By accident or design, Trump signals tougher China policy

[webfact]

By accident or design, Trump signals tougher China policy

By JULIE PACE and MATTHEW PENNINGTON

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Whether by accident or design, President-elect Donald Trump is signaling a tougher American policy toward China, sparking warnings from both the outgoing Obama administration and Beijing.

 

On Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said progress with the Chinese could be "undermined" by a flare-up over the sovereignty of Taiwan, the self-governing island the U.S. broke diplomatic ties with in 1979. That split was part of an agreement with China, which claims the island as its own territory, although the U.S. continues to sell Taiwan billions in military equipment and has other economic ties.

 

Trump broke protocol last week by speaking with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, then took to Twitter to challenge China's trade and military policies.

 

"It's unclear exactly what the strategic effort is," Earnest said. "I'll leave that to them to explain."

 

So far, Trump's advisers have struggled to explain his action, sending mixed messages about whether the conversation with Taiwan's leader was a step toward a new policy or simply a congratulatory call. Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said Trump "knew exactly what was happening" when he spoke with Tsai, but Vice President-elect Mike Pence described the interaction as "nothing more than taking a courtesy call of congratulations."

 

Trump has pledged to be more "unpredictable" on the world stage, billing the approach as a much-needed change from President Barack Obama's deliberative style and public forecasting about U.S. policy. But Trump's unpredictability is likely to unnerve both allies and adversaries, leaving glaring questions about whether the foreign policy novice is carrying out planned strategies or acting on impulse.

 

China's authoritarian government likes predictability in its dealings with other nations, particularly the United States. The U.S. and China are the world's two largest economies with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching nearly $660 billion last year.

 

While there have been sharp differences between Beijing and Washington on China's island building in the South China Sea and over alleged Chinese cybertheft of U.S. commercial secrets, the two powers have cooperated effectively on climate change and the Iran nuclear deal.

 

Taiwan split from the Chinese mainland in 1949. American policy acknowledges the Chinese view that it has sovereignty over Taiwan, yet the U.S. considers Taiwan's status as unsettled. The U.S. is Taiwan's main source of weapons, with $14 billion in approved arms sales since 2009.

 

U.S. diplomats were shocked by Trump's telephone call with the Taiwanese leader. Several officials privately expressed deep unease that Trump's team did not inform the administration in advance or give it a chance to provide input.

 

Max Baucus, the U.S. ambassador to China, spoke about the matter Saturday with China's vice foreign minister to reiterate America's one-China policy on behalf of the current administration.

 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Monday that China would have "no comment on what motivated the Trump team" to make the tweets, and he said he believed both sides would continue to support a "sound and a stable bilateral relationship."

 

But a commentary on the state-run Xinhua news agency issued a veiled warning.

 

"Succeeding a mostly upward U.S.-China relationship, Trump also needs to resist the light-headed calls for provocative and damaging moves on China by some hawkish political elites," said the commentary by Luo Jun. "The outdated zero-sum mindset is poisonous for Washington's foreign relations. It would be a mistake to think that Washington could gain from undercutting Beijing's core interests."

 

Stephen Yates, a former national security aide to Vice President Dick Cheney who has been in touch with Trump advisers, said the call with Tsai was arranged by the transition team and showed the president-elect wants to rebalance the U.S. relationship with China.

 

"He is not going to be told who he can or cannot talk to," Yates said by email as he flew to Taiwan for a trip he said was planned before the election. "He meant what he said about being open to leaders who seek good relations with the U.S. He knows more about these subjects than he might let on."

 

As a presidential candidate, Trump repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency and trying to "rape our country" with unfair trade policies.

 

Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Trump appears to be signaling a willingness to increase ties with Taiwan, but not necessarily a full overhaul of U.S. policy.

 

"It doesn't mean we're going to poke the Chinese in the eye; it doesn't mean we're going to change the 'One China policy,'" said Lohman, whose think tank has been advising Trump's transition. "But it does mean we will reform our Taiwan policy to reflect reality."

___

AP writer Bradley Klapper contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-06

[wwest5829]

My first thought is, "a bull in a China shop", which is what I feared during the campaign. Supported by hawks,

I fear the foolishness. On the other hand, regarding the unilateral claim by the PRC to 80-90% of the South China Sea....I wish to see a firm continuation of US policy and actions of freely sailing, flying in international sea and air lanes. China has overstepped in this matter and the international community should repulse by ignoring the invalid claim.

