On the surface, most people say and think that Trump is tough on China.
Trump has big words, says he's gonna do a lot of things, AND he has a trade war going with China.
Seems like not a bad thing.
So a lot of people think, "OK Trump is good at reining in China."
Personally, I look at this differently.
Personally, I think it is due to how Trump handled the China relationship, that China was able to impose it's controversial law on Hong Kong.
And this law will never be removed.
Trade wars will come and go with different US Presidents.
But HK will now have a law which allows China to arrest people.
Think about it as...
Let's say I am working and I have a colleague. I don't really like him, he doesn't really like me.
BUT, we have to work on projects together for the good of both of us.
So we try to keep things cordial. I don't do anything to offend him, he doesn't do anything to offend me, we just try to put aside our differences and work on the things we agree with. Things which will advance the progress of the project.
In this sense... everything is ok...
BUT... one day, he starts to play punk. Try to backstab me by carrying tales to the boss, or tries to hinder the process of the project just cos he doesn't like me. Never mind that the failure of the project also hurts him. He doesn't care.
So what do I do? I also don't need to care anymore.
Since the project is gonna fail anyway, then I also might as well focus on other things. Don't need to work on the project. I should focus on projects which I don't need his input.
I also don't need to put up a façade anymore. I don't need to act nice to him.
And I think this is how China is viewing the relationship with Trump.
Since China doesn't need to be friendly with the US anymore, what more can US do to China?
Oh well might as well impose a law on HK, the relationship with US is so bad already anyway, so might as well do it now.
Eventually, they will handle the trade war issue 4 years down, 8 years down, 12 years, down... sooner or later the trade war will be settled. But the HK issue... well too bad for HK...
So yes... Economically, China might have had a set back. US did a suicide mission with the trade war.
However, politically, China has gained better positioning. Which is more important in the long run.
Or how China is showing itself to be a more cooperative partner with other countries, when the US is picking fights with countries in the UK or EU region.
Well... at least that's how I view it...
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