US administration divided on China issue

The administration of US President Donald Trump is experiencing a "deep split" over its strategy toward China, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed officials, RIA Novosti reported.

“Over the past 10 days, several administration officials have reported that the White House is deeply divided over how to deal with Beijing,” the article said.

The New York Times explains that since taking office, President Trump and his associates have demonstrated a willingness to negotiate with China to ease tensions on trade, Taiwan and other issues. But the White House’s determination to win the trade war with China is threatening the possibility of such negotiations. According to the newspaper, the trade war has come before different factions in the administration have had time to articulate a clear stance on China.

The divisions within the White House have left President Trump's team showing "strategic incoherence" in its dealings with Beijing, with some officials publicly arguing that the president is trying to force China into a deal by imposing tariffs, while others say the president is trying to make the US economy self-reliant.

According to former US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns shared with the New York Times, the two countries are currently experiencing one of the most serious diplomatic crises since relations were restored in 1979.

Accordingly, the confrontation that President Trump launched could "damage" the relationship between Beijing and Washington - two closely linked economic systems. And in the end, the US leader will have to choose "between an unhappy marriage and a noisy divorce" with China.