Donald Trumps Nixon-Moment, der nicht da war

Thomas Wright: Last week in Beijing, Donald Trump “scrapped a policy that combined hardheaded diplomacy with action to protect U.S. interests and check Chinese power. In its place, he embraced the notion that a personal bond with Chinese leader Xi Jinping can ensure stability.

“Trump is getting away with this move politically. Geopolitically, he will not. His new stance imperils Americans and emboldens China, which makes a future crisis likelier than ever. …

“China announced that the two countries had agreed to establish a ‘constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.’ Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, framed the new concept as one of ‘respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns.’ Beijing is almost certainly suggesting, with this language, that it expects the U.S. to limit its competitive measures. Trump, for his part, announced modest trade deals on aircraft and agriculture.

“Were a Democratic president doing any of this, Republican hawks would be unsparing in their criticism. Cowed by Trump, they are largely silent. Trump’s shift raises deceptively simple questions that may define the coming China debate and even reshape American policy: Why are we competing with China at all? What’s wrong with a little peace and quiet?”

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