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Alex Lo
As I see it
Alex Lo

Trump is turning allies and partners into friends of China

Dealing with Beijing offers countries such as Canada and India more leverage with the US in addition to economic benefits

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney after signing various memorandums of understanding in New Delhi, India, on March 2. Photo: AP
Alex Lo
Alex Lo has been an SCMP columnist since 2012, commenting on China and international affairs.
China-Canada relations are undergoing a thaw after years of estrangement and recrimination. China and India are seeking a rapprochement despite deep-seated distrust and sometimes violent border disputes. Both cases share a common element: Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, following the US president’s visit to Beijing, his defence secretary Pete Hegseth avoided mentioning Taiwan at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He sounded almost conciliatory by hailing ties with Beijing as “better than they’ve been in many years” while arguing for a “strong, quiet and clear” US stance towards the region.

That would have pleased President Xi Jinping. However, it probably alarmed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Taiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te. The trio seem to have been coordinating on a united front against Beijing from an old American script. Perhaps they haven’t received the latest memo.

Hegseth did offer the obligatory warning about “rightful alarm” at China’s military build-up. Then again, the same White House has demanded that Asian allies spend 3.5 to 5 per cent of their gross domestic product on their militaries. One can hardly expect China to stand still while its neighbours plan to rearm. Still, Hegseth’s softer tone is notable, and it’s surely a good thing whenever tensions between the two superpowers are lowered.

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