US President Donald Trump's impending showdown with Chinese leader Xi Jinping will determine the future of US-China relations and the global order. The stakes are high, with China poised to assert its dominance and the US struggling to keep pace.
China has taken a hard stance on rare-earth minerals, a crucial component in electronic devices, by imposing export controls that would significantly impact the global supply chain. This move could cripple Western arms supplies to Ukraine and compromise defenses against Russia, Beijing's ally. The US has responded with tit-for-tat trade penalties, stoking fears of a global economic downturn.
The reasons behind China's aggressive stance are multifaceted. A significant factor is the realization that Trump's "America First" policies have alienated old and new friends alike, creating a vacuum that China can fill. The US global influence and leverage are dwindling, reflected in disrupted alliances in Europe and Asia, weakness in confronting authoritarian regimes, and contempt for the UN and international rules-based order.
China sees an opportunity to assert its dominance by rapidly scaling up its munitions manufacturing capacity and acquiring advanced weapons platforms at a rate estimated five to six times faster than that of the US. The US is losing the tariff fight it started, with Chinese exporters finding new markets despite Trump's trade war. American consumers face rising prices, with most toys and up to 90% of Christmas goods sold in the US made in China.
The Sino-American struggle for primacy will intensify, with Xi advancing while Trump appears out of touch. The UK is particularly vulnerable, scorned by Beijing and patronized by Washington, decoupled from Europe and reduced to a lonely bystander incapable of articulating a coherent China policy.
In this context, the forthcoming encounter between Trump and Xi will be crucial in determining the trajectory of US-China relations. One side will emerge victorious, while the other will struggle to keep up. The consequences will be far-reaching, with implications for global trade, security, and geopolitics.
China has taken a hard stance on rare-earth minerals, a crucial component in electronic devices, by imposing export controls that would significantly impact the global supply chain. This move could cripple Western arms supplies to Ukraine and compromise defenses against Russia, Beijing's ally. The US has responded with tit-for-tat trade penalties, stoking fears of a global economic downturn.
The reasons behind China's aggressive stance are multifaceted. A significant factor is the realization that Trump's "America First" policies have alienated old and new friends alike, creating a vacuum that China can fill. The US global influence and leverage are dwindling, reflected in disrupted alliances in Europe and Asia, weakness in confronting authoritarian regimes, and contempt for the UN and international rules-based order.
China sees an opportunity to assert its dominance by rapidly scaling up its munitions manufacturing capacity and acquiring advanced weapons platforms at a rate estimated five to six times faster than that of the US. The US is losing the tariff fight it started, with Chinese exporters finding new markets despite Trump's trade war. American consumers face rising prices, with most toys and up to 90% of Christmas goods sold in the US made in China.
The Sino-American struggle for primacy will intensify, with Xi advancing while Trump appears out of touch. The UK is particularly vulnerable, scorned by Beijing and patronized by Washington, decoupled from Europe and reduced to a lonely bystander incapable of articulating a coherent China policy.
In this context, the forthcoming encounter between Trump and Xi will be crucial in determining the trajectory of US-China relations. One side will emerge victorious, while the other will struggle to keep up. The consequences will be far-reaching, with implications for global trade, security, and geopolitics.