Newt Gingrich tells audience he wrote book because he was wrong about China

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich talks about his new book, “Trump vs China: Facing America’s Greatest Threat”, at a National Press Club Headliners Book Rap on Oct. 24. Photo: Ben Barber

 

In conversation with National Press Club President Alison Fitzgerald Kodjak at the Club on Wednesday, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said he wrote Trump vs China: Facing America’s Greatest Threat because he was wrong thinking China would become a more open society through interaction with the democracies.

Gingrich explained that China is expanding in the South China Sea, establishing control of ports around the world and continuing to suppress its people in China.

For example, Gingrich discussed the NBA executive tweeting support for Hong Kong which lead to China banning showing of that team’s games in China. To do business in China you can’t oppose Chinese policy, he said.

When asked by Fitzgerald Kodjak if sanctions would work on China, Gingrich responded, “No, they are too strong and powerful.”

What is needed is a national conversation to decide what steps to take, Gingrich said, pointing out that in the early 1950s there was a national conversation on how to deal with the threat of the Soviet Union.

When asked if we are at war with China, Gingrich responded that we are in competition with China, adding that China thinks they can win without war.

The Cold War with the Soviet Union was different than economic competition with China, Gingrich said. The Soviet Union wanted to spread the revolution while the Chinese want economic power. That is why we need new strategy to meet their threat, he said.

Fitzgerald Kodjak's first question was, given his recent suggestion to eliminate the White House press corps and calling them enemies of the president, "Why are you here?"

Gingrich's responded that he believes in freedom of the press. The White House press corps sit around most of day waiting for a briefing and that creates an adversarial atmosphere, he said, suggesting that having reporters from across the country ask questions in a virtual press conference would provide a better atmosphere.

Gingrich closed the evening with "I am proud and honored to be here."