Trump reportedly caves in on One China policy

[ringpriest]

"Trump tells Chinese president US will honor 'one China' policy"

"President Donald Trump told China President Xi Jinping the U.S. would honor the “one China” policy months after Trump suggested he might use American policy on Taiwan as a bargaining chip between the two sides.

Trump “agreed at the request of President Xi,” to honor the policy, the White House said in a statement late Thursday."

Trump owes the Bank of China (owned by the government of the PRC), "hundreds of millions of dollars". Of course, if there's anything the last year has demonstrated, it's how muchlittle Trump's word is worth.

[Underverse]

Oh look, Trump's financial interests are altering his judgement again. There's a surprise.

[Wyrt]

Sure would be nice to see his tax returns.

[Deletedaccount1]

There's never been a US president who hasn't been in favor of the One China policy, was it because they all personally owed money to the Chinese government?

[NED funded]

The hundreds of millions part seems unnecessary, specially coming from a hardcore Russophile.
Also, yeah Trump is obeying basic foreign policy; we should totally condemn him for it.

[Macaquerie]

The hundreds of millions part seems unnecessary, specially coming from a hardcore Russophile.
Also, yeah Trump is obeying basic foreign policy; we should totally condemn him for it.

Taking a tough stance and then backing down, which everyone knew he would eventually have to do, is much worse than just talking a calm stance from the get go. Master negotiator Trump should obviously know this.

[Garnier Fructis]

Good.

Thank God.

[Dextroden]

Taking a tough stance and then backing down, which everyone knew he would eventually have to do, is much worse than just talking a calm stance from the get go. Master negotiator Trump should obviously know this.

It also looks stupid to demand he switch from his stupid positions and then mocking him for switching.

[Underverse]

There's never been a US president who hasn't been in favor of the One China policy, was it because they all personally owed money to the Chinese government?

Let's think about this, shall we?

>Trump says he is against the one China policy
>Trump gets a phone call from Xi
>Trump changes his position and says he is for the one China policy

Now, we don't know what Xi said to change Trump's mind. But do we think that it's likely that Xi just asked nicely and Trump agreed? Probably not - that sounds very un-Trump-like, and it would be very unusual for anyone to change their mind on a stated position that they weren't just using as a means to an end (such as identity politics or other popularity propellant). Perhaps Xi offered something in return? Also unlikely, because Trump would brag about how he made 'the best deal' - something he has done repeatedly for far more dubious 'deals' that he's made.

The third option is, of course, that Xi threatened to withdraw something if Trump did not agree to accept his terms. What could he withdraw? Let's see, it could be something to do with trade, but Trump would probably not care/see this move as positive, since something like tariffs on US imports would barely affect the US and give Trump a precedent for actively pursuing Taiwan and perhaps imposing far more destructive tariffs on Chinese imports. It couldn't really have anything to do with the US, in fact, because any move that China makes in response to Trump's rhetoric here would be seen as a first strike which would justify some sort of American response. It could, however, have something to do with Trump as an individual; a personal slight - specifically concerning something that Trump would rather have remain hidden - would not set a precedent for a coordinated American response. What might fall into this category? Well, it could be something like evidence that Trump likes to get pissed on by Russian prostitutes. Alternatively, it could be something like Trump's businesses owing hundreds of millions of dollars to Chinese banks. Certainly, we don't know for sure. But there is a lot of circumstantial evidence here that Trump's financial interests might be playing a role in the decisions he is making. This warrants further review, especially coupled with his refusal to release his tax returns and his demonstrated willingness to use his office to support his family's businesses (see: criticism of Nordstrom).

[Garnier Fructis]

I personally don't give a fuck why he reversed course, I'm just satisfied that he did.

[Underverse]

It also looks stupid to demand he switch from his stupid positions and then mocking him for switching.

It's not that people are pissed at him for switching (at least they shouldn't be). The real concern here is why he's switching.

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I personally don't give a fuck why he reversed course, I'm just satisfied that he did.

You probably should give a fuck.

[Dextroden]

It's not that people are pissed at him for switching (at least they shouldn't be). The real concern here is why he's switching.

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You probably should give a fuck.

Let me guess. The Nazis on the moon are the reason, right?

[Garnier Fructis]

You probably should give a fuck.

Well, considering I'm mostly concerned about the well being of my family members, I really don't care if the reason is that he doesn't want people knowing he gets Russian prostitutes to piss on him or if he owes money. Thank God for Russian prostitutes or bad business sense or w/e.

[Deletedaccount1]

Let's think about this, shall we?

>Trump says he is against the one China policy
>Trump gets a phone call from Xi
>Trump changes his position and says he is for the one China policy

Now, we don't know what Xi said to change Trump's mind. But do we think that it's likely that Xi just asked nicely and Trump agreed? Probably not - that sounds very un-Trump-like, and it would be very unusual for anyone to change their mind on a stated position that they weren't just using as a means to an end (such as identity politics or other popularity propellant). Perhaps Xi offered something in return? Also unlikely, because Trump would brag about how he made 'the best deal' - something he has done repeatedly for far more dubious 'deals' that he's made.

The third option is, of course, that Xi threatened to withdraw something if Trump did not agree to accept his terms. What could he withdraw? Let's see, it could be something to do with trade, but Trump would probably not care/see this move as positive, since something like tariffs on US imports would barely affect the US and give Trump a precedent for actively pursuing Taiwan and perhaps imposing far more destructive tariffs on Chinese imports. It couldn't really have anything to do with the US, in fact, because any move that China makes in response to Trump's rhetoric here would be seen as a first strike which would justify some sort of American response. It could, however, have something to do with Trump as an individual; a personal slight - specifically concerning something that Trump would rather have remain hidden - would not set a precedent for a coordinated American response. What might fall into this category? Well, it could be something like evidence that Trump likes to get pissed on by Russian prostitutes. Alternatively, it could be something like Trump's businesses owing hundreds of millions of dollars to Chinese banks. Certainly, we don't know for sure. But there is a lot of circumstantial evidence here that Trump's financial interests might be playing a role in the decisions he is making. This warrants further review, especially coupled with his refusal to release his tax returns and his demonstrated willingness to use his office to support his family's businesses (see: criticism of Nordstrom).

Or option four, Trump is just dumb and says whatever he is thinking with little regard for what the consequences might be.

[Underverse]

Let me guess. The Nazis on the moon are the reason, right?

...

Good one, I guess?

[Elim Garak]

People: "OMG Trump is shaking the China boat, that crazy bastard!"
Same people: "OMG Trump caved in on the whole China boat shaking thingy, that corrupt mother fucker!".

[LilSaihah]

On the one hand, yeah, the why does matter.

On the other hand, if he consistently does the right thing for the wrong reasons, I'm at least a bit more comfortable with that.

[Underverse]

Or option four, Trump is just dumb and says whatever he is thinking with little regard for what the consequences might be.

I have no doubt that Trump is mentally handicapped. But I think he's intelligent enough to know how to pursue money.

And still, even if we assume that what you're saying is true, that doesn't answer the question of why he backed down after a phone call. He doesn't do that unless his feet are being held to the fire.

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People: "OMG Trump is shaking the China boat, that crazy bastard!"
Same people: "OMG Trump caved in on the whole China boat shaking thingy, that corrupt mother fucker!".

Crazy and corrupt are not mutually exclusive.

[sheggaro]

Trump does something different: Everybody loses their mind.
Trump does something everybody does: Everybody loses their mind.

Let's face it, the left and the media don't have a problem with what he does, but with who he is.

[Elim Garak]

Crazy and corrupt are not mutually exclusive.

Also both are imaginary things that people say. Good job on missing the point.