The basic message of Pence’s speech was that the region will find a better friend in a democratic America than a dictatorial China. And that message reflects the fact that in today’s geopolitical competitions, a democratic superpower has advantages its authoritarian rivals will find hard to match.
It has been easy to lose sight of this fact in recent years. Russia and China often seem to have the geopolitical initiative in their competitions with the US and its allies. What’s more, these dictatorships are using the built-in advantages of authoritarianism -- speed, secrecy, unity of purpose -- to increase their global influence.
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