Welcome to the 251st edition of Trade War.
Trump could visit Beijing as early as next month, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. Montana Senator Steve Daines tries to get appointed as special envoy for China. And what’s the likelihood of a US-China trade deal?
Tesla could benefit from Trump tariffs as other EV companies get hurt. But BYD is beating Tesla on price around the world.
As the likelihood of global trade wars grows, China is preparing with a renewed push for food self sufficiency. No hint of economic concessions emerge from just-closed Two Sessions. Panama Canal ports sale to BlackRock is a “betrayal of the Chinese people,” says an angry Beijing. And China dwarfs Japan, South Korea and the US in ship-building, both commercial and military.
Notable/In depth ~
China targets the Indian Ocean as new sphere of influence
Can Beijing step into the void as US pulls back on global aid?
China’s statistics paradox: while its economic numbers improve, Beijing hides more sensitive data
Another massive own goal by the Trump administration
The Trump administration has announced the closure of the Voice of America and its affiliates including Radio Free Asia, another enormous own goal by the Trump administration and gift to authoritarian nations around the world.
I have done dozens of interviews with journalists from the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia over the years and I have always been impressed by the caliber of their reporting and how they have brought attention to under covered stories on the Chinese economy, politics, social issues and critically, human rights, including abuses affecting the Muslim Uyghurs, Tibetans, inner Mongolians and the people of Hong Kong.
I am deeply disappointed by this misguided decision which no doubt is warmly welcomed by the many Chinese officials who have long despised the VOA and RFA for reporting stories that they preferred were left uncovered.
“The termination of RFA’s grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space,” said RFA president Bay Fang Saturday, noting that her organization plans to “challenge the short-sighted order and pursue whatever means necessary to continue our work and protect our courageous journalists.” See her full statement here.
And here is the White House announcement on Friday on the closure of VOA’s parent agency the United States Agency for Global Media, as well as the shuttering of other worthwhile institutions.
Is Trump bound for Beijing?
Even as a trade war appears to be brewing between the U.S. and China, Trump is still hoping to visit Beijing soon, according to a report by the South China Morning Post, citing multiple diplomatic sources.
Trump has said he wants to travel to China in his first 100 days in office, which would require him to visit by late April. According to a Washington-based American source, Trump would likely visit China in April or May.
“Especially for Xi, if Trump visits China after the Two Sessions, it will be an important diplomatic victory,” a separate source told the Hong Kong-based paper.
Trump last visited in 2017 during his first presidency where Beijing hosted him at an extravagant dinner in the Forbidden City. “It was a red carpet like I think probably nobody has ever received,” Trump crowed later.
MT Senator Daines aims for China envoy role
Montana Senator Steve Daines is angling to get appointed by Trump as a special envoy for China, to help in securing a summit between the U.S. president and China’s Xi Jinping.
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