The way President Donald Trump is dealing with China is smart and will pay off in the future, analyst Gordon Chang argues in a new column.
Writing for The National Interest, Chang made the case Trump placing increased pressure on China regarding trade and other matters will eventually lead to better relations between the two countries despite the friction that currently exists.
"The Trump administration is quickly reversing four decades of American thinking," Chang wrote. "Presidents from Nixon to Obama made the success of China's Communist Party a goal of U.S. policy.
"But Trump has not only eliminated that goal — his policies are either hostile to Beijing or indifferent to its interests — he is also disengaging from China altogether. And that is, despite concern, a good thing. Our relations with the Chinese state probably will be better, at least in the long run, with less — not more — contact."
The Trump administration is in the middle of a trade dispute with China as the president tries to even the global trading field. Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods with tariffs on American products.
Chang wrote Trump showing he is willing to disengage with China gives the communist country a bad feeling.
"That is a chilling message for an export-oriented economy," Chang wrote. "Trump understands, unlike his many predecessors, that sometimes you have to show your adversary you don't need or want them."
China is also flexing its military muscles in the form of building artificial islands in the South China Sea and shining lasers at U.S. military aircraft.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.