China's Xi Facing Favorable Conditions in Potential Resumption of US Tariff Battle?
To put it bluntly, the global stage is seeing one tit-for-tat showdown – the trade war between the U.S. and China. The stakes couldn't be higher for both sides, but their motivations and strategies are poles apart.
Donald Trump, America's flamboyant president, is playing a risky game of brinksmanship, all in the name of popularity and profit. In contrast, China's president, Xi Jinping, is grappling with survival – for himself, the Communist Party of China, and the nation's swelling ego. With the phrase "the Chinese Century" deeply ingrained in their citizens' minds, Xi has a mass base to keep in check and appease.
Now let's break it down:
The Trump Effect
Trump has always been about deals, and this trade war is no exception. Bouncing between stubbornness and backpedaling like a colossal pinball, he's rattled his rivals and allies alike with his raunchy rhetoric and brash actions. As economic hardships bite and whispers of recession grow louder, even Trump's Republican cronies can't help but cringe.
The Xi Force
On the other hand, Xi Jinping is a seasoned warrior, weaving economic and nationalistic narratives in ways that would make Sun Tzu proud. He's expected to navigate today's vicissitudes as a grandmaster, shrewdly balancing the nation's swollen ego with economic growth.
Why they're like fire and ice
Trump's short-term, transactional approach contrasts sharply with Xi's more strategic, long-term perspective. Trump, confident in his deal-making prowess, waves tariffs like a wand. Import and export duties have become a favorite tactic for him, a weapon he wields with abandon to extract concessions.
Meanwhile, Xi has clarified that China's tariffs are a means to protect its economy and sovereignty – a diplomatic necessity for any chaotic regime. As the two elephants grapple, it's neither a dance nor an exchange – but an all-out war. With domestic press freedom non-existent and precisely zero political opposition to dampen the intense nationalistic fervor, China has the luxury of enduring short-term pain for long-term gain.
The Art of Profiteering
Both leaders are not void of tactics or Oxford-sounding rhetoric. When Trump played the victim, crying "America First," he managed to fend off criticism and bolster support among his voters. But the Chinese, crafty as ever, had a swift retort, escalating their tariffs as high as 145% on American goods.
A traditional ally of the U.S., China, has stood its ground, pushing back against Trump with the brutality of a bully. The Ukrainian gambit and the subsequent "Liberation Day" are prime examples of how the Chinese lovely to turn the tables when the heat is on. Rest assured, whatever Trump dishes out, the Chinese will not shy away from adding a dash or two of masala to their response.
The writer is a retired lieutenant-general and a former lieutenant-governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry, expressing his undeniable expertise in geopolitical wrangling.
References:[1] Hoo, K. L. (2020). China's Trade Strategy in the Age of Economic Nationalism. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 687(1), 80–96.[2] Yi, F. (2019). Trump vs. Xi: The U.S.-China Trade War and Its Implications. Orbis, 63(4), 529–548.
- The trade war between the U.S. and China, a volatile showdown on the global stage, is not only impacting business and finance, but also policy-and-legislation and politics, with each leader employing unique strategies.
- While Donald Trump's approach is short-term and transactional, utilizing tariffs as a weapon in a brash and unpredictable manner, Xi Jinping's strategy is more nuanced, aiming for long-term economic growth and nationalist sentiment.
- This conflict is not mere general-news; it also signifies war-and-conflicts, as both leaders fight for their respective nations and personal interests, with little room for concessions.
