Time to Reflect & Unite — Domestically and With China

The funeral of former president George Herbert Walker Bush gave America and the world an opportunity to reflect and contemplate on his roles and lessons as a decent human being and leader.

The death and funeral of Bush 41 was also a reminder of the death of the Republican Party — but not the Republic.

Let’s not forget that it was under his watch that America engineered its victory in the Cold War, the reunification of Europe and Germany, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In death as in life, he brought together all diverse political factions to celebrate his life of American values — UNITY! Unity, even if it had to be at personal political expense.

The former president got a well-deserved tribute from the grateful nation he led. For having the courage to do the “right thing versus the political thing.” Raising taxes to reach a compromise with Democrats after his “read my lips” promise to not raise taxes, was the right thing to do even though politically it cost him his second term as president. It kept the country united and made America stronger.

His request to have President Trump invited to his funeral, notwithstanding the vitriolic exchanges between the Bushes and Trump, was his last example of the importance of keeping America united.

The former president was also America’s ambassador to China after President Nixon re-established diplomatic relations. A role he relished and one in which he encouraged engagement. Fair engagement, something both presidents Trump and Xi should take to heart during the current tenuous 90 day U.S.-China trade truce and tariff cease fire — and the anxieties it has created on global stock markets.

At the core of the tensions is Trump’s belief that U.S. trade deficits are tantamount to the loss of American wealth.

What was exactly agreed to by both parties remains unclear. The lack of details is what is roiling stock markets. What is clear is that America is taking a hard line in its negotiations regarding 142 issues, including the $376 billion U.S. merchandise trade deficit; theft of advanced technology; copyright infringement; currency; agriculture; energy; and cyber hacking.

Both leaders have strong incentives to reduce tensions — for both Trump and Xi, a likely bounce in badly shaken stock markets and help in sustaining economic growth in both countries as Trump heads into his reelection campaign, and Xi fights his critics within the Communist Party.

China’s tactics and policies to date are no longer acceptable to America and it is responding. “Previous administrations all but ignored China’s actions, and in many cases, they abetted them,” said Vice President Mike Pence in a keynote policy address at the Hudson Institute in October. “But those days are over.”

If anyone in China doubts what the vice president said, the appointment of Robert Lighthizer, a China critic and hard liner, to lead negotiations with China, confirms the U.S. will pursue a tough stance.

Lighthizer has told colleagues he took the trade-representative job mainly to try and reorient China policy. In op-ed columns dating back to 1997, he opposed China’s entry into the World Trade Organization under the terms being negotiated.

It is time for America to come together. It is also time for China to come together with America on fair trade to avoid a global trade war, or worse — a military confrontation.

In the words of Trump’s chief economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, the deal has “got to be a good deal and it’s got to be verifiable.”

Hopefully, the persistent caustic domestic and U.S.-Sino atmosphere that is impending our progress toward a better future can be curtailed by looking at the George H. W. Bush legacy of compromise, so that America can find a better way to move forward as a united nation with a bilateral partnership with China.