Washington, D.C. — As President Donald Trump has withdrawn or damaged U.S. leadership around the world, China has seized opportunities to advance its own interests, according to a new report from the Center for American Progress and the Mercator Institute for China Studies.
In many cases, China’s actions are undermining the interests of the United States and Europe and eroding global standards such as respect for human rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes, the report says. In response, the United States and Europe should remember that they have strong shared interests in continuing to push for rules-based, peaceful approaches to global challenges and in working together to push back against damaging Chinese influence when necessary.
“With political chaos in the United States and Europe, opportunities for Chinese involvement around the world are slowly expanding, along with growing vulnerability to Chinese pressure,” said Michael Fuchs, co-author of the report. “China’s actions could undermine U.S. and European interests, and the trans-Atlantic allies must work together to push back.”
The report says that serious strains in the trans-Atlantic alliance under President Trump—from Trump endorsing a losing candidate in the French election to criticizing European allies—have hindered the ability of these traditional allies to work cooperatively on anything.
Read the report: “As Trump Withdraws America from the World, Xi’s China Takes Advantage” by Helena Legarda and Michael Fuchs.
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