Opinion: 2nd Trump term | Was Pompeo joking? He said tear down China’s firewall on the same day

In the U.S. State Department's press conference, when a reporter asked Pompeo whether the State Department is ready for the transition to the next administration, Pompeo gave a surprising answer: "We will have a smooth transition to the second term of the Trump administration. "
Numerous mainstream media outlets, including Reuters, reported that Pompeo smiled when he said it, so it may have been just a joke, since he is known for speaking with a mixture of sarcasm and humor. But to the Chinese and the Chinese government, they probably didn't think so.

What many in the mainstream media may not have noticed is that on the same day that Pompeo was smiling, he also said at the Reagan Institute that the United States needs to help the Chinese people gain access to free information by taking down the Internet firewall. It's a strong message. Chinese people cannot view any videos on Youtube, and, if they want to use Youtube, Facebook or Twitter, they have to use a VPN, which is illegal in China.

The CCP's internet firewall, which has undergone more than 20 years of upgrades since its construction began, is not simply a system for blocking information from overseas, but has evolved into a vast, multi-functional collection of information. It blocks cyber-attacks and digitally surveils the populace while conducting other information warfare practices. It’s cyber-warfare tools are the most central component of the CCP's ability to achieve its digital totalitarianisms. Arguably, the CCP regime has been able to sustain itself, to this day, thanks to its internet firewall.

Now that Pompeo has publicly stated that he wants to destroy this firewall, does this mean that Trump's second administration is going to destroy the foundations of the CCP's rule? Or, more to the point, does the future U.S. government plan to take down the Chinese Communist Party?

The outcome of the U.S. election is still unclear; this has caused anxiety among many people and groups, with the Beijing government believed to be one of the most anxious.