Topic Note:
U.S. – China Rhetoric and the Path to Strategic Dialogue
Prepared for: U.S. Department of State, The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP)
Date: October 16, 2025
Prepared by: Office of Strategic Dialogue, Public Intelligence Project CIA Labs - St. Louis / Deputy Director Christopher L. Fitzgerald
Overview
Since the outset of President Donald Trump’s second administration, several members of his cabinet - alongside GOP politicians and conservative media outlets - have adopted increasingly confrontational rhetoric toward China. This includes public insults, provocative media framing, and overt political and military posturing that risks escalating bilateral tensions.
Despite these pressures, both President Trump and President Xi Jinping have demonstrated a willingness to rise above partisan narratives and ideological propaganda. Through direct engagement and pragmatic leadership, they have begun to lay the groundwork for a new framework of peace, one that is rooted in mutual respect, strategic dialogue, and shared global responsibility.
This evolving dynamic presents an opportunity to shift away from inflammatory discourse and toward a more sustainable diplomatic posture. Continued progress will depend on disciplined messaging, institutional restraint, and a commitment to resolving disputes through negotiation rather than intimidation.
Topic Note:
Strategic Reengagement with North Korea: Multilateral Pathways for Peace and Economic Inclusion
Prepared for: U.S. Department of State, The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP)
Date: October 17, 2025
Prepared by: Office of Strategic Dialogue, Public Intelligence Project CIA Labs - St. Louis / Deputy Director Christopher L. Fitzgerald
Overview
This memorandum outlines a timely opportunity to recalibrate U.S. foreign policy towards North Korea, in light of Pyongyang’s evolving diplomatic posture. It proposes a phased engagement strategy that leverages North Korea’s recent outreach, and multilateral signaling to build trust, foster regional stability, and promote inclusive global governance.
Key Points
• North Korea’s Diplomatic Shift:
Increased engagement with Southeast Asian nations and high-level participation from China and Russia suggest a pivot toward multipolar legitimacy and regional diplomacy.
• U.S. Engagement Strategy:
Recommends reframing denuclearization demands, empowering Track II diplomacy, offering conditional sanctions relief, and establishing a neutral peace liaison office.
• Multilateral Opportunities:
Identifies climate resilience, cybersecurity norms, and arms control dialogues as low-risk entry points for cooperation with China, Russia, and North Korea.
• Global Trade Integration:
Advocates for expanding CPTPP membership, launching a global supply chain compact, and creating a digital trade accord to balance superpower interests with smaller economies.
Strategic Implications
This approach shifts the paradigm from “peace through force” to constructive diplomacy, positioning the United States as a facilitator of inclusive stability.
It aligns with broader goals of democratic cooperation, economic resilience, and regional de-escalation.
Topic Note:
Strategic Co-Management and Regional Stability in the Asia-Pacific
Subject:
Taiwan–China Economic Co-Management and Multilateral Peace Building Framework
Prepared for: U.S. Department of State, The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP)
Date: October 18th, 2025
Prepared by: Office of Strategic Dialogue, Public Intelligence Project CIA Labs - St. Louis / Deputy Director Christopher L. Fitzgerald
Overview:
The purpose of this memorandum is to explore the feasibility and strategic implications of a bilateral co-management arrangement between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC, mainland China) focused on trade policy, port infrastructure, and border logistics.
The memorandum also outlines pathways for broader regional cooperation involving the United States, North Korea, Russia, and Asia-Pacific nations to promote peace, sovereignty, and humanitarian goals.
Key Themes:
• Bilateral Co-Management as a Confidence-Building Mechanism:
Proposes a pragmatic framework for Taiwan and China to jointly manage select economic and logistical domains, reducing tensions while preserving sovereign autonomy.
• Sovereignty Through Structured Cooperation:
Emphasizes institutional safeguards, such as rotating leadership and equal representation, to ensure that co-management does not compromise national identity or governance.
• Regional Peace Dividend:
Suggests that economic integration and logistical coordination can serve as a stabilizing force in the Taiwan Strait and broader Asia-Pacific region.
• Multilateral Roles and Contributions:
Identifies constructive roles for the United States (rule-of-law and technical support), North Korea (maritime safety and humanitarian logistics), and Russia (energy and Arctic–Asia shipping corridors).
• Humanitarian Compact for Asia-Pacific:
Recommends the creation of a regional humanitarian framework focused on disaster response, public health, and climate adaptation, with inclusive participation from civil society and small island states.
Policy Relevance:
This initiative offers a novel pathway to de-escalate cross-Strait tensions, foster regional trust, and align economic cooperation with humanitarian imperatives. It invites stakeholders to reimagine sovereignty not as zero-sum, but as a shared responsibility, within a rules-based regional order.
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