Trump Administration Releases National Security Strategy

President Trump’s administration released a National Security Strategyintroducing the term National Security Innovation Base (NISB) and mentioning China several times. The executive branch of the United States government periodically prepares a National Security Strategy for Congress that highlights national security concerns faced by the United States. In particular, Trump’s strategy mentions tightening the CFIUS review process, protecting data and underlying infrastructure, increasing incentives for hiring STEM employees, and defending the U.S.’ NISB.
 
The strategy refers to China as a strategic competitor, and in terms of regional influence says that: Although the United States seeks to continue to cooperate with China, China is using economic inducements and penalties, influence operations, and implied military threats to persuade other states to heed its political and security agenda. China’s infrastructure investments and trade strategies reinforce its geopolitical aspirations. Its efforts to build and militarize outposts in the South China Sea endanger the free flow of trade, threaten the sovereignty of other nations, and undermine regional stability. China has mounted a rapid military modernization campaign designed to limit U.S. access to the region and provide China a freer hand there. China presents its ambitions as mutually beneficial, but Chinese dominance risks diminishing the sovereignty of many states in the IndoPacific. States throughout the region are calling for sustained U.S. leadership in a collective response that upholds a regional order respectful of sovereignty and independence.
 
The strategy also states that “competitors such as China steal U.S. intellectual property valued at hundreds of billions of dollars,” and that “China and Russia target their investments in the developing world to expand influence and gain competitive advantages against the United States”. The United States is employing an “outdated Cold War mentality,” was the response reported by China Daily. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying noted that China has contributed more than 30% to global economic growth in recent years.