| 川普与彭斯是美国历史上最好的总统、副总统搭档。这是美国人民与世界人民的福气！ |
| 10月24日，美国副总统彭斯发表就任以来第二次对华政策演讲。 |
| 10月24日，美国副总统彭斯发表就任以来第二次对华政策演讲。 |
【人民报消息】人民报编辑部：2019年10月24日（周四），美国副总统彭斯在华府智库威尔逊中心（Wilson Center）举办的首届弗雷德‧马勒克公共服务领袖讲座发表第二次对华演讲。演讲地点在康莱德饭店（Conrad Hotel）。
这个全球瞩目的演讲是史无前例的，非常清晰的表达了世界警察美国针对的是中国共产党邪恶组织（CCP），争取的是有解体中共的历史使命的总书记习近平。这种区分将成为世界走向的指南针与风向标，使宇宙旧势力毁灭人类的全盘阴谋计划被彻底粉碎。
这是天象所至，人间随之起舞。
以下是人民报翻译的彭斯第二次美中关系演讲全文：
谢谢你们的热情欢迎。你们的新理事主席、州长斯科特‧沃克（Scott Walker）、前国会众议员简‧哈曼（Jane Harman）；这个历史性的中心的全体理事会成员、所有优秀的学者们，我很荣幸来到威尔逊中心，这个地方以一位在世界舞台上捍卫美国领导地位和自由的伟大总统的名字命名。
本着同样的精神，请允许我在今天上午首先带来另一位总统的问候，他是国内乃至全世界自由的捍卫者。我带来了美利坚合众国第45任总统唐纳德‧川普（特朗普）总统的问候。（掌声）。
在这个意义非凡的一周即将结束之际，我今天来到这里。在土耳其军队攻入叙利亚后，由于美国总统的强大经济和外交行动，以及我们土耳其和库尔德盟友的合作，叙利亚国防军得以安全地从目前由土耳其军队控制的边境地区撤退。
昨天，土耳其国防部证实了永久停火，并停止所有进攻性的军事行动。（掌声）。
我们的军队正在还乡的路上。我很高兴地报告，通过这次停火，土耳其和我们的库尔德盟友现在创造了一个机会，即国际社会可以创建一个安全区，我们相信这将为这个饱受战争蹂躏地区的人民恢复和平与安全。这的确是进步。
再次感谢你们今天能让我来到这里，我非常荣幸在首届纪念弗雷德‧马勒克（Frederic V. Malek）公共服务领袖讲座上致辞。
任何认识弗雷德的人都会告诉你，他是西点军校引以为傲的孩子，他的一生都以「责任、荣誉和国家」为准则。有人告诉我，他在辅导别人时，经常引用母校的学生祈祷文，敦促他们「选择更难的正路，而不是更容易的歧途」。
弗雷德明白，没有人，特别是国家，能够通过放弃他们的价值观来捍卫自己的利益。因此，为了纪念弗雷德，我今天来到这里，讨论一个很大程度上决定21世纪命运的话题：美国与中国的关系。
自本届政府执政之初，川普总统就决心将与中国的关系建立在坦率、公平和相互尊重的基础上，实现他所说的「一个更加公正、安全与和平的世界」。
去年的这个月，我谈到了北京的对美国利益和价值观最有伤害力的多项政策，从中（共）国的债务外交、军事扩张、压制有宗教信仰的人到建设监控国家；当然，还有中（共）国一系列不符合自由与公平贸易的政策，包括关税、配额、货币操纵、强制技术转让和产业补贴。
历届政府来了又去，所有人都意识到了这些不良行为。没有人愿意得罪华盛顿的既得利益集团，他们不仅容许这些不良行为，而且还常常从中获利。面对中（共）国的经济侵略和侵犯人权，这些政治建制派不仅保持沉默，还常常助长这些行为。年复一年，美国中心地带一家家的工厂关闭，北京一座座的摩天大楼拔地而起，美国工人只会变得更加沮丧，而中（共）国只会变得更加胆大。
在不到20年的时间里，我们看到了川普总统所说的「世界历史上最大规模的财富转移」。在过去的17年里，中（共）国的GDP增长了九倍多；中（共）国已成为世界第二大经济体。这种成功在很大程度上由美国在中国的投资推动。
北京的行为导致了美国对中（共）国的贸易逆差，去年达到了4000多亿美元，几乎是我们全球贸易逆差的一半。正如川普总统多次表示的那样，我们在过去25年里重建了中国。没有什么话比这更确切了，但那些日子已经结束了。
历史必将证明，在不到三年的时间里，唐纳德‧川普总统永远改变了这种叙述。美国及其领导人不再希望仅靠经济接触就能将共产主义中国的专制国家转变为一个尊重私有财产、法治和国际贸易规则的自由开放社会。
相反，正如总统的2017年国家安全战略所阐述的，美国现在将中国视为一个战略和经济上的竞争对手。我可以亲身证明，绝大多数的美国人，无论是在城市还是农场，都支持川普总统对美中关系的清晰眼光。总统的立场也得到了国会两党的广泛支持。
过去一年来，在这种支持下，川普总统采取了大胆而果断的行动来纠正昔日的失败政策，壮大美国，追究北京的责任，为了我们两国和世界的福祉，让我们的关系走上一条更加公平、稳定和建设性的道路。
当我们的政府就任时，中（共）国正在成为世界上最大的经济体。专家预测，中（共）国经济将在短短几年内超过美国。然而，由于川普总统推出的大胆的经济议程，一切都发生了改变。
在本届政府的早期，这位总统就签署了美国历史上最大的减税和税收改革法案。我们降低了美国的企业税率，以效仿世界各地的其它企业税率。我们前所未有地放松了联邦监管。我们释放了美国的能量。川普总统坚定地支持自由和公平的贸易。
结果如何呢？美国拥有世界历史上最强大的经济，（掌声）也是我国历史上最强大的经济。
现在的失业率是50年来最低的。有工作的美国人比以往任何时候都多。过去两年半，美国家庭收入的中位数增加了5000多美元。这还不包括总统为工薪家庭减税或能源改革所省下的钱。
由于总统的政策，我们美国的经济增加了数万亿美元的财富，而中国的经济继续落在后面。
为了给美国工人提供公平的竞争环境，让他们免受不道德贸易行为的影响，川普总统在2018年对价值2500亿美元的中国商品加征了关税。今年早些时候，总统宣布，如果我们贸易关系中的重大问题没有在今年12月前得到解决，我们将对另外3000亿美元的中（共）国商品加征关税。
为了保护知识产权、我国公民的隐私和我们的国家安全，我们采取了强有力的措施，遏制华为和中兴等中（共）国公司的非法行为。我们敦促世界各地的盟友建立安全的5G网络，不让北京控制我们最敏感的基础设施和数据。
随着我们在经济上变得更加强大，川普总统还签署法案，使国防开支实现超过一代人时间以来的最大增长：仅在过去三年，我们的国防投资就增加了2.5万亿美元。我们使世界历史上最强大的军队更加强大。
