U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s views on China are often considered to be erratic and unpredictable. His first presidency led to a negative shift in China-U.S. relations. On the eve of his second presidency, Trump’s attitude remains hard to gauge. His current focus is still on the trade deficit, and he plans to impose high tariffs on Chinese goods if elected. On the other hand, he has refused to confirm that he would use U.S. military force to protect Taiwan in the event of a conflict, and in fact he has recently accused Taiwan of stealing U.S. jobs in the semiconductor industry.
With conflicting signals from Trump himself, do his picks for key national security positions offer more clarity?
During Trump’s second term in office, much about his approach to China will depend on his foreign policy advisers. Trump announced the picks for his national security team in mid-November. Precedent suggests that his nominees will most likely be confirmed by the Senate.
