New top U.S. diplomat plays central role in Trump's China shift

[rooster59]

New top U.S. diplomat plays central role in Trump's China shift

By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers remarks to Department of State employees upon arrival at the Department of State in Washington, U.S., February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's acceptance of Beijing's demand that he re-commit to a "one China" policy was heavily influenced by his new top diplomat, who argued behind the scenes that relations would remain on hold until Trump cleared up doubts about a longtime bedrock of U.S.-China ties, officials said.

The abrupt course adjustment, made public in a White House statement on Thursday after a phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, followed White House meetings this week involving Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Tillerson joined Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn and others in what one administration official described as a concerted effort to persuade the president that "this is the right way to go, this is right for the relationships and regional stability - and they won the day."

The successful intervention by Tillerson, a former Exxon Mobil chief executive with no previous diplomatic experience who was confirmed just nine days ago, suggests that in a White House-dominated administration, the new secretary of state could help drive decisions on some geopolitical issues.

Tillerson's sway on other Trump priorities, such as fighting Islamic State, countering Iran and improving ties with Russia, remains to be seen.

Chinese anger toward Trump has simmered since December when he spoke to the president of Taiwan and said the United States did not have to stick to the "one China" policy, under which Washington acknowledges the Chinese position that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it. Beijing considers self-ruled Taiwan a renegade province.

China had signalled to Washington that there would be no phone call between Trump and Xi and the relationship could not move forward until Trump reaffirmed the "one China" policy, one of the U.S. officials said.

U.S.-based China experts said Trump’s change of tack should help ease tensions and open the way for discussions across the board. But they cautioned that this does not suggest a softening of Trump’s stance over other issues, including the contested South China Sea, his threat of high tariffs on Chinese goods and his pressure on Beijing to rein in North Korea.

But Trump's acquiescence on an issue of extreme Chinese nationalist sensitivity also "creates the risk that the Chinese will conclude that Trump is tough in his rhetoric but can be rolled if they apply sufficient pressure," said Bonnie Glaser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The White House and State Department had no immediate comment.

Speaking at a joint news conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump signalled on Friday that he was pleased to have broken the ice with Xi, describing the call as a "very, very warm conversation."

But he also noted that he had long complained that China’s currency was undervalued and predicted that "a level playing field" in terms of trade would be reached between the two countries sooner than many people think.

Tillerson’s emerging role suggests that he could be a moderating influence with both friends and adversaries who have been unnerved at times by Trump’s rhetoric and unpredictability.

The secretary of state played a role in crafting the "one China" statement but it was not immediately clear whether he or others met directly with Trump to make the case for issuing it. Another major player on the issue was Flynn, who spoke by phone to China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, on Feb. 3, the sources said.

As an oil executive, Tillerson had a complicated history with China. He had regular dealings with China’s state-run oil companies over Exxon Mobil’s longtime business interests there, but also developed oil exploration ties with Vietnam, which has territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.

During his Senate confirmation hearings last month, Tillerson raised Chinese ire when he said China should be denied access to islands it is building in the South China Sea.

But in written responses to follow-up questions from lawmakers that surfaced this week after his confirmation, Tillerson softened his language, saying that in the event of an unspecified "contingency" the United States and its allies "must be capable of limiting China's access to and use of" those islands to pose a threat.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-11

[Srikcir]

Tillerson is doing a "squeeze play" on Bannon who has grandiose ideas about the US becoming the exclusive world super power. Either we'll see Bannon leave the White House or cause a major disruption in conflicting foreign policies that will paralyze Trump or cause him to strike out in an irrational way.

[chuang]

Will USA becomes a paper tiger. 

[dunroaming]

2 minutes ago, chuang said:

Will USA becomes a paper tiger. 

"zhilaohu" in Chinese and it is Trump who is the paper tiger rather than the USA. 

[IMA_FARANG]

Perhaps it is possible to actually learn something.

I wouldn't have believed it, but just maybe he can after all.

We shall just have to see if he really can learn, and not just go into a 'twitter rage' and put his mouth into use without thinking first.

 

[elgordo38]

Tillerson the latest high profile witch doctor to speak out of both sides of his mouth at the same time. An endless line of them. Did anyone watch the news when Trump grasped Abe hand for a full 18 seconds in a death grip. The look on Abe face as he turned away from Trump after he let go was priceless one for the books. Here is a link to one of Bill Maher's best shows on Friday nite. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEgTgfT2oP0 Can hardly wait for next weeks snafu's

[craigt3365]

7 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

Tillerson the latest high profile witch doctor to speak out of both sides of his mouth at the same time. An endless line of them. Did anyone watch the news when Trump grasped Abe hand for a full 18 seconds in a death grip. The look on Abe face as he turned away from Trump after he let go was priceless one for the books. Here is a link to one of Bill Maher's best shows on Friday nite. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEgTgfT2oP0 Can hardly wait for next weeks snafu's

That link doesn't seem to work, but plenty of other videos out there.  The look on Abe's face is priceless. 

 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

That link doesn't seem to work, but plenty of other videos out there.  The look on Abe's face is priceless. 

 

Many Thanks one for the books. 

[Grouse]

19 hours ago, chuang said:

Will USA becomes a paper tiger. 

For what it's worth, according to a large group of young Chinese in Phuket last night, our man is universally referred to as "Trumpoo" 

[elgordo38]

3 minutes ago, Grouse said:

For what it's worth, according to a large group of young Chinese in Phuket last night, our man is universally referred to as "Trumpoo" 

After watching the look on Abe's face after the 18 second handshake it makes one wonder. I wonder if his first stop was the Men's Room

[elgordo38]

6 minutes ago, Grouse said:

19 hours ago, chuang said:

Will USA becomes a paper tiger. 

For what it's worth, according to a large group of young Chinese in Phuket last night, our man is universally referred to as "Trumpoo" 

So much for Asian respect for ones elders.

[hyperHowie]

On 2/11/2017 at 3:08 AM, Srikcir said:

Tillerson is doing a "squeeze play" on Bannon who has grandiose ideas about the US becoming the exclusive world super power. Either we'll see Bannon leave the White House or cause a major disruption in conflicting foreign policies that will paralyze Trump or cause him to strike out in an irrational way.

Bannon, the former editor of a extreme right wing website -- with a couple of his henchman in the White House -- is a serious deterrent to any real politic solution. And now a member of the US Security Council. OMG.

[JHolmesJr]

On 12 February, 2017 at 8:06 AM, craigt3365 said:

That link doesn't seem to work, but plenty of other videos out there.  The look on Abe's face is priceless. 

 

 

Just psyching the old boy before the golf game….squeeze a bit more than necessary to thow him off his game.

[mike324]

World economies are so intertwined, its silly to mess with any superpower, especially China who makes a lot of the goods US consumer requires.