cultural scene, as he seems unaware of the thriving community of artists and musicians in its cities. It’s hard to believe he’s ever attended a concert in Shanghai or listened to the latest Chinese indie bands.
He concludes:
“In sum, America needs to tighten up, but China needs to loosen up. Which is why my hat is off to Secretary of State Antony Blinken for showing China the way forward.”
What was so remarkable about Blinken’s actions? He visited a record store in China and bought a Taylor Swift album.
Perhaps Friedman is just a huge fan of Swift, but it’s more likely that he slapped together his article with a superficial understanding of international trade and a nearly incoherent stance.
I would have been more impressed if Friedman had proposed putting Elon Musk and his budget-cutting mindset to work on reducing the bloated Department of Defense budget, and organizing a high-profile, multi-city Taylor Swift tour in China.
The difference between sudden and gradual tariffs is just time—and what does time really change? In our four-year political cycle, promises are as unstable as the weather. Regardless, China will continue to lead in green technology, selling affordable electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions worldwide, while the United States risks becoming an outdated relic, clinging to old technologies as the world moves forward.
Friedman’s limited understanding of China was a letdown. But mostly, I was disappointed because the title promised something far more insightful and creative than what was delivered.
I would have been more impressed if Friedman suggested deploying Musk’s budget-cutting strategies at the over-inflated Department of Defense and arranging for Taylor Swift to tour China extensively, perhaps accompanied by Blinken. If Blinken were to truly engage with the local culture beyond his official duties, he might gain a more nuanced understanding of China than what his conventional education and career path have offered. Such experiences could lead to policies that consider the well-being of all people, not just those driven by economic gains.
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An economic reporter, Dax Everly breaks down financial trends and their impact on Americans’ daily lives.