We will soon get a sense of just what sort of president Donald Trump will be, at least with regard to foreign policy. Trump is indicating certain policy changes for the USA are coming, and other countries are trotting out the usual counter measures that dissuaded president Obama from action. For example, Trump spoke to the president of Taiwan on the phone to indicate that he may not continue the phony "one China" policy of the USA. America trades with Taiwan and has treaty obligations to defend that land, but for the last forty years or so, the USA has followed the charade of having diplomatic relations only with Beijing. The seizure of an underwater drone yesterday by the Chinese navy was China's way of saying that recognition of Taiwan would cause big problems.
Another example can be seen in connection with Israel and the Palestinians. President Elect Trump is indicating that he will follow the law and move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the capital Jerusalem. It's hardly an earthshaking move, but the Palestinian Authority announced today that such a move by Trump would end any chance for peace in the Middle East.
It's interesting to look at the reaction by Obama to these two examples. When Trump spoke to the Taiwanese president Obama apologized to China. No doubt there will be some similar sort of response to the Palestinians. China, Russia, Iran, the Palestinians, and all manner of other countries and groups know that threats, both real and ridiculous, have caused Obama to back down on multiple occasions. These countries and groups are, no doubt, waiting to see if the old methods that so flummoxed Obama will have a similar result with Trump.
In my opinion, these countries and groups are going to be sorely disappointed. After all, each of these situations is actually just a negotiation. Will the Palestinians actually refuse to move toward peace once they realize that the USA will no longer put up with their threats? Will China actually go to war because the American president is speaking to the president of Taiwan? Remember, China did not object to America selling billions upon billions of dollars of weapons to Taiwan; a phone conversation hardly rises to even two percent of the importance of the weapons. The key is that President Elect Trump knows this. He also understands that both Russia and Iran will back away once they realize that threats and games will no longer move the USA.
Another example can be seen in connection with Israel and the Palestinians. President Elect Trump is indicating that he will follow the law and move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the capital Jerusalem. It's hardly an earthshaking move, but the Palestinian Authority announced today that such a move by Trump would end any chance for peace in the Middle East.
It's interesting to look at the reaction by Obama to these two examples. When Trump spoke to the Taiwanese president Obama apologized to China. No doubt there will be some similar sort of response to the Palestinians. China, Russia, Iran, the Palestinians, and all manner of other countries and groups know that threats, both real and ridiculous, have caused Obama to back down on multiple occasions. These countries and groups are, no doubt, waiting to see if the old methods that so flummoxed Obama will have a similar result with Trump.
In my opinion, these countries and groups are going to be sorely disappointed. After all, each of these situations is actually just a negotiation. Will the Palestinians actually refuse to move toward peace once they realize that the USA will no longer put up with their threats? Will China actually go to war because the American president is speaking to the president of Taiwan? Remember, China did not object to America selling billions upon billions of dollars of weapons to Taiwan; a phone conversation hardly rises to even two percent of the importance of the weapons. The key is that President Elect Trump knows this. He also understands that both Russia and Iran will back away once they realize that threats and games will no longer move the USA.
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