为了让北京明白，没有一个国家有权把公共海域称为领海，美国在过去一年加大了航行自由行动的频率和范围，并加强了我们在印度太平洋地区各处的军事存在。
为了维护各地热爱自由的人们的价值观，我们还公开批评了中国共产党压制中国人民的宗教自由。中国数百万少数民族和宗教少数群体在与共产党试图根除他们宗教文化身份的做法进行抗争。
中国共产党逮捕基督教牧师，禁止销售《圣经》，拆毁教堂，监禁了超过一百万的维吾尔穆斯林。
因其对待新疆穆斯林少数族群的方式，我们追究了北京的责任，上个月，川普总统对一些中国共产党官员实施签证限制，并且对中（共）国20个公安部门和八家企业实施制裁，以惩罚他们参与迫害维吾尔人和其他中国穆斯林。（掌声）
我们支持台湾，捍卫其来之不易的自由。本届政府批准了更多的对台军售，并且承认台湾是主要贸易经济体和中华文化与民主的灯塔之一。
在数百万民众走上街头和平抗议之际，我们为香港民众发声。川普总统很早就明确表示，必须要有尊重港人权利的和平解决方案，这些权利是1984年《中英联合声明》所列明的。
这些都是历史性的行动。在我们与中国的关系上，没有哪位总统像他这样有力地推进美国的利益。
对于美国的行动和决心，一些跨国公司说，我们的经济政策过于强硬，推进我们的利益和价值观与改善和中国的关系背道而驰。
不用说，我们的看法非常不同。尽管目前大国之间在竞争，美国的实力在不断增强，但我们希望中国变得更好。这就是为什么几十年来第一次，在唐纳德‧川普总统的领导下，美国对待中国领导人时，就像对待任何世界大国领导人一样，带着尊重，是的，但也带着一致性和坦率。
本着这种坦率的精神，我必须告诉你们，我在哈德逊中心发表演讲的一年后，北京方面仍未采取重大行动来改善我们的经济关系。在我们提出的许多其它问题上，北京的行为甚至变得更加咄咄逼人和破坏稳定。
在贸易方面，经过数月的艰苦谈判，双方今年5月在许多关键问题上达成了共识，但在最后一刻，中（共）国放弃了，放弃了一份150页的协议，让双方回到原点。
现在，川普总统仍然相信北京希望达成协议。我们欢迎在新的第一阶段协议中对美国农业的支持，并希望能在本周智利举行的亚太经合组织峰会上尽快签署。但中（共）国知道，我们两国之间有一系列结构性的和重大的问题也必须得到处理。
例如，尽管中（共）国领导人2015年在玫瑰园承诺停止和终止，但中（共）国继续协助和教唆窃取我们的知识产权。
今年7月，美国联调局局长对国会表示，该机构针对知识产权盗窃展开的1000项仍在进行的调查中，大多数涉及中（共）国。美国企业每年继续在知识产权盗窃上损失数千亿美元。
这些统计数据的背后不仅仅是工商企业，由于侵犯权利和盗窃才能，受到危险的还包括个人、家庭和梦想。自由企业依赖于敢于冒险的公民追求他们的抱负并从他们的牺牲中获取成果。当他们的劳动成果被盗取，辛勤的汗水付之东流时，这将破坏我们整个自由企业制度。
仅去年一年，就有接连不断的涉及中（共）国的知识产权盗窃案件。今年3月，特斯拉对一名前工程师提起诉讼，指控他在跳槽到一家中（共）国自动驾驶汽车公司工作前，窃取了30万份特斯拉在美国开发自动驾驶系统相关的文件。
去年12月，美国司法部透露，它已经打破了中（共）国国家安全部一个臭名昭著的黑客组织近四年的行动。这些中（共）国）政府官员窃取了10万名美国海军人员的姓名和数据以及舰船维修信息，给我们的国家安全带来严重后果。
尽管中（共）国承诺打击中国的芬太尼和其它合成阿片类药物，但事实是，这些致命药物继续涌入我们的边境，每月夺走成千上万美国人的生命。
今天，中国共产党正在建设一个世界前所未见的监控国家。数以亿计的监控摄像头从各个角度向下拍摄。少数民族必须通过任意设置的检查站，警察要求血样、指纹、录音、多角度头部拍摄，甚至虹膜扫描。
中（共）国现在向非洲、拉丁美洲和中东国家出口在其专制政权中使用的非常相似技术工具。这些工具在新疆等地部署，往往是在美国公司的帮助下部署。
北京还打破了民用和军用技术领域之间的壁垒——中（共）国称之为「军民融合」。根据法律和主席的命令，中国的公司，无论是私营的、国有还是外国的，都必须与中（共）国军方共享他们的技术。
过去一年里，中（共）国在该地区的军事行动及其对邻国的态度的挑衅性仍然不断加大。
虽然中（共）国领导人2015年站在玫瑰园说，——我引用的是原话，中（共）国在南中国海「无意搞军事化」，然而北京在一组人工岛上修建的军事基地部署了先进的反舰和防空导弹。
北京加大了对他们所说的「海上民兵」船只的使用力度，经常性地威胁菲律宾和马来西亚水手和渔民。中（共）国海警还试图强逼越南不能在越南自己的海岸附近钻探石油和天然气。
在东海，2019年，我们的亲密盟国日本紧急出动战斗机回应中方挑衅的次数将超过历史上任何一年。中（共）国海警连续60天派船进入日本管理的尖阁列岛水域。
中（共）国还利用其「一带一路」倡议在世界各地的港口建立据点，表面是出于商业目的，但这些目的最终可能变为军事性质。如今我们看到，标明中（共）国所有权的旗帜飘扬在从斯里兰卡到巴基斯坦到希腊的各个港口。
今年早些时候，据报导北京签署了在柬埔寨建立海军基地的秘密协议。另据报导，北京甚至在大西洋上寻找可以用作海军设施的地点。
我们的政府将继续尊重反映在三项联合公报和《台湾关系法》中的「一个中国政策」，同时，在过去的一年里，中（共）国通过金钱外交诱使另外两个国家与（中华民国）台湾断交转而承认北京，增加了对台湾民主的压力。
国际社会永远不能忘记，与台湾（中华民国政府暂居地）接触不是威胁和平，而是保护台湾和整个地区的和平。美国始终相信，拥抱民主的台湾（中华民国）为所有华人展示了一条更好的道路。(掌声)
然而，过去一年来，没有什么比香港的动荡更能反映出中国共产党对自由的反感了。
150年来，香港一直是中（共）国和外部世界之间的一个重要门户。香港是世界最自由的经济体之一，有着牢固和独立的法律机制和活跃的自由媒体，几十万外国居民以此为家。
香港是一个活生生的例子，表明如果中（共）国拥抱自由将会发生什么。然而，过去几年来，北京加大了对香港的干预，并且采取了遏制港人权利和自由的行动，这些权利和自由是具有约束力的「一国两制」国际协议所保障的。
但是川普总统已经说得很清楚。用他的话说，「美国支持自由。」（掌声）我们尊重各国的主权。但是美国期待北京信守其承诺，川普总统一再明确表示，如果当局使用暴力对付香港抗议者，我们要想达成贸易协议就会难得多。（掌声）
