Opinion | The US is fixated on ‘beating China’. It needs to stop beating itself

Name: Trump justifies ‘China tariffs’ as US effort to curb ‘greatest job theft in the world’
Uploaded: 2025-05-02T01:00:13.000Z
Duration: 1 min
Description: Trump justifies ‘China tariffs’ as US effort to curb ‘greatest job theft in the world’

A bill introduced five years ago epitomises the emotion, chaos and inconsistency with which Washington approaches its ‘China anxiety’

Reading Time:3 minutes

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Even Donald Trump’s closest associates have struggled to agree on or articulate a coherent purpose, goal or strategy to prevail in the global tariff war. Photo: AP

Chow Chung-yan

Published: 9:00am, 2 May 2025

From Sun Tzu to Carl von Clausewitz, strategists have long emphasised that the key to winning a war lies in the clear alignment of purpose, goal and means, coupled with a deep understanding of the adversary.

Without these, a stronger opponent will inevitably lose to a weaker foe who possesses them. This is the immutable law of war.

A month into Donald Trump’s global tariff war, even the president’s closest associates have struggled to agree on or articulate a coherent purpose, goal or strategy for Washington to prevail in the conflict. This does not appear to be a fog-of-war tactic but rather a genuine lack of direction.

Trump’s political opponents have been quick to criticise his chaotic approach. But the reality is that while Trump may represent an extreme, he is not the only one guilty of fuzzy thinking when it comes to addressing China.

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Trump justifies ‘China tariffs’ as US effort to curb ‘greatest job theft in the world’

In 2020, while Trump was still in political exile, the Democrats introduced a bill initially coded H.R. 6690 and later revised to H.R. 947. On the surface, the bill aimed to promote trade and consumer protection between the US, Canada and Mexico.

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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A bill introduced five years ago epitomises the emotion, chaos and inconsistency with which Washington approaches its ‘China anxiety’

A bill introduced five years ago epitomises the emotion, chaos and inconsistency with which Washington approaches its ‘China anxiety’