The harm caused by Donald Trump to the United States’ international image is understood to be benefiting China, particularly with regards to Taiwan, according to a retired senior colonel from the Chinese military. Speaking to The Guardian in Beijing, Zhou Bo stated that Trump is damaging the US’s reputation more than any of his predecessors combined. By the end of his presidential term, Zhou anticipates that the global perception of America will be even more tarnished. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s population is reportedly aware of America’s decline, which could affect their perception of China.
In 2024, Trump suggested that Taiwan should cover the costs of its defense aid from the US, despite already investing billions in US armaments. The Taiwanese government is reportedly planning additional multibillion-dollar arms purchases, potentially to garner favor with the Trump administration. Ex-Colonel Zhou questioned the confidence of Taiwanese authorities in the US, especially given the unpredictable nature of the Trump administration’s policy. “How confident would the Taiwanese be with the United States, particularly with the Trump administration?” Zhu posited, suggesting that the Taiwanese may eventually reconsider their alignment, thinking that being part of the world’s leading power might have its advantages.
Zhou Bo, retired from military service in 2020 after over four decades, is now a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy. He published a collection of essays in March 2024 titled “Should the World Fear China?” which addresses themes such as the management of US-China relations and China’s perspective on securing its national interests. The relationship between the US and China is notably tense, with Updated concerns at stake regarding Taiwan. China sees the self-governing island as part of its territory and has threatened force if necessary to unify it. The recent election in Taiwan reaffirmed a pro-sovereignty stance.
The US, while not formally recognizing Taiwan, is its main security backer. However, Trump’s stance on Taiwan has been ambiguous, despite his entourage’s opposition to China’s assertions over the island. The US State Department recently removed a statement from its Taiwan fact sheet asserting opposition to Taiwan independence, a decision which irked Beijing.
Zhou stated that the fate of Taiwan is not solely the decision of its inhabitants, considering China’s massive population in contrast to Taiwan’s modest population of 23 million. Regardless of this tension over Taiwan, Zhou perceives Trump’s overall demeanor toward China as relatively amicable, despite Trump’s initial threats of high tariffs on China, which ultimately were much lower. Recent commentary on China from Trump has been subdued, partly due to the US’s preoccupation with the situation in Ukraine.
During the early days of the Ukraine conflict, Western leaders urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his influence on Russia to help end the fighting. However, China, which has served as an economic lifeline to Russia, enabling the continuation of the conflict, declared that China-Russia ties are “unique” and not impacted by third parties.
Zhou maintains that China will be crucial in peace negotiations and could potentially contribute peacekeepers to Ukraine, together with non-NATO European countries and countries from the global south. This offer reflects a wider opinion in Chinese policy circles that China has faced undue criticism concerning its ties with Russia. Though China and Russia share a long, recently delineated border, Zhou describes their relationship as parallel rather than intertwined, framing it as strong yet non-aligned.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/02/america-is-going-down-china-can-capitalise-on-damage-caused-by-trump-former-pla-colonel-says