从那以后，我高兴地注意到，香港当局已经撤回了最初引发抗议的逃犯条例，而且北京也展示了一些克制。
在今后的日子里，我可以向你们保证，美国将继续敦促中（共）国展示克制，信守其承诺，并尊重香港人民。过去几个月来一直在和平示威以捍卫自身权利的香港人，我们与你们同在。（掌声）你们鼓舞了我们，我们敦促你们坚持非暴力抗议的道路。（掌声）要知道，数以百万计的美国人在为你们祈祷并且敬仰着你们。
在中国在本地区和世界各地发挥其影响力的同时，正如我去年所说，中国共产党还在继续奖励和胁迫美国工商企业、电影制片厂、大学、智库、学者、记者以及地方、州和联邦官员，以影响美国此间的公共辩论。
今天，中（共）国不仅向美国出口数千亿美元不公平贸易的商品，而且最近还试图出口其政权的标志——审查。利用公司的贪婪，北京试图影响公众舆论，胁迫美国企业。
太多美国的跨国企业向中（共）国金钱和市场的诱惑叩头，他们不仅不批评中国共产党政府，也不积极表达美国的价值观。
耐克（Nike）宣传自己是所谓的」社会正义捍卫者」，但是在香港问题上，耐克选择把社会良心拒之门外。耐克竟然在中国的自己门店下架了休斯顿火箭队的商品，却加入了中（共）国政府对火箭队总经理（达里尔·莫雷）七字推文的抗议。（莫雷）那条推文是：「争取自由，挺香港。」
NBA一些最大牌的球员和老板，他们经常行使他们的自由来批评（美国）这个国家，但是在中国民众的自由与权利问题上，他们却失声了。NBA与中国共产党政府为伍，压制言论自由，行为就像是那个专制政权全资拥有的子公司。
一个进步派的企业文化却故意无视对人权的践踏，这不是进步派的，而是压制性的。（掌声）
当美国公司、职业体育运动、职业运动员拥抱审查的时候，这不仅是错误的，也违反美国精神。美国公司应当在国内和世界各地挺身捍卫美国价值观。（掌声）
北京的经济和战略行为和影响美国公众舆论的企图印证了我一年前所说的话，这话在今天仍然准确：中国（中共）希望美国有个不同的总统，这是川普总统的领导正在发挥效力的终极证明。
美国的经济实力与日俱增，中国的经济正在付出代价。总统的策略是正确的。他在为美国人民而战，为美国就业和美国工人而战，之前没有任何人像他这样。我向你们保证，本届政府不会退缩。（掌声）
话虽如此，总统已经明确表示，美国不寻求与中国对抗。我们寻求的是公平竞争的环境、开放的市场、公平的贸易以及尊重我们的价值观。
我们不寻求遏制中国的发展。我们希望和中国的领导人有建设性的关系，就像我们和中国人民在几代人的时间所享有的关系一样。
如果中国迈步向前，抓住这个独特的历史机遇重新开始，停止那些占了美国人太久便宜的贸易行为，我知道唐纳德‧川普总统已准备好并愿意开启那种新的未来，（掌声），就像美国过去所做的一样。
当邓小平的「改革开放」政策鼓励中国与外部世界接触与交流时，美国的回应是张开臂膀。我们欢迎了中国的崛起。我们庆祝6亿人民让自己摆脱贫穷这一令人赞叹的成就。在中国经济再起的过程中，美国的投资超过了任何其它国家。
美国人民希望中国人民更好。但是为了追寻这一目标，我们必须认清真实的中国，而不是我们想像或者希望它某天成为的中国。人们有时会问川普政府是否寻求与中国「脱钩」。对此的回答是响亮的「不」。
美国寻求与中国接触以及中国与更广阔世界的接触，但是接触的方式要符合公平、相互尊重和国际商务规则。
然而到目前为止，中国共产党似乎继续抵制真正的开放或者与国际规范并轨。
北京今天所作的一切，从共产党的网络防火长城到南中国海的沙筑长城，从不信任香港自治到压制持有宗教信仰的民众，都显示是中国共产党几十年来一直在与外部世界「脱钩」。
我听说，习主席在升任共产党总书记后不久的一次秘密会议中讲话，说中国必须「认真做好两种社会制度长期合作和斗争的各方面准备」。他当时还对他的同事们说，不要低估西方的韧性。这些话有其明智之处。
中（共）国永远也不要低估热爱自由的美国人民的韧性或者美国总统的决心。（掌声）中方应该知道，美国的价值观根深蒂固，我们对这些价值观的承诺，仍然像对我们开国元勋的承诺一样坚定，并且在美国，永远不会有民主和自由之光消逝的一天。（掌声）
美国是在反抗压迫和暴政中而诞生的。那些具有超凡的勇气、顽强的决心、信念和强烈的独立性与钢铁般意志的男男女女创建了我们的国家并在此定居和开拓。几百年过去，依然如故。
美国人民相信，所有男女生而平等，造物主赋予我们若干不可剥夺的权利：生命、自由和追求幸福的权利。没有任何东西会改变这些信念。（掌声）这是我们的特性。我们将永远保持这样的特性。
美国人民将继续相信，民主的价值观（个人自由，宗教和良心自由，法治）为美国和全球利益服务，也可以指导世界各国和人民之间的关系。
我们将继续相信民主的价值观，包括个人自由、宗教和良心自由、法治，符合美国和全球利益，因为它们是，而且永远将是，最佳的政府形式，以放开人类的抱负，并指导世界各国和人民之间的关系。
虽然我们在美中关系方面面临诸多挑战，我可以向你们保证的是，在唐纳德‧川普总统的领导下，美国将不允许这些挑战断绝与中国的实际合作。
我们将继续本着诚信与中方谈判，以实现我们经济关系中早该进行的结构改革。我今天早晨再次听到川普总统说，他仍然对达成协议感到乐观。
我们将继续通过教育、旅行和文化交流，在两国人民之间建立纽带。
中美两国还将本着敬业精神继续合作，以确保朝鲜全面、最终和可验证的无核化。
我们将在军备控制和在波斯湾执行美国制裁方面寻求更大的合作。
美国将继续寻求改善与中国的关系。在我们这样做的同时，我们将直言不讳，因为这是美国和中国都必须正确对待的关系。
美国将继续寻求与中国关系的根本性调整，在唐纳德‧川普总统的领导下，美国将坚持到底。美国人民和他们的两党民选官员都将保持坚定的决心。我们将捍卫我们的利益。我们将本着对所有人的慈善精神和良好意愿来这样做。（掌声）
川普总统与习主席建立了牢固的私交。在此基础上，我们将继续寻找方法来加强我们的关系，以造福于我们两国的人民。
我们坚信美国和中国可以而且必须共同努力以分享和平与繁荣的未来。但是，只有诚实的对话和真诚的谈判才能使此未来成为现实。
因此，我一年前结束演讲时说过，我今天结束演讲时也要说：美国正在向中国伸出援助之手。我们希望，北京不久将怀着新的敬意，以行动而不是言语，来回报美国。
中国有句古话：「人看眼前，天知未来。」 在我们前进的道路上，让我们以决心和信念追求和平与繁荣的未来。
