The United States is entering a period of escalating great power competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). China poses a unique challenge due to its rapid accumulation of military, economic, and development power worldwide. Competition with China will rely far more on economic tools, especially development finance, trade, investment, and digital technologies. This report examines how the Trump administration should leverage new and existing policies to ensure U.S. success in the Indo-Pacific, while safeguarding domestic interests. It recommends that the administration adopt a comprehensive national security strategy focused on economic policy across four pillars: (1) supply chain integrity, (2) technology, (3) maritime security, and (4) environmental security.
The term “assassin’s mace” or “shashoujian” has traditionally had a military connotation, referring to the PRC’s development of asymmetric capabilities designed to blunt American power. Today, the PRC applies its influence across the four aforementioned domains to advance its strategic interests, often at the expense of U.S. global interests and domestic priorities, posing a threat to the world economy. To respond effectively, the United States should develop its own economic “assassin’s mace” to strengthen its competitive position. This report outlines a comprehensive set of policy solutions, forming a U.S. economic “assassin’s mace” designed to address key challenges to U.S. interests and expand American economic opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.