Is Trump 2.0 Going Soft On China?

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – Trump left Washington four years ago touting a revolutionary new consensus on the threat posed by China. He returned this week seeming to downplay that threat— signaling a potential thaw in relations.

I HOPE NOT!

Among the issues Trump has softened on—banning TikTok, much lower tariffs being threatened. Trump held a phone call with Xi just days before the inauguration. Beijing’s readout of the call was exceedingly warm, with state media declaring the two superpowers “can become partners and friends …”

Some experts believe Elon Musk could be a moderating influence on Trump’s approach to China. Tesla has a factory in Shanghai and gets about 37% of its sales from China.

How Trump deals with China’s Xi Jinping over the next four years will have sweeping implications for the global economy, AI, climate change, national security and more.

Still, Trump’s Cabinet is stocked with China hawks like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

Few experts view Trump’s first week as a full retreat from his previous policy views. ‘Are we going to be back to sunshine and puppies?’, the answer is definitely not.”

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Pentagon orders global pause on all official social media accounts, with an exception for posts related to US military operations at the US-Mexico border.

ET – COME HOME! Pentagon to launch new study focused on non-terrestrial networks and protocols.

Trump to close Pentagon office responsible for preventing civilian battlefield deaths, suggesting that incoming Pentagon leaders may loosen restrictions on US military operations.

HOMELAND SECURITY

US active-duty troops beginning to arrive in Texas and San Diego to support border security, in what should be the first batch of much larger forces being deployed.

DOD eyes tactical drones to accompany troops Trump is surging to the border.

THIS WILL GO TO SUPREME COURT – Judge calls Trump’s executive order that aims to end birthright citizenship ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ and issued a temporary restraining order to block it.

How does Birthright citizenship in the US compare to the rest of the world?

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

Army and Air Force sweep out DEI-coded programs, including offices, programs, committees and even press releases posted on websites that relate to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. But the process will not be completed overnight.

Air Force groups that advocated for beard policies, women, minorities and LGBTQ+ service members have been dismantled.

POLITICS

More than 300k VA health jobs exempted from Trump hiring freeze, labeled as essential to public health and department operations.

Senate confirms Trump loyalist John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, the nation’s most powerful intelligence service. Ratcliffe received broad bipartisan support.

The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite objections from Democrats.

Trump signed an executive order to release files related to the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Trump pardons anti-abortion activists who blockaded clinic entrances.

US POWER OVERSEAS

US air force looks to upgrade premier Cyprus airbase as humanitarian staging post for future operations in the Middle East.

IRAN THREAT/MIDDLE EAST

How the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal will unfold — and why it is so precarious. Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza, the first hostages have been released, and many Palestinians have returned to what remains of their homes.

A private American security company will take over a key checkpoint on the road to northern Gaza in the coming days as Israeli forces withdraw.

The roll back of Iran’s gray zone strategy. Shia Iran is in retreat. Its air and ground lines of supply to Lebanon now go through Sunni-dominated Syria, where the Assad regime recently crumbled. Lebanon’s Hezbollah is the weakest it has been in a long time. One high-ranking Iranian commander says: “We lost, we badly lost.”

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

NATO chief says Russian victory over Ukraine would undermine the dissuasive force of the world’s biggest military alliance and that its credibility could cost trillions to restore.

NATO members should dramatically increase their defense spending from the current 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent, Trump said. But even a smaller increase could help Ukraine, and benefit U.S. arms makers.

A Russian spy ship was tracked passing through British waters this week amid growing concern over the secureness of undersea communication cables.

Japanese fighter scrambles against Russian threats on the rise, as others decline.

Ukraine is drafting recruitment reforms to attract 18- to 25-year-olds who are currently exempt from mobilization as it looks for ways to bolster its fighting force.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

Trump hints at new talks with Kim Jong-un. It might be harder this time. North Korea’s leader has grown more assertive since their last efforts at diplomacy and now has Russia at his side.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Trump urges Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries to slash oil prices and doubled down on his threat to use tariffs.

What does Trump 2.0 offer to Africa? As the world shifts into gear for the next Trump term, striking new polling results have revealed a split in opinion about the new president.

African healthcare at a crossroads after US pulls WHO funding. The move could have serious consequences across the continent, but it could also push African nations to take greater control of their health systems.

US MILITARY

This icebreaker has design problems and a history of failure. It’s America’s latest military vessel. The Aiviq is a gas guzzler with a troubled history. Its propulsion system is prone to failure in ice. Its waste and discharge systems don’t meet polar code, its helicopter pad is in wrong place, and its rear deck is easily swamped by big waves.

101st Airborne promises to revolutionize US operations with in-house drone production in anticipation of future battlefields.

Why the US Navy wants to build a fully autonomous satellite designed to identify objects in space.

Navy must meet recruiting goal for 3 years straight to close current gaps at sea.

Fixing the Air Force’s chronic combat pilot shortage.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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