相信川普总统对我们的经济和世界地位的领导力和远见，相信他与中国的习主席建立起的私交，相信美国人民和中国人民之间的持久友谊。并且相信天知未来，在神的恩典下，美国和中国将共同迎接美好的未来。
谢谢大家。愿神祝福你们。愿神祝福美利坚合众国。（掌声）
（演讲完毕）
以下是白宫在10月24日发表的彭斯第二次美中关系演讲英文全文：
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all for that warm welcome. And to your new chairman, Governor Scott Walker; former Congresswoman Jane Harman; and to all the members of the board at this historic center; and to all the fine scholars: It is an honor to be here at the Wilson Center, named after a President that was a great champion for America leadership and for freedom on the world stage.
And in that same spirit, allow me to begin this morning by bringing greetings from another President who’s a champion for freedom here at home and across the wider world. I bring greetings from the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.)
I come before you today at the end of a momentous week. In the wake of Turkish forces invading Syria, thanks to the strong economic and diplomatic action of the President of the United States, and thanks to the cooperation by our Turkish and Kurdish allies, Syrian Defense Forces were able to safely withdraw from the border area that’s currently under Turkish military control.
And yesterday, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense confirmed a permanent cease-fire and a halt of all offensive military operations. (Applause.)
Our troops are coming home. And I am pleased to report that through this ceasefire, Turkey and our Kurdish allies have now created an opportunity that the international community can create a safe zone that we believe will restore peace and security for all the peoples of this war-torn region. It is progress, indeed.
So thank you again for the honor of being here today, and it’s a particular honor to deliver the inaugural Frederic V. Malek Memorial Lecture.
Anyone who knew Fred would tell you that he was a proud son of West Point and that he lived his life by the words “duty, honor, and country.” When counseling others, I’m told, he often quoted his alma mater’s Cadet Prayer and urged them to, as he would say, “Choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”
Fred understood that no one — least of all, nations — can defend their interests by forsaking their values. So in honor of Fred’s memory, I come here today to discuss a subject on which much of the destiny of the 21st century will hinge: the United States relationship with China.
Since the earliest days of this administration, President Trump has been determined to build a relationship with China on a foundation of candor, fairness, and mutual respect, in order to achieve, in his words, “a more just, secure, and peaceful world.”
