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In upending global trade, Trump had done more to help Xi Jinping make China the world’s preeminent superpower ‘than any other living human being’, Professor Steve Tsang told the Mail’s new ‘Apocalypse Now?’ podcast.In conversation with special correspondent David Patrikarakos, Professor Tsang argued that the reputational harm done to America by Trump will likely push former allies into China’s arms.Professor Tsang is director of SOAS university’s China Institute: born in British Hong Kong, he is an expert in the politics and governance of the world’s second biggest economy.Trump’s trade war with China escalated on Wednesday, with America’s effective tariff rate against the nation now standing at a record 125%.Xi Jinping responded by taking China’s tariffs on American imports to 84%, with Professor Tsang arguing that this global ‘game of chicken’ will harm the US more in the long run.’On a human level, both sides will pay a huge economic price for this’, Tsang said. Listen to new politics podcast – Apocalypse Now?’ wherever you get your podcasts. Listen now Professor Steve Tsang: ‘Donald Trump has done more than any other living being in making China great again.’ Listen here’But the Americans have been spectacularly effective in undermining everything positive that the United States has represented since the Second World War.’Xi Jinping’s global strategy has been to undermine the liberal international order, to capture it from within and turn it into something more China friendly.’Donald Trump has just taken the single most effective step to further Xi’s long-term objectives – so from Beijing’s perspective, while this trade war is bad, the overall outcome is much more beneficial for China.’Xi Jinping would like to make China great again and Donald Trump has just done more than any other living being in making China great again.’While upping the ante with China, Trump eased global stock markets by ordering a ninety day pause over tariff hikes on other nations.Professor Tsang noted however that if Trump’s strategy is to replace China in America’s supply chain with other more friendly alternatives, it will prove a mammoth undertaking.’The direction of travel we’re talking about here is a hard economic decoupling: the two economies [America and China] have been very complimentary in the past.’Both are heavily reliant on the other for critical supplies of different types. The critical minerals that the United States needs for certain industries will not be provided. The high-tech items China needs for its own economy will also not be delivered.’This will have a severe impact on both nations and other countries do not have anywhere near enough of these resources to compensate for the disruption.’ Professor Tsang is director of SOAS university’s China Institute: born in British Hong Kong , he is an expert in the politics of the world’s second biggest economy. Listen here Professor Steve Tsang: ‘From Beijing’s perspective, while this trade war is bad, the overall outcome is much more beneficial for China’ Listen here Trump eased global stock markets by ordering a ninety day pause over tariff hikes on other nationsHost Patrikarakos asked Tsang whether this trade war could be a prelude to a full-blown war, an assertion the Professor dismissed.’While there is always a risk when you are dealing with two very powerful countries who are governed by individual leaders who say they have right on their side’, Tsang said.’The risk of a hot war is very slight. The US, for all Trump’s talk of imperialism, does not have the capacity to invade China.’For Xi Jinping, his foremost priority is to stay in power and to keep the communist party in power. Going to war with the US puts that at risk.’For that reason, I don’t see Trump or Xi wanting to get into a hot war situation, not at least in the foreseeable future.’Apocalypse Now? is a brand-new weekly global news podcast hosted by the Daily Mail’s special correspondent and best-selling author David Patrikarakos.Every episode promises a panel of guests who are on the frontline of the geopolitical world as it threatens to spin off its axis.Each week, listeners can expect informed analysis, discussion, and on-the-ground reporting about the most influential diplomatic flashpoints.From President Trump rewriting American foreign policy at will and war in Europe, to hostilities in the Middle East and the resurgence of Isis – has world order ever felt so uncertain? You can listen to ‘Apocalypse Now?’ wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Thursday.
