Donald Trump’s appointment of Marco Rubio as Sec of State, Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, and Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary signals an acutely confrontational approach to China. High tariffs and export/import bans are coming. Also likely: More military aid and quasi-governmental links with Taiwan as well as more US military presence and activity in the Pacific. But “China has had the experience of dealing with Trump and his shock-and-awe approach and is better prepared to take the hits this time.” This could include counter-tariffs and bans as well contentious diplomacy in the Global South. The Straits Tines, Trump’s China hawks and the future of Sino-US ties
