Foreign policy is important to the leaders and People of a country, because an effective, successful foreign policy helps secure the nation from external threats and offers citizens greater access to economic opportunities beyond their borders. A foreign policy is not, however, successful or effective when it causes harm at home, e.g. the hazards of “free trade,” or ignores problems. US foreign policy under the leadership of Donald Trump will likely focus on rebalancing the economic interests of nations, which makes America’s massive trade deficit with China a focal point for Trump’s foreign policy.
Because Beijing’s aggressive foreign policy against its neighbors threatens US interests in the region and across the globe, China must also be a focal point of Trump’s policy foreign for security reasons. In comprehending and recognizing the threat China aggressive posses to America’s global interests, including the interests of US allies, it becomes clear that China is not the only threat. Where countries like North Korea represent an ever-present danger, Russia’s domineering military and foreign policy stance against Western allies and neighboring states under the leadership of Vladimir Putin is a major problem that cannot be overlooked. To understand the threat of China is to understand the threat of Russia and vice versa.
Comments
China will likely take priority in US foreign policy under the leadership of Donald Trump, yet the need to confront and resolve conflicting interests between China and the United States, including the shared interests of US allies, does not negate the need to address lesser priorities. Where US efforts to balance Chinese aggression help strengthen ties with nations that are threatened by China’s aggressive policies, these actions also undermine America’s ability to work with Beijing to address the shared threat of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. With that in mind, one must talk about American policies toward North Korea in order to properly engage China.
Under the self-serving leadership of Kim Jong-Un’s father, North Korea’s rogue behavior was predictable and easily satiated, but Kim Jong-Un is a man who seeks to prove himself as a great leader and demonstrate the greatness of his country, which means war continually grows more likely. From Clinton to Obama, the US and its allies have tried to address North Korea’s nuclear ambitions through cycles of engagement and disengagement. Not only have US efforts failed to prevent the nuclearization of North Korea, the North has used the process to solicit billions in foreign aid. In other words, the US has no real options outside of bombing the North or relying on others to force a diplomatic resolution. Donald Trump has made it clear that he sees China as one of the biggest threats to the US economy in his campaign against the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Where Mr. Trump faces criticism for the praise he has shown Russian President Vladimir Putin, he has been more than willing to condemn Chinese leadership. He has even gone so far as to speak with the President of Taiwan, officially the Republic of China. This is a sensitive issue for the People’s Republic of China, because Taiwan hosts the pre-Communist government of the mainland, which Beijing fears could raise questions about its legitimacy and foment civil unrest.
The incoming US President appears to prioritize the threat of Chinese aggression above the threat of the Islamic States and Russian dominance. Although the South China Sea Crisis and East China Sea Crisis demanded a US response and President Obama long wanted to prioritize Asia in his foreign policy, which was made evident by his push for TPP, the Arab Spring Revolutions, the Islamic State threat, and the Ukraine Crisis prevented President Obama from pivoting away from the Middle East and Russia. Where Obama failed to free himself from the foreign policy priorities that he inherited from his predecessors, Mr. Trump will immediately define his foreign policy by Asia. The following was written by Guest Writer Yasir Mohamed and does not reflect the views of The Washington Outsider or its staff.
Yasir Mohamed is a mental health clinician from Lancaster, PA. He has a Master's in Clinical Psychology. He is originally from India and came to the US 6 years ago. He is a Muslim by faith and writes on religion, social issues and politics, besides his counseling profession. I am neither Democrat nor Republican while I dislike neither party. I am a legal immigrant, not even a citizen yet. I see that the average American voter, in many ways, is a tribal one. People’s political affiliations are not always based on ideological points but on their ethnicities and those whom they grew up and associate with. If social connection is the central feature that informs your vote, what is the point in raising ideological discussions? Yes, there are many who will go outside of their social comfort zone and vote for a candidate whom they think are overall suitable despite their specific disagreements, but such complex thinking is not affordable to all. To shed light on our thought processes and make sense of some layers of craziness in this election is this article’s purpose. It is time to look forward and we should be willing to work towards common goals, individual rights and standing up for each other. To that end, let us reflect on 10 good things that came out of Trump. |
Read old posts
April 2020
|