we have MANY issues with China, serious, strategic, religious, social, political, commercial, environmental, industrial, competitive, cooperative issues - but to discuss these issues with a starting point of “little or nothing has changed since the 1980’s” is simply nonsensical. The changes have been enormous - one can interpret these changes as for better or worse, but to say there have been no change shows a fundamental lack of knowledge.
maybe you should consider spending another month in Chengdu now and update your perspective.
I still say little has changed with China.
The fact that we were going there in the Nixon era and visitors began to be allowed again is one change for the good. However, you, like me can read the facts and the issues for yourself, and you will understand what I mean if you compare what the Chinese thought in the 1980s with what they think NOW about us.
I don’t need to spend any time there to know what the government thinks. I can read my briefings just fine. Everything I can read that is classified is little different from what you can read in the unclass formats out there in the media.
Many people simply chose to ignore the FACTs and they want “trade”.
Trade with China is good for China. Bad for the US.
Keep pushing that idea — and we will see who’s on “top” economically speaking in 10 more years.