Trump’s trip to China was a bust
Trump’s trip to China has been a bust, a fact clear from the opening remarks of both leaders. Trump resorted to cheap flattery, while Xi delivered a bracing warning to the US. Per a translation provided by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Xi said
The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations . . . If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy. . . [The question is] whether the two countries can transcend the ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new model for relations between major powers.
Xi’s reference to the Thucydides Trap invokes a theory by Harvard political scientist Graham Allison. The theory posits that when a rising power (e.g. China) threatens to displace an established ruling power (e.g. US), the resulting tension makes armed conflict likely. This is important because in just about every measure of power, the US is declining while China is rising.
In short, Xi issued a threat to the US in his opening remarks, as Trump groveled before Xi, proclaiming Xi to be a great leader, a nice guy, and his friend. Xi returned none of the compliments.
Trump lost all credibility with Xi when Trump backed down over tariffs after China threatened to cut-off the supply of China’s rare earth metals. And then Trump wasted a substantial amount of US firepower and staffing on an ill-fated war with Iran that has strengthened China’s hand.
Meanwhile, there’s this:
Admiral warns of cuts in Navy operations without supplemental Iran funding.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle testified to Congress,
“without supplemental funding for the U.S. war in Iran, he will have to implement cuts in training, routine operations and personnel by July.”
Caudle then said,
“The [fiscal 2026] budget didn’t bake in [Operation] Epic Fury. You see a large Navy force in the Middle East. So we’re burning bright … but it does come at cost, and it comes at operational costs.
“My record recruiting is going to be thwarted without additional funding . . . to pay enlistment and reenlistment bonuses.”
To be clear, these are dire predictions. Cutting personnel and training goes to the heart of the military’s mission. And we are in this situation because Trump and Hegseth do not understand the true costs of the war. With no path to peace or withdrawal, a long, costly deployment in the Middle East will degrade America’s military readiness until Trump finally loses all interest in his war against Iran and orders the military to invade another country.
Meanwhile, China is not wasting their money, people, and prestige in a useless, unnecessary way.