When Trump rashly announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs in April, he badly miscalculated. He seemed to think that China was vulnerable because it exported far more to the United States than it purchased. He apparently didn’t appreciate that much of what China purchased, like soybeans, it could get elsewhere — while Beijing is now the OPEC of rare earth minerals, leaving us without alternative sources. China controls about 90 percent of rare earths and is the sole supplier of six heavy rare earth minerals; it also dominates rare earth magnets.

https://archive.ph/B1bWe

 

While this article is speculative, it seems likely to prove correct. And if it is correct, then we can count on Trump to vent his displaced anger on less formidable adversaries. Maybe that's already happening given his bizarre military threats against Venezuela.

 

It will be interesting to see just how far Trump rolls back his moves against China. And maybe even roll back the level of support that existed under the Biden administration. Should Taiwan be concerned?

 

Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, pushing future arms sales

President Donald Trump declined to approve more than $400 million in military aid to Taiwan this summer, as he tries to negotiate a trade deal and potential summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to five people familiar with the matter.

The decision, which may still be reversed, marks a U-turn in U.S. policy toward the self-governing island that China claims as its own territory, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Two people familiar with the matter said the package was worth more than $400 million and would have been “more lethal” than past rounds of aid to Taiwan, including munitions and autonomous drones.

https://archive.ph/ukzJI

Oh look.  Another Trump bash, using the anal extraction method of data collection.

 

  

Tedious

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Oh look.  Another Trump bash, using the anal extraction method of data collection.

 

I've taken your criticism to heart:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1377354-2000-killed-in-just-48-hours-by-slaughtering-militia/page/2/#comment-20188514

 

1 hour ago, candide said:

 

Those are Fajitas, not Tacos.