President Trump Did Not Back Down To China

A combination of file photos showing Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) at London's Heathrow Airport, October 19, 2015 and U.S. President Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Lucas Jackson/File Photos

Harry Kazianis, RCW: No, Trump Did Not Back Down From China

Have you ever seen a boxer get knocked out in a fight before the bell even rang?

If you follow the rush-to-judgement analysis coming out of some outlets when it comes to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Friday-night chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping, you might believe Trump just signed away Hawaii. You might think the new U.S. administration has been completely crushed before the first punches are even thrown in what will be a historic, great power struggle over the next few years.

We should be clear: In fact, Trump did not “change tack," as said in a report by Reuters, or back down to Beijing, as judged by the New York Times, implying that the new administration made some major concession to China in acknowledging the reality that is the One China policy.

What Trump did was simple and quite expected -- he followed a standard line of thinking that dates back to the Nixon administration. Clearly no ground was ceded.

Read more ....

Previous Post: President Trump Calls Chinese President Xi Telling Him That The U.S. Will Honor 'One China' Policy (February 10, 2017)

WNU Editor: The media narrative is that President Trump backed down .... but I see it differently. He has signaled to China that everything is on the table, and that he wants to negotiate a new relationship with China starting with trade. And while issues like North Korea, South China Sea boundary disputes, and a build-up of the Chinese military are major issues and concerns .... it is on the issue of trade that China is most vulnerable .... and both sides know it. My prediction is that this issue will be first broached by President Trump when he meets Chinese President Xi at the G20 and/or G7 meetings .... after that the expectation is for China to compromise. But when I listen to my friends in China .... they want the status quo and are determined to stick to it .... even when I warn them of the consequences of such a policy and mindset. Bottom line .... based on what I am reading and what I am hearing from China .... this is not going to end well.

Update: Yup .... US vs. China: First Round to Trump (Walter Russell Mead, American Interest).