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Oren Cass, the founder of the Washington-based think tank American Compass, has emerged as a prominent voice advocating for economic nationalism and the strategic decoupling from China. However, recent revelations about the organization’s corporate partnerships and staff affiliations have raised significant questions regarding the alignment of its rhetoric with its actual operations.
In various essays and public appearances, Cass has championed a tougher stance on China, urging the United States to prioritize domestic manufacturing and break free from Chinese supply chains. His commitment to this cause was particularly underscored in a 2023 essay published in Foreign Affairs, co-authored with a colleague. In this piece, they contended that the U.S. must sever ties with China to safeguard itself against an inevitable decline, arguing that economic interdependence has already weakened America’s industrial capacity and limited its political resolve.
Furthermore, Cass highlighted the depth of China’s influence within U.S. research and policy institutions. He asserted that Chinese interests have long targeted American universities, think tanks, and research institutes to extract economic benefits and advance their ideological goals. He further stressed that these organizations must implement rigorous oversight and controls to protect the integrity and security of their work.
Cass and his co-author advanced their argument by advocating for legislative reforms to prohibit partnerships with China-affiliated entities. They urged that all financial transactions between U.S. institutions and their Chinese counterparts should be terminated.
This debate has captured the attention of lawmakers from both parties, who have long expressed concerns that the Chinese government exploits various educational and research partnerships in the U.S. Under the guise of academic collaboration, these exchanges may serve as conduits for espionage activities. As tensions have escalated, so have the scrutiny and alarm regarding Beijing’s extensive influence operations on American soil.
On July 28, 2025, Cass joined a coalition of policymakers and national security experts in a letter directed at Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. They expressed serious reservations over the decision to resume exports of Nvidia’s H20 chips to China, which they described as a strategic misstep that jeopardizes America’s economic and military advantages in the domain of artificial intelligence.
Cass reiterated his standpoint during a conversation on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, where he maintained that the U.S. should not relax restrictions on the export of advanced computer chips to China.
Despite his relentless calls for decoupling, Cass’s uncompromising stance on China often seems at odds with the realities of operating a Washington think tank in an increasingly globalized economy. In June 2025, American Compass celebrated its fifth anniversary with a high-profile gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The event received backing from major sponsors such as Qualcomm, BlackRock, and Google, all of which maintain significant business operations connected to China’s economy.
China stands as the world’s second-largest economy and a primary trading partner for numerous U.S. companies. The financial entanglements between American enterprises and their Chinese counterparts are not uncommon in the policy landscape of Washington, D.C.
Fox News Digital reached out to Qualcomm, BlackRock, and Google for their comments regarding their support for American Compass, but no responses were received before publication.
American Compass’s staffing dynamics have also raised eyebrows. Notably, the organization’s director of events and operations previously held a position with Alibaba Group, one of China’s major tech firms. Additionally, one of the economists on the advisory board is a faculty member at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management, an institution known for its close relationships with the Chinese Communist Party.
As of the latest inquiries, neither Cass nor American Compass has provided responses to multiple requests from Fox News Digital for comments.
While none of these connections may be illegal or particularly rare in Washington, they create a complex picture of Cass as a proponent of economic separation from China. This complexity underscores the reality that pursuing such ideals can be challenging, especially when dependent on corporate sponsors with vested interests in the robust economic ties that exist between the U.S. and China.
As the U.S. navigates its approach to foreign relations and economic independence, the discourse surrounding figures like Cass will undoubtedly continue to evolve. The challenge will remain to balance rhetoric with practical realities while ensuring the integrity of American interests in an ever-connected global marketplace.
