RuiThinking: Is Trump the undoing of America?

World
Europe

US President Trump is alienating and alarming everyone, friends and foes.

He pursues a policy of anything but Obama. He has changed the US and even the world with tweets.

So, where does the US stand in a process of de-globalization?

In less than ten months, the Trump administration has pulled out of the TPP and the Paris climate accord. He also threatens to withdraw from a number of agreements including NAFTA, NATO, the Iran nuclear deal, and even Taiwan could be part of his transactional business.

America’s longtime allies and partners are facing a new and unpredictable reality, and velocity of changes is getting too fast - what will happen to the US-led world order?

What worries me the most is that Trump is not alone in the campaign of protectionism. Victory of conservative and far-right parties has become the new normal in Europe’s election year. Economic adversity fuels the growing populist sentiments across the whole world.

Now, many would ask is Trump the only one to blame?

He is seeking to externally bypass the current multilateral institutions and internally reject the establishment - he does not bother to reform it but overhaul it through rejection.

However, America is not ready for a revolution. His bossy and subversive style of administration does not look presidential. He has a lot to catch up on.

While Trump’s “America First” policies and anti-free trade positions have sent a clear message to the rest of the world that it is his way or the highway, China has offered a more inclusive solution.

As President Xi put it, “Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean you cannot escape.”

So the question for now is, does China have what it takes to lead?

Many Chinese would say not yet, and that we are still trying our best to avoid two pitfalls: The middle-income trap at home and Thucydides’ Trap internationally.

But one thing is for sure, when Donald Trump hands China a gift by disengaging America from the rest of the world, we should grab the opportunity and quietly manage our own business.

I am not sure the US century is over. But multiple challenges arise from a multi-power center world. We look forward to President Trump's official visit to China on November 8.

(Yang Rui is the anchor of CGTN’s Dialogue)