Ex-US President Donald Trump has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping respects him because of his unpredictability factor. In an interview with a media house, Trump repeated once again that his approach toward diplomacy is to project that he is unpredictable, and that’s a plus for him internationally.
“Xi knows I’m crazy,” Trump said, recounting how his unconventional style as president made him respected by the leadership of China. Trump suggested that his behavior, so often erratic, was calculated and deliberate, to keep enemies off kilter. The assertion is in line with his oft-made contention that unpredictability was a hallmark of his foreign policy strategy, never more so than with China.
Some of the most memorable engagements Trump made with China during his administration were on tariff implementation for a trade war and criticism of how China was managing its outbreak of the COVID-19 Virus. He has also praised Xi himself, very often referring to their relationship as very amicable, even when geopolitics between the two nations were at boiling point.
The comments from the former president come at a time when relations between the United States and China remain chilly over questions of trade, technology, and military operations in the Pacific. As Trump works his way toward a return to the White House in 2024, his rhetoric on China seeks to position him as a leader who can manage difficult diplomatic problems with unorthodox means.
Whereas his critics say this unpredictability led to many diplomatic missteps, Trump insisted that blunt positioning prevented conflict during the presidency. Whether that resonated with voters will be seen, as he continues framing his campaign on promises of toughness on foreign policy.
