The U.S.' approach to China since the Communist regime in Beijing began the period of reform and opening in the 1980s was based on a promise that trade and engagement with America would result in a peaceful, democratic state. Forty years later the hope of producing a benign People's Republic of China utterly failed.

Bill Gertz is a national security columnist for the Washington Times and senior editor of the Washington Free Beacon. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost experts on Chinese security affairs. He currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Debra. Find him online at Gertzfile.com and @BillGertz.