Here are a few thoughts on China and Trump foreign policy. I am not a China expert by any means. I merely posit these thoughts for your consideration.

My impression of Trump is that he views foreign policy through a prism of trade. He is convinced everyone has been treating us badly on trade. I don't think he has a coherent plan on trade, just a sense of victimhood. Beyond trade though, he doesn't seem to have any interest.

For instance, Trump doesn't seem to have any interest in international leadership, human rights, or other traditional foreign policy objectives.

There is an impression out there that free traders are only interested in trade. I can't speak for other free traders. But, I think this is largely because Trump has focused foreign policy so much on his trade annoyances, rather than other diplomatic matters.

I think Trumps tariffs have been misguided. But I would have supported economic sanctions against China for the Uighur re-education camps. I think much of the world would have rallied behind us. This would have been a more meaningful "battle" than arguing about trade deficits.

And if we were able to pressure China to improve the treatment of the Uighurs, we would have a win under our belts. It could be a model for future negotiations with China. (For instance, negotiations about illegal man-made islands).

Instead, we have weakened our alliances and punished China for general grievances, rather than specific abuses. This undermines our ability to use economic discipline effectively.

This means that we have fewer tools to respond to China when they are tempted to screw around with Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, etc.

The Chinese probably realize that we will do less to protect Hong Kongers militarily than we did to protext the Kurds. So, what's the disincentive to agression?

Just some musings.