‘Cold War’ in the Pacific: US-China Tensions Risk ‘Spiraling Out of Control’
SputnikNews.com
01.02.2017
Donald Trump appears to be allergic to the foreign policy rule book which previous US administrations employed to deal with Beijing, with Chinese leadership indicating that they are ready to play tough if needed. Analysts are concerned that the already complicated relationship between the two powers is likely to become increasingly strained.
“Under Trump, increasing tensions risk spiraling out of control and building up like an avalanche. This is the new quality of relations between the US and China,” Russian political analyst and military expert Vasily Kashin told Vzglyad.
The analyst added that Trump was correct in maintaining that Obama’s strategy in the Pacific was not sound, but warned that the current US president “does not always have the knowledge” necessary to understand the implications of his actions.
“It is evident that Trump tends to question fundamental truths which everyone has long agreed not to discuss,” he added, referring for instance to the “One China” policy.
The “One China” policy has been at the heart of the bilateral relationship since the 1970s when Washington cut formal ties with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with Beijing. President Trump’s phone conversation with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen marked a departure from this policy, angering Beijing. His criticism of China’s trade policies and activities in the South China Sea has also done little to alleviate tensions.
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