China’s Strategy for Trump (w/Kurt Campbell)

The upcoming U.S.-China summit occurs against a backdrop of Beijing’s growing confidence in American decline, driven by perceived internal social fracturing and political instability. Kurt Campbell, a veteran Asia diplomat, warns that the Trump administration’s improvisational approach and lack of rigorous preparation leave the U.S. vulnerable to China’s highly choreographed diplomatic gambits. Beijing aims to exploit this by securing concessions on technology access and Taiwan, while simultaneously testing the durability of U.S. commitments to regional allies. Furthermore, the ongoing conflict in Iran acts as a strategic distraction, depleting U.S. military resources and straining relations with partners. Ultimately, the shift toward transactional, deal-focused diplomacy risks eroding the bipartisan strategic framework that has long defined the Indo-Pacific, potentially signaling a dangerous departure from established U.S. foreign policy norms.