Susan Rice: Trump Is Making China Great Again
Photo President Trump ’ s recently concluded trip to Asia had the potential to advance important American security and economic interests . Played correctly   his ambitious five - country   12 - day trip could have steadied his administration ’ s rocky start in this vital region . Instead   it left the United States more isolated and in retreat   handing leadership of the newly christened “ Indo - Pacific ” to China on a silver platter . The trip began with solid performances in Japan and Korea   where Mr . Trump ’ s relatively measured words left key allies reassured of the United States ’ commitment to their security . The president largely shelved his belligerent trade rhetoric   called for allies to buy more American military hardware and reopened the door to diplomacy with North Korea . Weather curtailed his surprise trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone   but that may have been a blessing   since hostile words might have prompted hostile action . But in China   the wheels began to come off his diplomatic bus . The Chinese leadership played President Trump like a fiddle   catering to his insatiable ego and substituting pomp and circumstance for substance . China always prefers to couch state visits in ceremony rather than compromise on policy . This approach seemed to suit President Trump just fine   as he welcomed a rote recitation of China ’ s longstanding rejection of a nuclear North Korea and failed to extract new concessions or promises . He also settled for the announcement of $ 250 billion in trade and investment agreements   many of which are nonbinding and   in the words of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson   “ pretty small .” Missing were firm deals to improve market access or reduce technology - sharing requirements for American companies seeking to do business in China . Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr .  Trump  showered President Xi Jinping of China with embarrassingly fawning accolades   calling  him  “ a very special man ” and stressing that “ my feeling towards you is an incredibly warm one .”  He  blamed  his  predecessors rather than China for our huge trade deficits and hailed Mr . Xi ’ s consolidation of authoritarian power . Such scenes of an American president kowtowing in China to a Chinese president sent chills down the spines of Asia experts and United States allies who have relied on America to balance and sometimes counter an increasingly assertive China . Their collective dismay was only heightened by Mr . Trump ’ s failure to mention publicly any concerns about the disputed South China Sea or even to insist that the American press be allowed to ask the leaders questions . Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Sign Up for the Opinion Today Newsletter Every weekday   get thought - provoking commentary from Op - Ed columnists   the Times editorial board and contributing writers from around the world . Please verify you ' re not a robot by clicking the box . You must select a newsletter to subscribe to . Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times ' s products and services . View all New York Times newsletters . According to Mr . Tillerson   these stunning displays of Trumpian affection for Mr . Xi were complemented by more concrete discussions behind closed doors . With the notable exception of climate change   the administration wisely seems to have committed to continue cooperation with China in several key areas . But intensive diplomacy in the run - up to these critical leader - level meetings could have yielded real results to advance mutual interests and bypass the Chinese penchant for show over substance . This time   it is unclear whether such diplomacy was undertaken   and the result is that no new policy ground appears to have been broken .
[TGT] s recently concluded trip to Asia had the potential to advance important American security and economic interests . Played correctly   his ambitious five - country   12 - day trip could have steadied his administration ’ s rocky start in this vital region . Instead   it left the United States more isolated and in retreat   handing leadership of the newly christened “ Indo - Pacific ” to China on a silver platter . The trip began with solid performances in Japan and Korea   where Mr . [TGT] s relatively measured words left key allies reassured of the United States ’ commitment to their security . [TGT] largely shelved [TGT] belligerent trade rhetoric   called for allies to buy more American military hardware and reopened the door to diplomacy with North Korea . Weather curtailed [TGT] surprise trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone   but that may have been a blessing   since hostile words might have prompted hostile action . But in China   the wheels began to come off [TGT] diplomatic bus . The Chinese leadership played [TGT] like a fiddle   catering to [TGT] insatiable ego and substituting pomp and circumstance for substance . China always prefers to couch state visits in ceremony rather than compromise on policy . This approach seemed to suit [TGT] just fine   as [TGT] welcomed a rote recitation of China ’ s longstanding rejection of a nuclear North Korea and failed to extract new concessions or promises . [TGT] also settled for the announcement of $ 250 billion in trade and investment agreements   many of which are nonbinding and   in the words of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson   “ pretty small .” Missing were firm deals to improve market access or reduce technology - sharing requirements for American companies seeking to do business in China . Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr .  [TGT]showered President Xi Jinping of China with embarrassingly fawning accolades   calling  [TGT]  “ a very special man ” and stressing that “ my feeling towards you is an incredibly warm one .”  [TGT]  blamed  [TGT]  predecessors rather than China for our huge trade deficits and hailed Mr . Xi ’ s consolidation of authoritarian power . Such scenes of an American president kowtowing in China to a Chinese president sent chills down the spines of Asia experts and United States allies who have relied on America to balance and sometimes counter an increasingly assertive China . Their collective dismay was only heightened by Mr . [TGT] s failure to mention publicly any concerns about the disputed South China Sea or even to insist that the American press be allowed to ask the leaders questions . Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Sign Up for the Opinion Today Newsletter Every weekday   get thought - provoking commentary from Op - Ed columnists   the Times editorial board and contributing writers from around the world . Please verify you ' re not a robot by clicking the box . You must select a newsletter to subscribe to . Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times ' s products and services . View all New York Times newsletters . According to Mr . Tillerson   these stunning displays of Trumpian affection for Mr . Xi were complemented by more concrete discussions behind closed doors . With the notable exception of climate change   the administration wisely seems to have committed to continue cooperation with China in several key areas . But intensive diplomacy in the run - up to these critical leader - level meetings could have yielded real results to advance mutual interests and bypass the Chinese penchant for show over substance . This time   it is unclear whether such diplomacy was undertaken   and the result is that no new policy ground appears to have been broken .