179. Trump is making China great again

An era of great-power politics had begun, marked by Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, China’s emergence as a great power, and the significant redefinition of US foreign and security policies under Donald Trump.

All three have wide-reaching repercussions. And it seems the major beneficiary in all this is none other than China.

A global survey indicates that many people worldwide believe Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" strategy is contributing to China's rise. 

The survey was conducted in collaboration with Oxford University’s Europe in a Changing World project. 

The survey across 21 countries showed that under Trump, the US is viewed as less threatening by its traditional adversaries. Meanwhile, its allies, particularly in Europe, feel more distant and estranged.

As views of China grow more favorable, the US's position as an ally has declined in almost all surveyed countries, except for India, where most still see the US as an ally.

The survey, which involved nearly 26,000 participants from 13 European countries, the US, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, and South Korea, found that most respondents in almost all regions expect China’s global influence to increase over the next ten years.

These figures varied from 83% in South Africa, 72% in Brazil, and 63% in Turkey to 54% in the US, 53% across 10 EU countries, 51% in India, and 50% in the UK. The majority of EU citizens expected China to soon establish itself as the global leader in electric vehicles and renewable energy.

In South Africa (85%), Russia (86%), and Brazil (73%), the majority of people see China as either an essential partner or an ally. The EU’s view remains consistent, with 45% seeing China as a necessary partner. Moreover, many nations anticipate that their ties with China will strengthen.

Fewer people felt that the US president’s re-election was good for the world.

Many Europeans remain skeptical about the future, doubting it will bring positive outcomes given concerns over Russian aggression and a potential major European war. Over half advocate for increased defence spending.

I find the survey's results very convincing, and China is also aware of this.

As a result, China has launched a charm offensive aimed at Western leaders as part of its new approach. This strategy was enabled by Donald Trump’s growing unpredictable and destabilizing actions worldwide. 

 The US no longer seems like a reliable partner to any country, except perhaps Israel.

No country can afford to openly antagonize the world’s largest economy. However, in pursuit of stability, US allies are increasingly turning to China, a nation the US views as an existential threat.

Mark Carney, who was elected as Canada’s prime minister with promises to resist US bullying, set the tone for Western countries. He visited Beijing, where he announced, “Canada is forging a new strategic partnership with China.” 

Trump has taken a harsh tone by criticizing Carney. “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark,” Trump exclaimed.

However, Carney appears unfazed and is actively working to decrease the country’s dependence on the US. 

In Beijing, he agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% to 6.1%. As a result, Chinese EVs are now expected to account for about one-fifth of Canada’s EV sales. This agreement represents a significant political victory for China.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the growing influence of major powers is disrupting the traditional global order. He emphasized that this new era of powerful nations is based on strength and, when needed, on force. Overall, it presents a challenging environment. 

“We must no longer rely only on the power of our values. We must also recognise the value of our power,” he said.

What surprised me most was the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's statement, “Denmark’s investment in US Treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant.”

So, he thinks Denmark is irrelevant. Leaders from democratic countries will never say such things. Big or small, all are relevant. 

It shows that Trump is surrounded by fools, just as he himself is.

Meanwhile, China is expanding and must have been expressing gratitude to Trump for providing such a valuable opportunity.