I think the trade war is the realization by many in the US that the goal of a more unipolar world with legal agreements hoping to ensure fair and open competition to benefit all parties has failed. Tariffs and more importantly rules are used to advantage one trading partner over another. It was always easier for the US to overlook smaller economies that used the US market to fund their economic growth. It is obvious that this approach or laissez faire does not make sense with larger economies or between economies that use trade in a win-lose strategy. The break up of globalism and it's institutions developed since the end of WWII is inevitable as populations, governments, and economies change. The swift and dramatic change advocated by the new US administration may have caught many by surprise, but history will likely be surprised that change did not occur sooner. Saving face, appealing to domestic populations, and negotiating in quiet is preferable to bombastic media releases that emphasize who wins and loses. The world can still remain a better and safer place with countries that share win-win commerce.
The “cringeworthy” video is nationalistic, but I wonder why you feel it is cringeworthy. In Australia, “cultural cringe” refers to the tendency to look up to British-American culture, while feeling embarrassed about Australian culture.
I get where Robert is coming from and share the same sentiment. The more a country feels the need to repeatedly declare, "We will not kneel," the more it inadvertently reinforces an image of weakness. Kneeling, by definition, implies an unequal relationship, that may have been true 50+ years ago, but not today. China is on par with the US, if not already surpassing it in many aspects. Framing the relationship as one of submission not only misrepresents reality but also forces China into a defensive position of its own making. It's counterproductive and strategically unsound. Very unthoughtful move, The intern needs to be put on a performance plan.
Thanks for explaining the cringe! Warwick Powell on Substack has been analysing this from a game theoretical perspective, and it seems China’s strategy involves making it absolutely clear to the US that China will not “bend the knee”. So maybe the video was intended to send that message loud and clear. The Trump administration people are not the brightest (unfortunately).
I think the trade war is the realization by many in the US that the goal of a more unipolar world with legal agreements hoping to ensure fair and open competition to benefit all parties has failed. Tariffs and more importantly rules are used to advantage one trading partner over another. It was always easier for the US to overlook smaller economies that used the US market to fund their economic growth. It is obvious that this approach or laissez faire does not make sense with larger economies or between economies that use trade in a win-lose strategy. The break up of globalism and it's institutions developed since the end of WWII is inevitable as populations, governments, and economies change. The swift and dramatic change advocated by the new US administration may have caught many by surprise, but history will likely be surprised that change did not occur sooner. Saving face, appealing to domestic populations, and negotiating in quiet is preferable to bombastic media releases that emphasize who wins and loses. The world can still remain a better and safer place with countries that share win-win commerce.
It was always the intern.
The “cringeworthy” video is nationalistic, but I wonder why you feel it is cringeworthy. In Australia, “cultural cringe” refers to the tendency to look up to British-American culture, while feeling embarrassed about Australian culture.
Might you be suffering from “cultural cringe”?😬
I get where Robert is coming from and share the same sentiment. The more a country feels the need to repeatedly declare, "We will not kneel," the more it inadvertently reinforces an image of weakness. Kneeling, by definition, implies an unequal relationship, that may have been true 50+ years ago, but not today. China is on par with the US, if not already surpassing it in many aspects. Framing the relationship as one of submission not only misrepresents reality but also forces China into a defensive position of its own making. It's counterproductive and strategically unsound. Very unthoughtful move, The intern needs to be put on a performance plan.
Thanks for explaining the cringe! Warwick Powell on Substack has been analysing this from a game theoretical perspective, and it seems China’s strategy involves making it absolutely clear to the US that China will not “bend the knee”. So maybe the video was intended to send that message loud and clear. The Trump administration people are not the brightest (unfortunately).