The military might of the People's Republic of China was on full display in a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two on Wednesday. Thousands of miles away, at the White House in Washington DC, Donald Trump was paying attention.
They were hoping I was watching, and I was watching, he said. The American president didn't detail his thoughts about the massive celebration sprawled across Tiananmen Square, except that it was very, very impressive. The message from China – to Trump and to the world - however, seems fairly clear: there is a new and growing centre of power in the world and a new alternative to the American-backed order of the past century.
Trump's remarks during a meeting included a mix of ambivalence, grievance, and concern about China's display of military power. In his typical, often circuitous manner, he conveyed that he was not too concerned about the Chinese parade in front of global leaders including Putin and Kim Jong Un.
Throughout the past week, the nationalistic sentiment from China and the demonstration of military strength raised eyebrows among U.S. policymakers who are keen on maintaining a U.S.-led international order. Trump's hard-line tariff policies appear to have prompted unexpected diplomatic ties among China, Russia, and India, suggesting that the international landscape may be rapidly shifting.
Indeed, the summit between Xi, Putin, and Modi showcased a burgeoning rapport, possibly in response to the economic strains caused by Trump's tariffs. Trump’s “America first” agenda could inadvertently unify nations previously at odds under the looming threat of expanding Chinese military prowess.
Despite Trump's efforts to protect U.S. industries through tariffs, it raises concerns that this strategy may be fraught with risks, as seen through recent judicial challenges to his tariffs. As history shows, Trump's approach reshapes both trade and international alliances, potentially leading the U.S. into uncharted territory.
While optimism for a second American golden age is present, the reality of the geopolitical shifts and the recalibrations of alliances calls for a consider of how Trump's policies might challenge traditional U.S. power and its global standing.