One year ago this month, I spoke about many of Beijing’s policies most harmful to America’s interests and values, from China’s debt diplomacy and military expansionism; its repression of people of faith; construction of a surveillance state; and, of course, to China’s arsenal of policies inconsistent with free and fair trade, including tariffs, quotas, currency manipulation, forced technology transfer, and industrial subsidies.
Past administrations have come and gone, and all were aware of these abuses. None were willing to upset the established Washington interests who not only permitted these abuses, but often profited from them. The political establishment was not only silent in the face of China’s economic aggression and human rights abuses, but they often enabled them. As each year passed, as each factory closed in the heartland of America, as each new skyscraper went up in Beijing, American workers grew only more disheartened, and China grew only more emboldened.
In less than two short decades, we’ve seen, as President Trump has said, “the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world.” Over the past 17 years, China’s GDP has grown more than nine-fold; it has become the second-largest economy in the world. Much of this success was driven by American investment in China.
Beijing’s actions have contributed to the United States’ trade deficit with China that last year ran to more than $400 billion — nearly half of our global trade deficit. As President Trump has said many times, we rebuilt China over the last 25 years. No truer words were spoken, but those days are over.
As history will surely note, in less than three years, President Donald Trump has changed that narrative forever. No longer will America and its leaders hope that economic engagement alone will transform Communist China’s authoritarian state into a free and open society that respects private property, the rule of law, and international rules of commerce.
Instead, as the President’s 2017 National Security Strategy articulated, the United States now recognizes China as a strategic and economic rival. And I can attest firsthand, a strong majority of the American people, in the city and on the farm, are behind President Trump’s clear-eyed vision of the U.S.–China relationship. And the President’s stand also enjoys broad bipartisan support in the Congress as well.
Over the past year with that support, President Trump has taken bold and decisive action to correct the failed policies of the past, to strengthen America, to hold Beijing accountable, and to set our relationship on a more fair, stable, and constructive course for the good of both of our nations and the world.
