As we speak, China is propping up Russia and buying Iranian oil so the jihadist regime in Tehran can fund terrorism against Israel and the United States. How did we allow this to happen? To be very blunt, American political and business leaders made a major fundamental mistake [by believing] free trade would lead to the Chinese people being a more free people. free people and the Communist Party's grip on power would diminish. I saw even back then that this was a dangerously naive hope. (04:19–04:25)
CLAIM
Claims that U.S. leaders erred in thinking free trade would democratize China.
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