[soalbundy]

17 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

My first thought is, "a bull in a China shop", which is what I feared during the campaign. Supported by hawks,

I fear the foolishness. On the other hand, regarding the unilateral claim by the PRC to 80-90% of the South China Sea....I wish to see a firm continuation of US policy and actions of freely sailing, flying in international sea and air lanes. China has overstepped in this matter and the international community should repulse by ignoring the invalid claim.

be careful though, they can make cheaper body bags than the West

[TPI]

The US has needed to"grow some" in its relationship with the PRC for some time, money aside, if the US can look the PRC in the eye and suggest that China needs to be in the far queue with its relationship with Taiwan, then more to the US!

[Retiredandhappyhere]

China should have been stopped from building the islands and bases in the South China Sea a long time ago, not wait until they were built and then neighbouring countries, the USA and the UN start complaining.  All a bit too late allowing China to think they can do what they like and claim the whole territory as their own.

[freebyrd]

And so it begins......

[AlexRRR]

Grow some? come on guys Trump not only is president of the US but nations like Australia and a host more are allies....do i as an Aussie want the US president  running amuck breaking protcol? no a <deleted> dont, i dont want my kids dragged into another American made confrontation.....

 

I dare say in time if his party cant reign him in he's likely to be an ex president super pronto....

[tonbridgebrit]

Okay, let's get real here.

Donald Trump is embarking on a new policy of getting more tough on China. He's going to be a lot tougher than what Obama was, and he's going to be tougher than what Hillary would be doing.

This is Trump's opening shot at China. Trump is trying to tell China "look, I want to annoy you, and I'm going to do this a lot more during my time in charge".

And I think Trump's next move is to slap some serious taxes on the cheap Chinese goods entering into America. Yes, Trump is going to do it. A tougher policy on China. Whether this is a good thing or not, I'm not sure.

 

[performance]

Yes obviously as I said all.along these little Chinese need a pulling into line. There no super power. There army is weak and bullying other countries. A good belting around the ears over a bowl of rice.

[Opl]

1 hour ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Okay, let's get real here.

Donald Trump is embarking on a new policy of getting more tough on China. He's going to be a lot tougher than what Obama was, and he's going to be tougher than what Hillary would be doing.

This is Trump's opening shot at China. Trump is trying to tell China "look, I want to annoy you, and I'm going to do this a lot more during my time in charge".

And I think Trump's next move is to slap some serious taxes on the cheap Chinese goods entering into America. Yes, Trump is going to do it. A tougher policy on China. Whether this is a good thing or not, I'm not sure.

 

 

28 minutes ago, performance said:

Yes obviously as I said all.along these little Chinese need a pulling into line. There no super power. There army is weak and bullying other countries. A good belting around the ears over a bowl of rice.

 

It's a pity you did not run for Presidency, you think and speak tough  exactly like D. Trump, that's what makes you feel great!

My neidhbour says the same kind of stuff , except he is not a billionaire, so it does not sound so powerfull.

For your satisfaction:  that's what D. Trump promised : no state dinner -- only Big Mac -- for China's president" "I'd get him a McDonald's hamburger and I'd say we gotta get down to work, because you can't continue to devalue (the Chinese currency)," Trump said Monday night on Fox News. "I would give him a very, yeah, but I would give him a double, probably a double size Big Mac."

Sure that's what makes America great.

 

http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1852785/we-want-deal-trump-fakes-asian-accent-mock-chinese-japanese-businessmen

 

Despite its apparent brief stint in China, Trump Hotel Collection CEO Eric A. Danziger told reporters at the Asia Pacific Premier Hospitality Conference in Hong Kong that THC has plans to build 20 to 30 Trump and Scion Hotels in major Chinese cities.

That's what will make Trump great.

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

On Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said progress with the Chinese could be "undermined" by a flare-up over the sovereignty of Taiwan,

Quite a statement. Dear Josh the only mining going on is China mining the US and other countries for jobs and putting their manufacturing out of business. How any country could stoop so low as to do business with China is beyond me. Oh sorry politics=big business=profit now I understand. 

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

That split was part of an agreement with China, which claims the island as its own territory, although the U.S. continues to sell Taiwan billions in military equipment and has other economic ties.

The usual government double standard. Its pitiful at best makes one want to vomit. 

[Jonmarleesco]

For a change, I'd like to see the UK following closely in DT's footsteps. The Chinese could do with being taken down a peg or two, and I don't for one moment think the Chinese leadership will be prepared to go to the edge over it.

[chilli42]

The cravens in the US/China relationship are the business interests that have "leaned" on the US government to make nice so that they can grow their profits.  I am doubtful that anyone else wants to bend over for the Chinese.  It's all about he money and only about the money.

[rijb]

6 hours ago, soalbundy said:

be careful though, they can make cheaper body bags than the West

 

Because they're smaller.  Just like condoms.

