Trump's real purpose exposed, China may be the only country to break the U.S. plan.
In 2018, Trump wielded a big stick and imposed tariffs on Chinese goods on the grounds that China engaged in "unfair trade", stole technology and robbed the market. It sounded like the United States had suffered a big loss and had to get back the game.
But think about it carefully, is this really that simple?
The trade war has been raging for several years, but the U.S. trade deficit has not narrowed much, but it is much more expensive for American people to buy things.
In May 2025, China and the United States signed a provisional agreement, under which the United States cancelled 91% of its tariffs and China relaxed its countermeasures.
On the surface, it is a handshake, but not two months later, China struggled with rare-earth smuggling, and directly gave the United States a breakdown.
What does that mean? China is not only defensive, but also active in playing cards.
In fact, Trump's path may not be to crush with China, he shouted confrontation in his mouth, and he may think of another set of scenarios: let China be honestly the "world factory", specializing in the production of cheap goods for American consumers.
The US economy is inseparable from consumption, and China is the lifeblood of the global supply chain. If China can be framed in the role of low-end manufacturing, it can not only keep the bargains in the US market, but also limit China's breakthroughs in key areas such as high-tech and rare earths.
This abacus is quite good, but it's a pity that China doesn't follow his script.
You see, China's economy has changed over the years, in the past it was export driven, and now domestic demand and technological innovation have become the main force.
According to the July 2025 data, the national electricity consumption increased by 8.6%, and the manufacturing and consumer markets were red.
What does that mean? China is more confident than the outside world thinks.
Especially in the areas of rare earth, chips and new energy, China is no longer the country that can only make low-end products.
In March 2025, Trump wanted the U.S. military to build a rare-earth refinery and get rid of dependence on China’s supply chain, but instead exposed China’s advantage in the whole rare-earth industrial chain.
There is no way for the United States to "China."
Trump's ambitions may not be just aimed at China. What he wants to change is the pattern of the entire world.
Some analysts said that he may want the United States, Russia, and China to "divide their territory." For example, in Europe and the Middle East, Russia can do some to contain China's influence, while suppressing China's economic and technological rise through trade wars and technological blockades.
In this way, the United States will be able to establish its position as a global leader.
When he met with the Russian leader in 2019, he hinted at a possible de ́ tente, and in 2024 he also mentioned the possibility of cooperation. This is a game of great powers that Trump probably feels he can control.
But why can China be the only country that can break this plan? because it has the bottom line and the patience.
China did not fall into Trump's "confrontation" trap, but engaged in its own business.
"Belt and Road", regional economic cooperation, and the cutting-edge areas of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, China is quietly working.
In December 2024, China and the United States renewed the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation, which appeared to be a mitigation, in fact, China is struggling to gain time and consolidate its advantages.
On the other hand, in the United States, excessive pressure may throw a stone at its own foot.
The recent actions of the European Union in Greenland have been interpreted as a backlash against American unilateralism, and the warming of relations between Russia and China has also made it less easy for the United States to "divide the territory".
Trump's confrontation has another purpose: to deflect contradictions.
There are many internal problems in the United States, economic inequality, racial conflict, industrial emptiness, people's instability, finding an external "enemy" to gather people's opinion, is an old route, China has become a ready-made target.
Trade wars and technology blockades seem to be aimed at protecting the interests of the United States. In fact, a lot of costs are passed on to American consumers, and companies are complaining about supply chain problems.
This show shows the American people that Trump's political image is preserved, but how big the actual effect is, it is worth asking.
In the next few years, the Sino-US game is expected to continue, but this is not a simple confrontation, but a competition between two development models and two world outlooks.
Whether China can continue to maintain its strategic resolve, and whether Trump's plan can truly change the global landscape as he wishes, time will tell.
In 2018, Trump wielded a big stick and imposed tariffs on Chinese goods on the grounds that China engaged in "unfair trade", stole technology and robbed the market. It sounded like the United States had suffered a big loss and had to get back the game.
But think about it carefully, is this really that simple?
The trade war has been raging for several years, but the U.S. trade deficit has not narrowed much, but it is much more expensive for American people to buy things.
In May 2025, China and the United States signed a provisional agreement, under which the United States cancelled 91% of its tariffs and China relaxed its countermeasures.
On the surface, it is a handshake, but not two months later, China struggled with rare-earth smuggling, and directly gave the United States a breakdown.
What does that mean? China is not only defensive, but also active in playing cards.
In fact, Trump's path may not be to crush with China, he shouted confrontation in his mouth, and he may think of another set of scenarios: let China be honestly the "world factory", specializing in the production of cheap goods for American consumers.
The US economy is inseparable from consumption, and China is the lifeblood of the global supply chain. If China can be framed in the role of low-end manufacturing, it can not only keep the bargains in the US market, but also limit China's breakthroughs in key areas such as high-tech and rare earths.
This abacus is quite good, but it's a pity that China doesn't follow his script.
You see, China's economy has changed over the years, in the past it was export driven, and now domestic demand and technological innovation have become the main force.
According to the July 2025 data, the national electricity consumption increased by 8.6%, and the manufacturing and consumer markets were red.
What does that mean? China is more confident than the outside world thinks.
Especially in the areas of rare earth, chips and new energy, China is no longer the country that can only make low-end products.
In March 2025, Trump wanted the U.S. military to build a rare-earth refinery and get rid of dependence on China’s supply chain, but instead exposed China’s advantage in the whole rare-earth industrial chain.
There is no way for the United States to "China."
Trump's ambitions may not be just aimed at China. What he wants to change is the pattern of the entire world.
Some analysts said that he may want the United States, Russia, and China to "divide their territory." For example, in Europe and the Middle East, Russia can do some to contain China's influence, while suppressing China's economic and technological rise through trade wars and technological blockades.
In this way, the United States will be able to establish its position as a global leader.
When he met with the Russian leader in 2019, he hinted at a possible de ́ tente, and in 2024 he also mentioned the possibility of cooperation. This is a game of great powers that Trump probably feels he can control.
But why can China be the only country that can break this plan? because it has the bottom line and the patience.
China did not fall into Trump's "confrontation" trap, but engaged in its own business.
"Belt and Road", regional economic cooperation, and the cutting-edge areas of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, China is quietly working.
In December 2024, China and the United States renewed the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation, which appeared to be a mitigation, in fact, China is struggling to gain time and consolidate its advantages.
On the other hand, in the United States, excessive pressure may throw a stone at its own foot.
The recent actions of the European Union in Greenland have been interpreted as a backlash against American unilateralism, and the warming of relations between Russia and China has also made it less easy for the United States to "divide the territory".
Trump's confrontation has another purpose: to deflect contradictions.
There are many internal problems in the United States, economic inequality, racial conflict, industrial emptiness, people's instability, finding an external "enemy" to gather people's opinion, is an old route, China has become a ready-made target.
Trade wars and technology blockades seem to be aimed at protecting the interests of the United States. In fact, a lot of costs are passed on to American consumers, and companies are complaining about supply chain problems.
This show shows the American people that Trump's political image is preserved, but how big the actual effect is, it is worth asking.
In the next few years, the Sino-US game is expected to continue, but this is not a simple confrontation, but a competition between two development models and two world outlooks.
Whether China can continue to maintain its strategic resolve, and whether Trump's plan can truly change the global landscape as he wishes, time will tell.