Opinion

Apply the Reagan playbook to China

The former US president’s insight was to keep up the pressure on the true sources of his Cold War adversary’s power. That strategy could work again for the West.

H.R. McMaster and Jonathan D.T. Ward

Mar 19, 2021 – 12.24pm

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Among the best remembered summits of the 20th century are those of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Reagan’s commitment to dialogue with America’s primary adversary and what then secretary of state George P. Shultz called his “personal chemistry” with his Soviet counterpart were hallmarks of his presidency. But even more important was the fact that Reagan had a clear strategy for victory in the global contest with the Soviet Union.

Los Angeles Times

Herbert Raymond McMaster is a retired US Army lieutenant general and a former national security adviser.

Jonathan D.T. Ward is the founder of the Washington-based Atlas Organisation.