Sino File | On brink of a trade war with China, did Trump really need trigger-happy Bolton and Pompeo?

Donald Trump’s decision to tap two hardliners for key foreign policy posts comes at a particularly sensitive time for US-China relations as the nations appear to be on a collision course over anything and everything

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John Bolton has said American diplomacy with China has been too soft. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 11:00am, 8 Apr 2018Updated: 11:36am, 8 Apr 2018

If the established narrative from the international diplomatic corps that Donald Trump lacks the knowledge, experience and temperament to effectively manage America’s foreign policy is right, then the world should be worried over the recent reshuffle of the US president’s two top policy experts.

Trump’s appointment of John Bolton as national security adviser and his nomination of Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, as secretary of state seem to herald a more hardline and rightward shift in Trump’s foreign and security policies.

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The positions play a crucial role in American foreign policy. As national security adviser, Bolton will have the ear of the president on all security and foreign policy issues. He will also lead the National Security Council, which serves as the president’s principal arm for coordinating national security and foreign policies among various government agencies.

Mike Pompeo, America’s face to the world if confirmed by Congress. Photo: Reuters

If confirmed by Congress, Pompeo will be the principal adviser on foreign policy and serve as America’s face to the world as he carries out the president’s strategies through the state department.

The duo are not only widely seen as conservative firebrands and hardliners, they are also known for their China-bashing. Their elevations have triggered widespread concerns within US diplomatic circles that their approach goes against a long-established culture of American diplomacy. Bolton and Pompeo enter the administration at a particularly sensitive time for China-US relations as the world’s two most influential nations appear to be on a collision course over anything and everything. A trade war has been steadily building, not to mention growing tensions over Taiwan and escalating disputes on the South China and East China seas.

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