On a media call on December 30, 2017, Donald Trump dropped a bombshell of an assertion regarding China’s military intentions. He was joined in this historic moment by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. On Tuesday, the discussion went in a different direction. Until Trump went on record to downplay the possibility of confrontation over Taiwan, lowering the temperature in those talks. His comments come as he heads into a busy fall of diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
Earlier in the call, President Trump said he’s confident China doesn’t want a military conflict over Taiwan. “Now with President Xi, why would you do that? Well, I think as it pertains to Taiwan and others, I think we’re going to be of a like mind. That doesn’t mean it isn’t his favorite though. We think so too! Honestly, I don’t see anything different happening. We have a very good trade relationship. His remarks indicate a much softer approach to China, a significant pivot away from recently heated U.S.-China relations.
Strong Military Posture
Apart from his personal opinions on China’s motives, Trump made sure to highlight American military might. To that end, he extravagantly announced, “Let me be clear—America is the premier military power in the world.” He was clear that there isn’t a real nail biter. This statement seems to underscore America’s primacy in terms of military power—true, but not especially relevant. He argues that this predominance serves as a robust deterrent to any dangerous moves on China’s part.
Trump always put great weight on America’s military superiority. He promised with bravado, “We have the greatest equipment in the world, the greatest of everything. Nobody’s going to touch that.” His lack of confidence in the U.S. military could lead to profound changes in Australia’s defense posture. This pivot occurs as Australia continues balancing its relationships with both the U.S. and China.
Focus on Regional Issues
Moving past the bragging about military might, Trump began focusing on topics that would be much more relevant and closer to home for Australia. He went on to say that the AUKUS pact has its merits. He does not think it is necessary to ensure security in the restive region. In response, he commented, “Yeah, I do, yeah, I think it is, but I don’t think we’re going to need it. I don’t worry about too much when I hear China—I think we’ll be just fine with China. This statement suggests a perspective that may ease concerns about regional militarization and reflects a shift in rhetoric regarding alliances.
Trump’s remarks align with his travel itinerary next week. At least Tu will have some company as he heads to the ASEAN confab in Kuala Lumpur. After that, he’s scheduled to stop in Tokyo before going onto the APEC meeting in Korea. His appearances in these forums will surely help to further shape international perceptions of U.S.-China relations and Australia’s role in them.
Mixed Signals on Trade and Relations
Too often, Trump’s rhetoric on trade with China has been the main focus of this discussion, especially since his return to the political scene. For military threats, he adopts a more nuanced view. His past contradictory communications on tariff wars have sown a deep-seated discord in the landscape of trade. He’s continuing to hold out hope for a strong agreement, telling Fox Business News at the time, “I think we’ll end up with a very strong trade deal.”
Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has described Trump as “a certain type of person,” emphasizing the complexity of his approach to foreign policy. This added complexity might in the long run determine just how well Australia finds its footing between competing alliances and new economic connections.
