In marked contrast to US President Trump 2.0 imperious postures in 2025 across the global geopolitical landscape, what singularly stands out is Trump 2.0 virtual appeasement of China by totally reversing Trump 1.0 (2016-20) 'Hard Line' strategy.
United States under President Trump 2.0 seemingly fearful of China's retaliatory economic and massive military power, seems in 2025-26 to have reverted to older versions of US-Strategy of "China-Hedging' and 'Risk Aversion'.
President Trump 2.0 gave early notice of his inclination of change of China-policy during his bid for second-term election campaign.
Retrospectively, analyzing after corelating it with Trump 2.0 postures, one could surmise that Trump 1.0 China-postures were the 'China-bullying' phase. That China with its 'brinkmanship propensities' stood its ground in the Trade Wars drove home to Trump that China was not ready to take bullying strategies by Trump.
China was well prepared and ready with contingency plans to deal with a belligerent Trump 2.o unlike other Major Powers who had not tasted Trump 1.0 Trade Wars.
Geopolitically, in January 2025, when President Trump began his second term, the challenges facing the United States emerged more diverse and complex.
In Europe, Russia's invasion of Ukraine was ongoing in its third year, more intense and devastating.
China without putting 'boots on the ground' was heavily subsidizing Russia's Ukraine Offensives militarily and economically.
The Middle East abounded with military conflicts. The chief of which and most inflammable being Iran which the United States could not suppress. Israel was besieged by Iranian military proxy armed militias from Houthis disrupting the Red Sea to Hamas and Hezbollah besieging Israel.
Russia and China were strong supporters of Iran with both having separate Mutual Security Agreements with Iran. Iran's military inventories are of Russian and Chinese origin, besides sizeable indigenous defence production infrastructure.
In effect, a Russia-Iran-China Axis was being perceived in Middle East operating against the United States and Israel.
China had outclassed the American unquestioned predominance in the Pacific by attaining full-spectrum dominance over the South China Sea and placing the United States on uninterrupted strategic tenterhooks with prospects of Taiwan Invasion----a nightmare for United States credibility as a credible nett provider n of security in the Pacific.
The United States in 2026 is faced by a Russia-China-North Korea Axis in the Western Pacific, singly and jointly, are in military confrontation with the United States and all three are Nuclear Weapons Powers with Missiles Arsenals capable of hitting the United States.
China figuring intensely against United States security interests and influence from Europe to Middle East to Pacific, seems to have weighed heavily in forcing President Trump 2.o to apply 'Reverse Gears' to Trump 1.o ' Hard Line' Strategy against China.
President Trump in the run-up to his second term as President seems to have awoken to the fact that the United States could not defeat China with its massive economic and military resources.
The United States lack of economic or military compellance power over China thus prompted President Trump to induce and enlist China along with the United States in a "G-2" Global Security Management setup.
This G2 Concept earlier proposed by President Obama around 20025-08 did not take off. Revived by President Trump in late 2025, this time too it will fail.
United States in 2026 is in virtual adversarial confrontation with its Allies and Strategic Partners due to President Trump's unpredictable geopolitics and Tariffs Terrorism.
United States growing estrangement in 2026 with virtually the whole world has positioned China to raise its brinkmanship hackles against the United States.
China had declared plans to reunify Taiwan with China Mainland by 2027. This is where China would escalate brinkmanship to peak levels, even war itself.
President Trump is unlikely to defend Taiwan militarily, should China resort to war.
President Trump aware of United States war-waging limitations in 2026, and minus unqualified geopolitical and military support from its erstwhile Allies, will take the easy "exit route" of adopting 'China Hedging' and 'Risk Aversion' policy to avoid a direct US-China War.
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