Ricardo and Locke are correct and the lessons apply to all nations. China is proof that free-er trade can enrich a nation. Which is why the US should be careful in who engages in free trade with. Ricardo’s and Locke’s principals were not diminished by the refusal of the US and allies to open up to the USSR during the Cold War.
Trump has cleverly disguised a type of Cold War with China as a trade war. It remains to be seen if a trade war conducted this way does not result in a hot war. It didn’t work as very well with Imperial Japan. It worked out well with the USSR.
The Imperial Japanese wanted a war; the USSR did not.
My guess, which is Trump's guess, is that the Communist Chinese don't want a war. One proof of this, by the way, is the Nork's endless "missile tests": numerous shots across the bow but nothing causing damage.
I would add a corollary, that China thinks economic hegemony will get them the global hegemony that they want. That is why Trump is engaged in a low-level economic war. If Trump can keep China distracted having to deal with us and the destabilizing of their currency, then they will be less able to push their agenda in SE Asia, Africa, and Latin America.