Gordon Chang
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
And by the way, we've got a lot of unhappy military officers who are ready to come in to Zhongnanhai, which is sort of like their White House. So things can be a little dicey there right now.
And by the way, we've got a lot of unhappy military officers who are ready to come in to Zhongnanhai, which is sort of like their White House. So things can be a little dicey there right now.
Well, I really appreciate it, Mike, because this is an important conversation that you wanted. So thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Love to do this again.
Well, I really appreciate it, Mike, because this is an important conversation that you wanted. So thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Love to do this again.
Well, I really appreciate it, Mike, because this is an important conversation that you wanted. So thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Love to do this again.
It not only has port operations at both ends of the canal, it's got infrastructure there. It's got a lot of state enterprises. So there are many ways that Beijing can block the canal if it wanted to. And some people say that the first indication that we will have that China intends to use force in East Asia will be an accident. in the Panama Canal because that will prevent the U.S.
It not only has port operations at both ends of the canal, it's got infrastructure there. It's got a lot of state enterprises. So there are many ways that Beijing can block the canal if it wanted to. And some people say that the first indication that we will have that China intends to use force in East Asia will be an accident. in the Panama Canal because that will prevent the U.S.
Navy from surging ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific fleets through the canal. So there's the concern.
Navy from surging ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific fleets through the canal. So there's the concern.
I think the Chinese regime is a little unhinged because the rhetoric certainly is not justified by what's occurring today. And I think it reflects a couple of things. I think, first of all, the Chinese are just enraged that President Trump is not deferring to them. For millennia, Chinese diplomacy has been intimidation of others. And Xi Jinping has been particularly good at it.
I think the Chinese regime is a little unhinged because the rhetoric certainly is not justified by what's occurring today. And I think it reflects a couple of things. I think, first of all, the Chinese are just enraged that President Trump is not deferring to them. For millennia, Chinese diplomacy has been intimidation of others. And Xi Jinping has been particularly good at it.
I think the Chinese regime is a little unhinged because the rhetoric certainly is not justified by what's occurring today. And I think it reflects a couple of things. I think, first of all, the Chinese are just enraged that President Trump is not deferring to them. For millennia, Chinese diplomacy has been intimidation of others. And Xi Jinping has been particularly good at it.
And probably Trump right now has just said he's had enough. But the other thing is that these tariffs do pose a danger to the Chinese economy. Xi Jinping has turned his back on consumption as the basis of the Chinese economy. That means his only way out is to export. And it's not just Trump's tariffs. When Trump does this, he's giving inspiration to others.
And probably Trump right now has just said he's had enough. But the other thing is that these tariffs do pose a danger to the Chinese economy. Xi Jinping has turned his back on consumption as the basis of the Chinese economy. That means his only way out is to export. And it's not just Trump's tariffs. When Trump does this, he's giving inspiration to others.
And probably Trump right now has just said he's had enough. But the other thing is that these tariffs do pose a danger to the Chinese economy. Xi Jinping has turned his back on consumption as the basis of the Chinese economy. That means his only way out is to export. And it's not just Trump's tariffs. When Trump does this, he's giving inspiration to others.
He's giving them cover to others to do the same thing. So I think that the Chinese are panicking in addition to just being so upset that we're not bowing down to them.
He's giving them cover to others to do the same thing. So I think that the Chinese are panicking in addition to just being so upset that we're not bowing down to them.
He's giving them cover to others to do the same thing. So I think that the Chinese are panicking in addition to just being so upset that we're not bowing down to them.
That's a great question. Because if we go back to 2018, when President Trump imposed his Section 301 tariffs on China, 25% across the board, China absorbed somewhere between 75% to 81% of the cost of those tariffs. And now China has even more incentive to do that.
That's a great question. Because if we go back to 2018, when President Trump imposed his Section 301 tariffs on China, 25% across the board, China absorbed somewhere between 75% to 81% of the cost of those tariffs. And now China has even more incentive to do that.