So now China is gathering Asian nations into its own trading association, one less troubled by rules for petty matters like the environment or human trafficking. China’s power is expanding into a Trump-shaped vacuum.
Meanwhile back at home, Trump has begun the American Industrial Devolution.
But Trump took his Make China Great campaign to a new level on Tuesday by rejecting the science on climate change and tossing out all Obama-era plans to shrink our dependence on coal-fired power. Trump also wants to weaken existing mileage requirements for U.S.-made vehicles. Stupid.
... clean power, clean water, clean air, clean transportation and energy-efficient buildings will have to be the next great global industry, whether or not there is climate change. The demand will be huge.
Now Chinese investors are backing green cars and small electric vehicle startups, and have just bought a stake in Tesla. While the GOP tries to make dwindling fossil fuels great again.
Still doubtful that Trump’s a Chinese agent? How about making it harder for the world’s top STEM grads to immigrate here? Brilliant! China is happy to take them off our hands.
NBC News reported last week that applications from foreign students, notably from China, India and the Middle East, “are down this year at nearly 40 percent of schools that answered a recent survey by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.”
Trump’s subterfuge has been so brilliant, he can probably even say the word “China” properly… in Chinese.