When our administration took office, China was on track to become the largest economy in the world. Experts predicted that China’s economy would surpass the United States’ economy in just a few short years. But thanks to bold economic agenda advanced by President Trump, all that has changed.
From early on in this administration, this President signed the largest tax cuts and tax reform in American history. We lowered the American corporate tax rate to mirror other corporate rates around the world. We rolled back federal regulation at record levels. We unleashed American energy. And President Trump has stood strong for free and fair trade.
The result? America has the strongest economy in the history of the world. (Applause.) And the strongest economy in our own history.
Unemployment today is at a 50-year low. There are more Americans working today than ever before. Median household income in the last two and half years has risen by more than $5,000. And that doesn’t even account for the savings from the President’s tax cuts or energy reforms for working families.
Because of the President’s policies, America has added trillions of dollars of wealth to our economy while China’s economy continues to fall behind.
To level the playing field for the American worker against unethical trade practices, President Trump levied tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods in 2018. And earlier this year, the President announced we would place tariffs on another $300 billion of Chinese goods if significant issues in our trading relationship were not resolved by December of this year.
To protect intellectual property rights and the privacy of our citizens and our national security, we’ve taken strong steps to curtail illegal behavior of Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE. And we’ve urged our allies around the world to build secure 5G networks that don’t give Beijing control of our most sensitive infrastructure and data as well.
And as we’ve grown stronger economically, President Trump has also signed the largest increases in our national defense in more than a generation: $2.5 trillion of new investment in our national defense just in the last three years. We’ve made the strongest military in the history of the world stronger still.
And to make it clear to Beijing that no nation has a right to claim the maritime commons as territorial seas, the United States, in the last year, has increased the tempo and scope of our freedom of navigation operations and strengthened our military presence across the Indo-Pacific.
To uphold the values of freedom-loving people every year [everywhere], we’ve also called out the Chinese Communist Party for suppressing freedom of religion of the Chinese people. Millions of ethnic and religious minorities in China are struggling against the Party’s efforts to eradicate their religious and cultural identities.
The Communist Party in China has arrested Christian pastors, banned the sale of Bibles, demolished churches, and imprisoned more than one million Muslim Uighurs.
We’ve held Beijing accountable for its treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang when, just last month, President Trump imposed visas restrictions on Chinese Communist Party officials, as well as sanctions on 20 Chinese public security bureaus and 8 Chinese companies for their complicity in the persecution of Uighurs and other Chinese Muslims. (Applause.)
And we’ve stood by Taiwan in defense of her hard-won freedoms. Under this administration, we’ve authorized additional military sales and recognized Taiwan’s place as one of the world’s great trading economies and beacons of Chinese culture and democracy.
And as millions have taken to the streets in peaceful protest, we’ve spoken out on behalf of the people of Hong Kong. And President Trump has made it clear from early on that there must be a peaceful resolution that respects the rights of the people of Hong Kong, as outlined in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
These are all historic actions. And no President before has so vigorously advanced America’s interests in our relationship with China.
In response to America’s actions and resolve, some multinational corporations say our economic policies are too tough and that advancing our interests and our values runs contrary to better relations with China.
Needless to say, we see it very differently. Despite the great power competition that is underway, and America’s growing strength, we want better for China. That’s why, for the first time in decades, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the United States is treating China’s leaders exactly how the leaders of any great world power should be treated — with respect, yes, but also with consistency and candor.
And in that spirit of candor, I must tell you that in the year since my Hudson speech, Beijing has still not taken significant action to improve our economic relationship. And on many other issues we’ve raised, Beijing’s behavior has become even more aggressive and destabilizing.
On the trade front, this past May, after months of painstaking negotiations resulted in mutual agreement on many key matters, at the last moment, China backed away — backed away from a 150-page agreement, sending both sides back to square one.
Now, President Trump still believes Beijing wants to make a deal. And we welcome the support for American agriculture in the new phase one agreement and hope it can be signed as soon as the APEC Summit in Chile this week. But China knows there’s a whole range of structural and significant issues between our two countries that also must be addressed.
For instance, despite a 2015 promise in the Rose Garden by China’s leader to cease and desist, China continues to aid and abet the theft of our intellectual property.
Last July, the director of the FBI told Congress that of his agency’s 1,000 active investigations into intellectual property theft, the majority involve China. American enterprises continue to lose hundreds of billions of dollars each year in intellectual property theft.
Behind these statistics are not just businesses, but people, families, and dreams threatened by the violation of their rights and the theft of their genius. Free enterprise depends on the ability of risk-taking citizens to pursue their ambitions and reap the rewards of their sacrifice. When the product of their labor is stolen, when the sweat of their brow is made futile, it undermines our entire system of free enterprise.
Last year alone, there’s been case after case of intellectual property theft involving China. In March, Tesla filed suit against a former engineer who’s been accused of stealing 300,000 files related to its own American-developed autopilot system, before bolting for a job at a Chinese self-driving car company.
