Donald Trump once set out to scare China. But its fickle and often compromising trade policies with Beijing, its admiration for dictator Xi Jinping and, above all, its constant snubbing of traditional allies have strengthened China’s weight in the world. This is also reflected in the fact that other Western democracies are seeking to join forces with China. Canada recently concluded a trade deal that triggered a tantrum from Trump with the usual tariff threats, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently conducting a charm offensive in Beijing from which he expects primarily economic benefits.
