Harder on Russia and softer on China, Trump's views evolving

Washington: Once soft on Russia and hard on China, President Donald Trump rapidly reversed course in the last weeks, concluding there's more business to be done with Beijing than with Moscow, reports AP.
Trump's evolving views on those two world powers have brought the U.S. back into alignment with former President Barack Obama's pattern of "great power" politics. Though Russia critics welcomed Trump's newly hardened tone, there's less enthusiasm from America's allies in Asia, who fear the U.S. could overlook China's more aggressive posture toward its neighbors.
It may be that Trump, the businessman-turned-world leader, is discovering China's transactional approach to foreign relations is better suited to achieving his own goals. Chinese leaders have sought a U.S. relationship based on the two powers respecting each other's spheres of influence and not intervening in one another's internal affairs.
Such a balance-of-powers approach had been Russia's traditional stance. Moscow still wants Washington out of its backyard, but Russia's alleged campaigns to influence the U.S. presidential election and upcoming votes in the heart of Western Europe have made it harder for American officials to take the offer seriously. Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and Trump's newfound commitment to militarily countering any chemical weapons attacks also is proving hard to square.
Also, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin's shared tendency toward nationalist, "don't-mess-with-us" rhetoric may be putting the pair on a collision course.
The sudden U-turn has been head-snapping for people around the world, despite Trump's self-professed penchant for unpredictability and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances.
As the Republican presidential nominee, Trump praised Putin repeatedly as a strong, "very smart" leader. Trump dismissed America's Russia hawks as "stupid people or fools" and predicted under his leadership that the Cold War foes would "work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the world."
Trump's gestures to Moscow even fueled perceptions that his campaign and Russia were colluding to help him get elected - a possibility the FBI is now investigating.
"Frankly, if we got along with Russia and knocked out ISIS, that would be a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump told a radio host in October, citing his still unrealized goal to have both countries cooperate to defeat the Islamic State group.
This past week, it was the opposite message, as the U.S. and Russia feuded about Syria.
"We're not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said. "We may be at an all-time low."
Trump's declaration came at a joint news conference with the leader of NATO, an alliance established as a Cold War bulwark against the Soviet Union. Trump had dismissed NATO as "obsolete," but now says it is "no longer obsolete."
As he shifts away from Russia, Trump is offering an outstretched hand to China. Trump recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Trump's Florida resort, and on Thursday hailed Xi as a "terrific person" and a "very special man."
For years Trump said that China was "eating our lunch," and he peppered his campaign rallies with promises to label China a currency manipulator as one of his first acts. He even threatened to start a trade war, arguing that China's trade surplus was the reason for America's economic woes.

Harder on Russia and softer on China, Trumps views evolving

Washington: Once soft on Russia and hard on China, President Donald Trump rapidly reversed course in the last weeks, concluding theres more business to be done with Beijing than with Moscow, reports AP. Trumps evolving views on those two world powers have brought the U.S. back into alignment with former President Barack Obamas pattern of great power politics. Though Russia critics welcomed Trumps newly hardened tone, theres less enthusiasm from Americas allies in Asia, who fear the U.S. could overlook Chinas more aggressive posture toward its neighbors. It may be that Trump, the businessman-turned-world leader, is discovering Chinas transactional approach to foreign relations is better suited to achieving his own goals. Chinese leaders have sought a U.S. relationship based on the two powers respecting each others spheres of influence and not intervening in one anothers internal affairs. Such a balance-of-powers approach had been Russias traditional stance. Moscow still wants Washington out of its backyard, but Russias alleged campaigns to influence the U.S. presidential election and upcoming votes in the heart of Western Europe have made it harder for American officials to take the offer seriously. Russias support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and Trumps newfound commitment to militarily countering any chemical weapons attacks also is proving hard to square. Also, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putins shared tendency toward nationalist, dont-mess-with-us rhetoric may be putting the pair on a collision course. The sudden U-turn has been head-snapping for people around the world, despite Trumps self-professed penchant for unpredictability and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. As the Republican presidential nominee, Trump praised Putin repeatedly as a strong, very smart leader. Trump dismissed Americas Russia hawks as stupid people or fools and predicted under his leadership that the Cold War foes would work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the world. Trumps gestures to Moscow even fueled perceptions that his campaign and Russia were colluding to help him get elected - a possibility the FBI is now investigating. Frankly, if we got along with Russia and knocked out ISIS, that would be a good thing, not a bad thing, Trump told a radio host in October, citing his still unrealized goal to have both countries cooperate to defeat the Islamic State group. This past week, it was the opposite message, as the U.S. and Russia feuded about Syria. Were not getting along with Russia at all, Trump said. We may be at an all-time low. Trumps declaration came at a joint news conference with the leader of NATO, an alliance established as a Cold War bulwark against the Soviet Union. Trump had dismissed NATO as obsolete, but now says it is no longer obsolete. As he shifts away from Russia, Trump is offering an outstretched hand to China. Trump recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Trumps Florida resort, and on Thursday hailed Xi as a terrific person and a very special man. For years Trump said that China was eating our lunch, and he peppered his campaign rallies with promises to label China a currency manipulator as one of his first acts. He even threatened to start a trade war, arguing that Chinas trade surplus was the reason for Americas economic woes.