And last December, the Justice Department revealed that it had broken up a nearly four-year operation by a notorious hacking group within China’s Ministry of State Security. These Chinese government officials stole the names and data of 100,000 U.S. Navy personnel, as well as ship maintenance information, with grave implications for our national security.
Despite China’s promises to crack down on Chinese fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, the truth is, those deadly drugs also continue to flood across our borders, claiming the lives of thousands of Americans every month.
And today, China’s Communist Party is building a surveillance state unlike anything the world has ever seen. Hundreds of millions of surveillance cameras stare down from every vantage point. Ethnic minorities must navigate arbitrary checkpoints where police demand blood samples, fingerprints, voice recordings, and multiple angle head shots, and even iris scans.
And China is now exporting to countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East the very same technological tools that it uses in its authoritarian regime: tools that it’s deployed in places like Xinjiang; tools that it’s deployed often with the help of American companies.
And Beijing has also smashed the barriers between civilian and military technological domains — a doctrine that China calls “military-civilian fusion.” By law and presidential fiat, companies in China — whether private, state-owned, or foreign — must share their technologies with the Chinese military.
And China’s military action in the region and its approach to its neighbors over the past year has also remained increasingly provocative.
While China’s leaders stood in the Rose Garden in 2015 and said that its country had, and I quote, “no intention to militarize” the South China Sea, Beijing has deployed advanced anti-ship and anti-air missiles atop an archipelago of military bases constructed on artificial islands.
And Beijing has stepped up its use of what they call “maritime militia” vessels to regularly menace Filipino and Malaysian sailors and fishermen. And the Chinese Coast Guard has tried to strong-arm Vietnam from drilling for oil and natural gas off of Vietnam’s own shores.
In the East China Sea, in 2019, our close ally, Japan, is on track to scramble more fighter aircraft sorties in response to Chinese provocations than in any previous year in history. And China’s Coast Guard has sent ships for more than 60 days in a row into the waters around the Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Japan.
China is also using its “One Belt, One Road” Initiative to establish footholds in ports around the world, ostensibly for commercial purposes, but those purposes could eventually become military. We see now the flag of Chinese ownership flying today in ports from Sri Lanka to Pakistan to Greece.
And earlier this year, it was reported that Beijing had signed a secret agreement to establish a naval base in Cambodia. And it is reported that Beijing is even eyeing locations on the Atlantic Ocean that could serve as naval facilities.
And while our administration will continue to respect the One China Policy — as reflected in the three joint communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act — through checkbook diplomacy, over the past year China has induced two more nations to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, increasing pressure on the democracy in Taiwan.
The international community must never forget that its engagement with Taiwan does not threaten the peace; it protects peace on Taiwan and throughout the region. America will always believe that Taiwan’s embrace of democracy shows a better path for all the Chinese people. (Applause.)
But nothing in the past year has put on display the Chinese Communist Party’s antipathy to liberty so much as the unrest in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has served as an important gateway between China and the wider world for 150 years. Hong Kong is one of the freest economies in the world, with strong, independent legal institutions and a lively free press, and it’s home to hundreds of thousands of foreign residents.
Hong Kong is a living example of what can happen when China embraces liberty. And yet, for the last few years, Beijing has increased its interventions in Hong Kong and engaged in actions to curtail the rights and liberties of its people — rights and liberties that were guaranteed through a binding international agreement of “one country, two systems.”
But President Trump has been clear, as he said in his words, “The United States stands for liberty.” (Applause.) We respect the sovereignty of nations. But America expects Beijing to honor its commitments, and President Trump has repeatedly made it clear it would be much harder for us to make a trade deal if the authorities resort to the use of violence against protestors in Hong Kong. (Applause.)
Since then, I’m pleased to observe that Hong Kong authorities have withdrawn the extradition bill that sparked the protests in the first place, and Beijing has shown some restraint.
In the days ahead, I can assure you, the United States will continue to urge China to show restraint, to honor its commitments, and respect the people of Hong Kong. And to the millions in Hong Kong who have been peacefully demonstrating to protect your rights these past months, we stand with you. (Applause.) We are inspired by you, and we urge you to stay on the path of nonviolent protest. (Applause.) But know that you have the prayers and the admiration of millions of Americans.
As China has exercised its influence across the region and across the world, as I said last year, the Chinese Communist Party is also continuing to reward and coerce American businesses, movie studios, universities, think tanks, scholars, journalists, and local, state, and federal officials to influence the public debate here in America.
Today, China is not only exporting hundreds of billions of dollars in unfairly traded goods to the United States, but lately China has also been trying to export censorship — the hallmark of its regime. By exploiting corporate greed, Beijing is attempting to influence American public opinion, coercing corporate America.
And far too many American multinational corporations have kowtowed to the lure of China’s money and markets by muzzling not only criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, but even affirmative expressions of American values.
Nike promotes itself as a so called “social justice champion,” but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door. Nike stores in China actually removed their Houston Rockets merchandise from their shelves to join the Chinese government in protest against the Rockets general manager’s seven-word tweet, which read: “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”
And some of the NBA’s biggest players and owners, who routinely exercise their freedom to criticize this country, lose their voices when it comes to the freedom and rights of the people of China. In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime.
