Wu Guangqiang

    jw368@163.com

    A HERO shows no fear while a fool knows no fear. Is Donald Trump, U.S. president-elect, an intrepid hero who is attempting to revamp the old system and reshape the old world in defiance of outmoded conventions and protocols or just a narcissistic fool who, unaware of common sense in politics and diplomacy, treats a serious matter like playing a children’s game, acting on impulse and a sudden whim?

    In my opinion, a hero is out of the question, as a hero plays by the rule. A fool? Yes and no.

    What Trump has done recently has made him look like a rash and reckless fool.

    On Dec. 2, Trump surprised the world with his phone call with Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen, a impenetrable move that upended the practice of no official contact between incumbent leaders of the U.S. and Taiwan, part of China, since U.S. President Jimmy Carter adopted a one-China policy in 1979.

    Seemingly to show that his indiscreet remark was an intentional move to antagonize China rather than a slip of the tongue, in an interview broadcast on Dec. 10, Trump said the U.S. would not necessarily be bound by the one-China policy.

    What Trump said in defense of his phone call with Tsai made him even more foolish and arrogant.

    When lashing out at critics who accused him of acting irresponsibly toward the delicate diplomacy over the Taiwan issue, he raised such funny questions: “Did China ask us if it was OK to carry out a number of actions such as build up disputed islands in the South China Sea or take economic measures hurtful to the United States?”

    Is the businessman-turned president-elect really an illiterate in international relations, laws and history? If China needs American permission to build up on its own islands, should America ask for China’s go-ahead before it builds up Hawaii?

    I doubt his competency as the head of the United States. His lack of common sense could disgrace his nation and even places it in danger.

    But is Trump truly so dumb as he looks? Definitely not. He lacks experience, but is not stupid.

    He is taking advantage of the period before he takes office on Jan. 20, 2017, to test the wind, to gauge China’s bottom line and enhance his bargaining position in deals with China after he is sworn in.

    During his campaign for presidency, Trump sent out many confusing messages over U.S.-China relations, leaving a lot in uncertainty.

    He vowed to levy heavy duties on Chinese products and brand China a currency “manipulator,” which is understandable given his campaign slogan was “America first.”

    He said he would not start a third world war because of the disputes between China and other nations in the South China Sea region, implying that he would not bother to meddle in issues involving no or little American interests.

    What he has done afterwards, however, leaves the world puzzled.

    Whether we can respond correctly to Trump and his America depends on what his “America first” slogan means.

    Based on his opinions during his campaign, America first means making America great again by revitalizing the economy through such measures as tax relief, expanding public expenditures, increasing investment in infrastructure and military upgrades. But the implementation of these ambitious plans calls for an astronomical amount of money, something the U.S. lacks.

    To raise the funds, Trump figures that the most economical way is to lighten its heavy burden of acting as the world policeman. That’s why he pledged to make his European and Asian allies share the bulk of the military expenses.

    At the same time, he is smart enough to know that the best strategy to maintain American dominance at a lower cost is to incite conflicts and confrontations among other parties. Trump’s wishful thinking was to make Taiwan cannon fodder to contain China.

    It’s predictable that Trump will also try other tricks to make things difficult for China, very possibly, for example, by appeasing Russia and even siding with it.

    But however calculative Trump is, he can’t pick on China as he wishes. After all, China, as the world’s second-largest economy, has every means to counter back and devastate America if Trump dares to make any desperate moves.

    (The author is an English tutor and a freelance writer.)