Gabriel Corsetti
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s views on China are often considered to be erratic and unpredictable. His first presidency led to a negative shift in China-U.S. relations. On the eve of his second presidency, Trump’s attitude remains hard to gauge. His current focus is still on the trade deficit, and he plans to impose high tariffs on Chinese goods if elected. On the other hand, he has refused to confirm that he would use U.S. military force to protect Taiwan in the event of a conflict, and in fact he has recently accused Taiwan of stealing U.S. jobs in the semiconductor industry.
With conflicting signals from Trump himself, do his picks for key national security positions offer more clarity?
Trump’s National Security Picks Are Mostly China Hawks
During Trump’s second term in office, much about his approach to China will depend on his foreign policy advisers. Trump announced the picks for his national security team in mid-November. Precedent suggests that his nominees will most likely be confirmed by the Senate.
While in 2016 Trump picked individuals with a long experience in government or business, this time he has made several unconventional choices that have unsettled policy circles in Washington. His most “traditional” picks are probably Mike Waltz as national security adviser and Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Both are professional politicians and hardline conservatives with hawkish views on China.
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