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

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.