[wwest5829]

6 hours ago, soalbundy said:

be careful though, they can make cheaper body bags than the West

 

Care noted. I am by no means a hawk. Still there are times that aggressive unilateral action needs to be opposed. I feel the same can be applied to any unilateral taking of territory by the US (my own country).

[dunroaming]

It's his ship now and I am afraid you are all passengers.  Where he will take you nobody knows, especially him!

[Morch]

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

It's his ship now and I am afraid you are all passengers.  Where he will take you nobody knows, especially him!

 

Thing is it's not yet his ship. Not for another 7 weeks. His supporters and him don't seem to acknowledge that, though. Except when going on about how Trump cannot be criticized until he's officially in office.

[williamgeorgeallen]

7 hours ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

China should have been stopped from building the islands and bases in the South China Sea a long time ago, not wait until they were built and then neighbouring countries, the USA and the UN start complaining.  All a bit too late allowing China to think they can do what they like and claim the whole territory as their own.

think the Filipinos exchanged those islands for some assault rifles so that should be ok now.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, AlexRRR said:

Grow some? come on guys Trump not only is president of the US but nations like Australia and a host more are allies....do i as an Aussie want the US president  running amuck breaking protcol? no a <deleted> dont, i dont want my kids dragged into another American made confrontation.....

 

I dare say in time if his party cant reign him in he's likely to be an ex president super pronto....

Learning Mandarin are we?

As I remember it America rescued Australia from the Japs, not the other way round.

[thaibeachlovers]

No one should be surprised. Trump has been signaling a tough stance on China for a long time now.

[williamgeorgeallen]

2 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

think the philipino swooped those islands for some assault rifles so that should be ok now.

 

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Learning Mandarin are we?

As I remember it America rescued Australia from the Japs, not the other way round.

aussies contacted the yanks and told them the japs were on the way to pearl harbor. yanks kept quiet and allowed the attach so they could get into the second world war.  

[Ulysses G.]

3 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

 

aussies contacted the yanks and told them the japs were on the way to pearl harbor. yanks kept quiet and allowed the attach so they could get into the second world war.  

 

Sounds like a conspiracy theory.

[williamgeorgeallen]

23 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Sounds like a conspiracy theory.

instead of putting the troops on high alert at the coming attack, the valuable aircraft carriers were moved out to sea and the old frigates were left in port. President Franklin D.Roosevelt was looking for a way to get into the war which the general public were very much against.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8932197/Pearl-Harbour-memo-shows-US-warned-of-Japanese-attack.html

the outcome was a world war and america emerging as the global super power built on the sales of weapons to england and russia. tons to read on the topic.

every single war america has been involve in has had some sort of event like pearl harbor to get the ball rolling.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Meanwhile back in the OP, IMO Trump is signaling to the bullies in Beijing that there is a new sheriff in town. I hope he doesn't let the sugarpuffs in Washington dissuade him from following through. He probably figures that bullies always back down and so will that bunch of evil dictators.

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

instead of putting the troops on high alert at the coming attack, the valuable aircraft carriers were moved out to sea and the old frigates were left in port. President Franklin D.Roosevelt was looking for a way to get into the war which the general public were very much against.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8932197/Pearl-Harbour-memo-shows-US-warned-of-Japanese-attack.html

the outcome was a world war and america emerging as the global super power built on the sales of weapons to england and russia. tons to read on the topic.

every single war america has been involve in has had some sort of event like pearl harbor to get the ball rolling.

 

 

That's what we were taught in the UK as well.  maybe in the US they record history differently.

[williamgeorgeallen]

9 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

 

That's what we were taught in the UK as well.  maybe in the US they record history differently.

wow you were taught that in school? impressive. think england only just finished off paying her war time debts to america. i have tried to discuss this with some americans but they dont seem to like the topic. we should still be great full to america for helping sort everything out even if incredible costs were incurred.

[dunroaming]

26 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

wow you were taught that in school? impressive. think england only just finished off paying her war time debts to america. i have tried to discuss this with some americans but they dont seem to like the topic. we should still be great full to america for helping sort everything out even if incredible costs were incurred.

 

Never sure about the way history is translated and certainly the British had a warped view of the "Empire".  The USA certainly shortened some wars and for that we should be grateful.

[copa8]

8 hours ago, performance said:

Yes obviously as I said all.along these little Chinese need a pulling into line. There no super power. There army is weak and bullying other countries. A good belting around the ears over a bowl of rice.

 

You said this all along from the basement apt of parent's house right? 

[williamgeorgeallen]

9 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

 

Never sure about the way history is translated and certainly the British had a warped view of the "Empire".  The USA certainly shortened some wars and for that we should be grateful.

yanks seem to be in the business of extending wars now a days. still better than speaking german however.