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The question is not whether China is more open than US or vice-versa. Rather the question is what is Thiel's argument? Should US move to be more like China? Or

• kgantchev 6y ago
  I think his argument is that we shouldn't just let the US companies essentially work for the Chinese government, while they're seeking to be conscientious observers in the US. In other words, we should do more to block the Chinese government's efforts and he's not arguing that we should do what the Chinese government is doing.
• slibhb 6y ago
  The idea that the US is better than China seems key to Thiel's perspective. Many people simply do not accept that idea, they protest that the US is just as bad as China, or there's no meaningful distinction between the two in moral terms. My point was that, if you want to understand Thiel, you have to understand that value judgement. I don't think that Thiel is "in support of US becoming more like China," though I understand where you're coming from. His argument is that China is a closed society where industry and research are subservient to the state. He's saying that Americans should voluntarily pursue their national interest, not that they should be subservient to the state. In Thiel's perspective there is a distinction here: it's the distinction between convincing someone and forcing them.