I think Xi Jinping should watch “Hamilton.” That would be a good starting point to help him figure out how his China lost nearly every friend it had in Washington. 1/6

I’ve been talking a lot these days about how the US needs to understand more about China to contend with its new power. But understanding goes two ways. Beijing‘s leadership needs a deeper appreciation of US politics & ideals if they are going to avoid a major confrontation. 2/

I think Chinese leaders believe they understand Americans better than the Americans understand them. But if that was true, Xi wouldn’t have stumbled into the mess he’s in with Washington right now. 3/

One problem is Beijing’s leaders think Washington uses human rights as talking points to pester them. But democratic ideals are deeply ingrained into the American political psyche & they aren’t going away. I’m not sure Beijing appreciates this reality. 4/

Beijing is going to need a better response than the “internal interference” argument if China wants to tamp down tensions with the US & increasingly other democracies as well. The treatment of Uighurs & others has become so horrific that Washington simply can’t ignore it. 5/

A viewing of “Hamilton” would give Xi a better sense of how democratic values are rooted in the country’s history & wake him to the need to find a way to accommodate American opinions. If not, there’s little hope of the US & China restoring peaceful relations. 6/6

Adding that I'm not saying US policy on human rights is consistent. I'm just saying it is a real element in relations w China & has to be treated that way by China.