"Soft on China" belongs in the same category, as "Soft on communism", "Soft on Crime", "The China Virus", etc. These overbroad political tag lines may be effective in political campaign ads, but they are counterproductive from a diplomacy standpoint.You need to be aware of Chinese mentality, very competitive, give an inch and they'll take a yard.
If you let them into any country, they strip it down to its bare bones.
Go soft on China and they'll smell your weakness.
They put on the sweet innocent charm act when seducing you, but behind the fascade they plot.
The West are stupid and need to wake up, harden up.