On Dec. 16, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department celebrated the seventh meeting of a joint economic working group with China. According to Treasury’s press release, both sides “shared views on areas of cooperation,” while the U.S. side “expressed its continued concern” about Beijing’s nonmarket policies and “the support of some Chinese firms” for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Only in Washington could such drivel be mistaken for success.

The United States has complained about Beijing’s nonmarket practices for decades. Bilateral dialogues to fix the issue have been worse than useless — they have allowed the Chinese Communist Party time to delay Washington while it has grown wealthier and stronger. Equally misguided is President Joe Biden’s undue deference to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his strategic assistance of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is not a matter of “some Chinese firms” helping Russia destroy Ukraine. It is a systems-level face-off. Xi has said as much to Putin.

Why splice a press release from an outgoing administration in its final days? Because eight days before publishing those words, the Treasury Department was

© Washington Examiner