Also, a point of clarification: Wright in his piece characterizes me as a member of the "progressive foreign policy community." While I respect my progressive colleagues and value our partnerships, I don't actually identify as a progressive; I come from a conservative background. https://twitter.com/resplinodell/status/1264955647612932096

I am a skeptic of overweening liberalism & a believer in realist diplomacy. My intellectual role models include Andrew Bacevich, Wendell Berry, & Barry Posen; the politician whose campaign I am proudest to have volunteered on is @JonHuntsman's in 2012; on China, I align more with

Bob Zoellick than I do w/ Kurt Campbell. I think there's a moral urgency for American conservatism to confront its past & present nationalism & racism, but I also believe in the potential for a genuinely conservative approach to foreign policy to better serve America & the world.

In fact, I joined @QuincyInst precisely because I believe in its transpartisan mission "to bring together like-minded progressives and conservatives and set U.S. foreign policy on a sensible and humane footing"--including a more realistic and balanced relationship with China.

I wrote about what I think a conservative policy toward China ought to entail here: https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2020/5/3/21241981/utah-senator-mitt-romney-reckless-china-rhetoric-risks-new-cold-war

A "more conservative strategy would resist the temptation to exaggerate the challenge posed by China. Rather than wasting taxpayer [$$] to line pockets of defense contractors, Washington should reduce budget deficits, bolster diplomatic capabilities & invest in...infrastructure."

"This would strengthen America’s global influence relative to China by making our political system more attractive and our economy more competitive. Such rebalancing toward responsible statecraft and domestic renewal is the best way for America to seize this moment."