No. I haven't had reason yet to suppose that, albeit there are others here who are rather unsavory in that regard.
Agree with the 'push' theory. I see free trade and a free economy as the winner of the cold war and as ultimate winner vs China. To stop advocating free trade will slow down a free china and a better world.
A'hem. Remember the 'confusion' situation.
Does not mean we do not defend our interests - but national economics is code for failed nation state's policy during the last century that was mostly spent at war.
That is a supposed "code" that is not only debatable, it is also virtually irrelevant since we aren't being given the choice how nationalist in economics our adversary is.
And precisely when do we START 'defending our interests'? Before or after its too late?
You start defending your interests by defending the concept of free trade and a free economy. You demanding that your trading partners do not subsidize - either in the form of pegs or otherwise.
The problem is that the US has ignored (willfully?) the problem of the Chinese PEG for too long already - so to answer your question - we are starting after it is too late.
We need to have a freer China that consumes goods. Their own and our own.
Alternatives are a trade war. A trade war caused by the economic nationalism at hold in China today. And not a trade war caused by free trade!