[Natalie Winters] When President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, the Chinese Communist Party didn’t just retaliate with trade measures. It launched an information war, using American insiders to spread its narrative that tariffs were reckless and self-defeating.One of the most prominent voices in that campaign is Rick Waters, a former senior U.S. diplomat who once directed the State Department’s China House.
Since leaving government, Waters has become a reliable messenger for Beijing’s preferred positions, appearing with CCP-linked influence groups and using Western media outlets to promote pro-China talking points that undermine Trump’s trade strategy.
FROM STATE DEPARTMENT INSIDER TO BEIJING’S TRUSTED VOICE
In late 2024, Waters participated in an official interview for China—US Focus, a platform run by the China—United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF). In the interview, he called for "restraint" and "dialogue," insisting that "both sides must avoid confrontation." The phrasing matched Beijing’s diplomatic line word for word.