China’s military parade demonstrated its growing global power, while President Trump’s trade policies are inadvertently strengthening alliances among rivals like China, Russia, and India, highlighting the perils of his approach. The event underscores how Trump’s high-risk strategies could isolate the US and empower competitors.
China marked the 80th anniversary of World War Two’s end with a grand military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, showcasing advanced weaponry and precision forces. President Donald Trump, watching from the White House, acknowledged the spectacle as “very, very impressive,” yet his reactions over the preceding days were mixed, reflecting ambivalence and concern.
The parade, attended by leaders including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, served as a powerful symbol of China’s assertion as a counterweight to American global dominance. Trump initially downplayed the event in a podcast interview, stating he was “not concerned,” but later took to Truth Social to accuse China of conspiring against the US with Putin and Kim, while also complaining about lack of credit for US WWII efforts.
This display of military might contrasts with Trump’s own nostalgic parade in Washington two months ago, which featured historical reenactments rather than modern hardware, aligning with his ‘Make America Great Again’ ethos rooted in 19th-century mercantilism. China’s narrative, however, aims to rewrite history to claim a larger role in defeating fascism, potentially smoothing its path to global leadership.
Beyond the parade, a key development was the meeting between Xi Jinping, Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an economic summit in Tianjin on Monday. This thaw in China-India relations, previously frosty, is largely attributed to both nations being hit hard by Trump’s tariff policies, forcing them to seek common ground.
Trump’s ‘America first’ trade agenda has scrambled international alliances, creating unexpected bedfellows. While he views tariffs as essential for protecting US industry and generating revenue, the diplomatic costs are mounting, as evidenced by this newfound rapport among major powers.
However, the sustainability of Trump’s trade regime is in jeopardy. Last Friday, an appellate court ruled that many tariffs were based on a faulty legal interpretation, and Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court. Conservative justices, though often favorable to Trump, may not uphold his broad interpretation of presidential power without congressional approval.
In summary, Trump’s aggressive trade policies carry significant risks, potentially leading to a realignment that weakens US influence while empowering rivals. The dangers are palpable, from geopolitical shifts to legal challenges, threatening the very goals his strategies aim to achieve.