The Independent: Could Trump’s China Policy Lead to a Rift with President X?
The Independent newspaper published an opinion article written by Michael Sheridan entitled “Could Trump’s China Policy Lead to a Rift with (His) Friend President X?”
Sheridan begins by pointing out that Trump and his Chinese counterpart have played the role of friends, but Trump has pledged to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.
The question is: Does this step represent an obstacle to friendly policy between East and West?
Sheridan wrote that it has always been difficult for the Chinese leader and his inner circle to read Trump.
On the one hand, the Chinese loved the first Trump because they saw him as an agent of chaos, destabilizing democracy and weakening American alliances.
But they hate the second Trump for the same reason: he is an agent of chaos, and his unpredictable style confuses opponents and empowers him.
The practical reality, Sheridan points out, is that the two leaders will leave the policy details to their teams.
While Trump’s team remains in a state of flux, the Chinese will turn to Wang Huning, Xi’s favorite political thinker, and a group of economic advisers.
Regarding Trump’s future steps towards China, Sheridan added that Trump has pledged to raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 60%, a pledge that makes some of his supporters on Wall Street fearful.
China could also respond to Trump’s move by targeting companies in its market and preventing the export of minerals important to technology, in a move to compensate for the American restrictions imposed on semiconductors.
Its options also include selling some of the $775 billion in American Treasury bonds and allowing its currency to depreciate against the dollar.
Michael Sheridan concluded his article, the arena includes “Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un,” and although Trump has been friendly to them in the past, the Chinese president now calls them “dear friends”.
