Trump’s misreading of China’s resolve

Boeing has seen a cancellation of orders from China, which have been replaced by aircraft locally built in China. Boeing may never see it’s China business ever return.

Meanwhile, China is moving closer to a much larger economic and trade deal with the European Union, and President Xi is just completing a visit to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia for building goodwill and trade.

Of concern to China is the US position on Iran, which is a member of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Russia recently signed a strategic partner agreement with Russia. Any disturbance of Iranian trade would run against China’s interests.

There is no way the Chinese will take the initiative to speak to US leaders. US communication with China is now going backwards, making the China-US relationship sour.

Its very difficult to see how the White House can get out of the corner it has painted itself into with China. The US will learn that it’s the US that needs China, more than China needs the US. There needs to be some sort of ‘gestalt’ moment on the White House to realize this.

Otherwise, the Trump faux pas with China could lead a similar devastation that the Biden evacuation from Afghanistan did for the Biden administration.

While history will remember Putin and Xi, it’s beginning to look like Trump may not be joining them on the same stage. There is a risk that Trump’s tariff move on China has weakened him, rather strengthened him seeking legacy.