China and Trump's Foreign Policy.

Response to a Friend's Facebook post.

THE United States or Americans, it seems, are either very ignorant or eerily prejudiced of China. In turn they miscalculated the Chinese. Washington thought it could take advantage of China's resources (labor force, pertinent minerals) hence the Bill Clinton/Jiang Zemin trade pact in 2000. The following year, Beijing joined the WTO and totally rewrote how tariffs are played or dealt. 

       Then in 2009, China hooked up with Russia, India and Brazil to form the mammoth “emerging economies” group acronymed BRICS. And while the U.S. was partying after Joe Biden's win in 2020, two weeks after the election, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a trade bloc of 15 Asia/Pacific economies was formed. With China as ad hoc leader, the group is the largest trade bloc in the world so far. 

       Of course, there's the Belt and Road Initiative that accentuates China's trade expansionism. Yet the U.S. and the European Union stuck to military brinkmanship or hawkish playbooks. Meanwhile, the Middle East now largely junks "arms for oil" deals with the U.S. as UAE, Iran and Egypt joined BRICS in 2022? (Ever ponder why there is war in the Middle East right now?) 

       Donald Trump knows that the only way to compete with China and BRICS is via trade, not military braggadocio. So he modifies Washington's foreign policy. Yet there are matters that he can't reset, for now, like the 10-year arms deal with Israel that was signed by Barack Obama in 2016. And this is the powerful Israel Lobby, by the way. 

       Hot point in the Middle East is Iran but Iran now basically dances with China, Tehran's top oil buyer. Hence Mr Trump sent Elon Musk to Iran in January to talk business with the new moderate leadership out there. And as we know it, Tesla just expanded in China and Taiwan/TSMC just invested in the U.S. after Joe Biden's previous $6 billion deal didn't work out. Of course, China and Taiwan are big time trade buddies. Think Foxconn, think silicon. 

       At least President Trump knows how to play chess with China. But let's see how the tariff contest plays out. 🇺🇸☮️🇨🇳