> I have zero problems with "economic pain" caused by us not doing business with a country that has 1M people in "re-education camps", disappears protesters, and wants to extradite people from Hong Kong.

If these were the reasons for the U.S's actions I would agree with you more. I think only international pressure can help with these issues. The Chinese people themselves can do very little given the realities of their country's surveillance capabilities.

But let's not nobly kid ourselves that these issues have anything to do with the cause or the possible resolution to the trade war.

If you’re confident that free countries produce better tech why do we have to choke them out? Wouldn’t it be a stronger message to let the freedom do the work?

Have you missed all the articles about Chinese students returning to China once their American education is complete?

They are not staying in the US because it's 'freer'. Increasing numbers are leaving once they got what they came for.