Trump’s dream of ‘greatest trade deal in history’ with China outweighs his grudge – but Taiwan loses, John Bolton warns
DONALD Trump will stop at nothing to achieve the biggest trade deal in history with China – and the status of Taiwan could be up for negotiation, former national security adviser John Bolton has warned.
The ex-US ambassador to the United Nations believes the president-elect would jump at the chance to strike a deal if it’s on the table.
The eyes of the world are on the White House as the US braces itself for a new administration and how America’s foreign policy could change.
Trump will enter the White House at a time when there appears to be no immediate end to the conflict in Gaza – a war that has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian Ministry of Health Data.
In Europe, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned into a meat grinder.
And China remains a menace in the Pacific.
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Bolton, who has served in four administrations, believes Trump holds a grudge against Beijing heading into his second term.
The Republican explained it traces back to the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
But he thinks that could disappear if he smells an opportunity.
“Trump holds grudges, and he’s got a grudge against China,” Bolton said.
“But the idea of the greatest trade deal in history and other things he might get with China – those things have great allure for him.”
According to Bolton, Trump, the author of the 1987 book The Art of the Deal, would do everything he could to strike a historic agreement.
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Bolton fears the fate of Taiwan could be up for negotiation.
“I think for Trump, anything is up for sale,” he said.
“I’m very worried about Taiwan being part of the interplay between Trump and Xi Jinping.
“It’s certainly something Trump could give away that Xi would very much want.
“If it could help get the biggest trade deal in history, maybe Trump would go for it.”
Trump’s first term in office was characterized by a trade war with Beijing.
During the first term, the US whacked tariffs on Chinese imports, and Beijing responded.
Research from the Tax Foundation think tank revealed around $80 billion worth of tariffs were imposed by the Trump administration.
But Bolton said it’s not guaranteed history will repeat itself.
“I don’t think it’s inevitable because I think if he thought he could make the biggest trade deal in history, he would jump at the opportunity,” he added.
“They tried for well over a year in the first term without success, but that was certainly complicated by the Covid pandemic.
“With that out of the way, is it worth another effort?”
Bolton believes the prize would be “glittering” for Trump if he were able to achieve it.
The official believes Trump is worried about his legacy even though he doesn’t have to face the voters again.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser in his first term between April 2018 and September 2019, explained he would sit down with the then-president and try to explain the political ramifications such a decision could have.
“That political constraint is very different – knowing he’s never going to face the voters again,” he added.
Who is John Bolton?
Former national security adviser John Bolton has had an illustruous career, serving under four Republican presidents in a variety of roles.
Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from Yale Law School in 1974.
Bolton served under President Ronald Reagan as an Assistant Administrator of the US Agency for International Development for Program and Policy Coordination between August 1982 and 1983.
He also worked within the Department of Justice in the Office of Legislative Affairs between December 1985 and 1986.
George H.W. Bush named Bolton Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. He served in this role between May 1989 and January 1993.
Bolton served under George W. Bush as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.
He was named the US Ambassador to the United Nations in August 2005. Bolton remained in post until December 2006.
Bolton was a foreign policy advisor to then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.
Bolton was appointed national security adviser in April 2018 until September 2019.
In September 2019, Trump posted on X that Bolton’s services were no longer required. He claimed he asked Bolton to resign.
Bolton hit back at the former president and told his followers on X he offered to resign from his post.
He claimed Trump told him: “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”
Bolton is also an author and wrote the book The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, which documents his time as Trump’s national security adviser.
“It’s an unknown going into the second term. Trump is a lame duck from day one.
“There’s already a conversation about who will run for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.
“Time moves very quickly when you see a lame-duck presidency ahead.”
Bolton alluded to moments where Trump appeared to issue warnings toward the Taiwanese government.
‘PAY UP’
Trump sparked concern this summer when he told Bloomberg that Taiwan should pay the US for defense.
In August, Taiwan government officials passed a defense budget worth $20.2 billion.
It marked a 7.7% increase compared to the previous year.
Around $2.8 billion was set aside for fighter jets and increasing missile production.
During his sit-down with the podcaster Joe Rogan, Trump claimed that Taiwan stole America’s semiconductor chip manufacturing industry.
Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law in 2022.
The legislation was designed to boost domestic production and strengthen American supply chains in light of geopolitical uncertainty.
Taiwan is a leading producer of computer chips, and experts have warned how supply chains would be crippled in the event of a Chinese invasion.
However, the US is expected to produce almost 30% of the world’s leading-edge computer chips by 2032, according to the Department of Commerce.
‘NO FEARS’
Taiwanese government officials have stressed that there was “no reason” to worry about the US-Taiwan alliance.
Elbridge Colby, who served in the first Trump administration between 2017 and 2018, told The Japan News in June that Asia is now the primary theater regarding where American interests should be concentrated.
China has vowed to unify Taiwan and has not ruled out using force.
Beijing’s military typically resorts to war games that are purely designed to project its might.
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Taiwan and the US are trading partners, but Biden administration officials have stressed that the federal government does not support Taiwanese independence.
But Republicans such as Mike Pompeo have gone further, suggesting the US should recognize Taiwan as an independent country.
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