Vice President Mike Pence’s speech at the Hudson Institute signaled a far tougher American line on China. It is worth considering the Trump administration’s motivations for taking such an adversarial public stance now.

To the consternation of Chinese policymakers, the United States has enhanced its commitment to the security of Taiwan at times of Cross-Strait tensions. Recent initiatives aimed at strengthening U.S.-Taiwan ties point to a broad consensus in Washington in favor of deeper engagement with Taipei – but at the same time, Trump’s “America First” instincts are getting in the way.

Beijing has launched a strategy to diplomatically isolate Taiwan, but these policies may have pushed a different group into action: Taiwan’s supporters in the American government.

The American people don’t care about Taiwan, so Taiwan should forget about the US having its back and show respect to Beijing before China teaches it a harsh lesson.

Clearly, it is time for some “new thinking” in Taipei. Otherwise, Tsai’s “combat ready” diplomats may eventually have no battles to fight.

There are dangerous signs from the U.S. to undermine the “One China” policy, says He Yafei. For the past 40 years, the two countries have managed the Taiwan issue well, but things are changing.

The rise in US military spending is unnecessary and hostile.

Relations between China and much of the West appear to be moving in reverse. The PRC risks losing its best friends abroad.

In spite of Chinese patience, repeated American aggression has led both countries into a trade war neither can win.

Cheng Li and Diana Liang discuss the political and security factors that have prevented China and the U.S. from cutting a deal in the current trade dispute. They argue that these obstacles should urge us to look at the bigger picture in order to avoid the disastrous consequences of a trade war, or even worse — risk an actual war.