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China hawks should temper hopes over Trump’s muscle flexing at Xi
US-China rivalry is real but a closer look at Washington’s motivations is needed.
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping's weaponisation of rare earths is a key driver of US President Donald Trump's China policies.
PHOTO: ERIN SCHAFF/NYTIMES
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For those expecting a trajectory of easing tensions between the United States and China, leading to some kind of a grand bargain between the two, look no further for a reality check than President Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts last week expressing dismay and belligerence over China’s new controls on critical rare earths.
The move on minerals, he said, was “sinister and hostile” before going on to say “I never thought it would come to this”.