A progressive corporate culture that willfully ignores the abuse of human rights is not progressive; it is repressive. (Applause.)
When American corporations, professional sports, pro athletes embrace censorship, it’s not just wrong; it’s un-American. American corporations should stand up for American values here at home and around the world. (Applause.)
And Beijing’s economic and strategic actions, its attempts to shape American public opinion, prove out what I said a year ago and it’s just as true today: China wants a different American President, which is the ultimate proof that President Trump’s leadership is working.
America’s economy is growing stronger by the day, and China’s economy is paying the price. The President’s strategy is correct. He’s fighting for the American people, for American jobs and American workers like no one has before. And I promise you this administration will not stand down. (Applause.)
That said, the President has also made it clear the United States does not seek confrontation with China. We seek a level playing field, open markets, fair trade, and a respect for our values.
We are not seeking to contain China’s development. We want a constructive relationship with China’s leaders, like we have enjoyed for generations with China’s people. And if China will step forward and seize this unique moment in history to start anew by ending the trade practices that have taken advantage of the American people for far too long, I know President Donald Trump is ready and willing to begin that new future — (applause) — just as America has done in the past.
When Deng Xiaoping’s “Reform and Opening” policy encouraged engagement and exchange with the outside world, the United States responded with open arms. We welcomed China’s rise. We celebrated the remarkable accomplishment of 600 million people lifting themselves out of poverty. And America invested more than any other nation in China’s economic resurgence.
The American people want better for the people of China. But in pursuit of that end, we must take China as it is, not as we imagine or hope it might be someday.
And people sometimes ask whether the Trump administration seeks to “de-couple” from China. The answer is a resounding “no.” The United States seeks engagement with China and China’s engagement with the wider world, but engagement in a manner consistent with fairness, mutual respect, and the international rules of commerce.
But, so far, it appears the Chinese Communist Party continues to resist a true opening or a convergence with global norms.
All that Beijing is doing today, from the Party’s great firewall in cyberspace or to that great wall of sand in the South China Sea, from their distrust of Hong Kong’s autonomy, or their repression of people of faith all demonstrate that it’s the Chinese Communist Party that has been “de-coupling” from the wider world for decades.
President Xi himself, I’m told, said in a once-secret speech shortly after his rise as Party General Secretary that China must “conscientiously prepare for all aspects of long-term cooperation and struggle between the two social systems.” He also told his colleagues at that time not to underestimate the resilience of the West. And there was wisdom in those words.
China should never underestimate the resilience of the freedom-loving people of America or the resolve of the President of the United States. (Applause.) China should know that the United States’ values run deep, that our commitment to these values remains as strong as it was for our Founding Fathers, and that there will never be a day when the bright light of democracy and freedom goes out in America. (Applause.)
America was born out of rebellion against repression and tyranny. Our nation was founded, settled, and pioneered by men and women of extraordinary valor, rugged determination, faith, and fiery independence and an iron will. And nothing has changed much in the centuries that have passed.
Americans believe that all men and women are created equal and we’re endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And nothing will change these beliefs. (Applause.) They are who we are. They are who we will always be.
And we will continue to believe that the values of democracy — of individual liberty, of freedom of religion and conscience, the rule of law — serve American and global interests because they are, and will ever be, the best form of government to unleash human aspirations and guide the relations between all the world’s nations and peoples.
Despite the many challenges we face in the United States-China relationship, I can assure you that under the leadership of President Donald Trump, the United States will not allow these challenges to foreclose practical cooperation with China.
We will continue to negotiate in good faith with China to bring about long-overdue structural reforms in our economic relationship. And as I heard again from him this morning, President Trump remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached.
We’ll continue to forge bonds between our two peoples through education, travel, and cultural exchange.
China and the United States will also continue in a spirit of engagement to work together to secure the full, final, and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea.
And we will seek greater cooperation on arms control and the enforcement of U.S. sanctions in the Persian Gulf.
America will continue to seek a better relationship with China. And as we do so, we will speak plainly, because this is a relationship that both the United States and China have to get right.
America will continue to seek a fundamental restructuring of our relationship with China. And under the leadership of President Donald Trump, America will stay the course. The American people and their elected officials in both parties will stay resolved. We will defend our interests. We will defend our values. And we will do so in a spirit of charity and good will for all. (Applause.)
President Trump has forged a strong personal relationship with President Xi. And on that foundation, we will continue to look for ways to strengthen our relationship for the betterment of both of our peoples.
And we fervently believe the United States and China can and must work to share a peaceful and prosperous future together. But only honest dialogue and good-faith negotiations can make that future a reality.
And so, as I closed my speech a year ago, so I close today: America is reaching out our hand to China. And we hope that, soon, Beijing will reach back, this time with deeds, not words, and with renewed respect for America.
There is an ancient Chinese proverb that reads, “Men see only the present, but Heaven sees the future.” As we go forward, let us pursue a future of peace and prosperity with resolve and faith. Faith in President Trump’s leadership and vision for our economy and our place in the world, and faith in the relationship that he has forged with President Xi of China and in the enduring friendship between the American people and the Chinese people. And faith that Heaven sees the future — and by God’s grace, America and China will meet that future together.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
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