I don't think there's an ulterior message here. I lived in Asia for over 4 years (South Korea) and I wish people would do exactly what Pompeo advises: stop treating China as "just another friend on the world stage."
Because while America and the West has been lining their pockets building up China, China has been building a society that is openly militaristic, deeply nationalist, and which educates its children that they are superior to all others in teh world.
I don't think there's an ulterior message here. I lived in Asia for over 4 years (South Korea) and I wish people would do exactly what Pompeo advises: stop treating China as "just another friend on the world stage."
Because while America and the West has been lining their pockets building up China, China has been building a society that is openly militaristic, deeply nationalist, and which educates its children that they are superior to all others in teh world.