U.S.-China Relationship in 'Deep Disrepair'
Kevin Rudd on Bloomberg Markets
ASPI President Kevin Rudd joined Bloomberg Markets: The Close to discuss the broader implications of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trade truce for the future of U.S.-China relations. (Rudd's interview begins at 27:30).
Recalling Vice President Michael Pence’s speech from nine months ago that marked “an end to the period of strategic engagement…and the beginning of strategic competition,” Rudd diagnoses the current U.S.-China strategic relationship as one “in deep, deep disrepair.” On the trade front, Rudd predicts that the two sides will come to an agreement before the end of the year because “both economies need this to rebuild confidence.” However, “the technology war… is still well underway,” from Rudd’s perspective.
Beyond domestic political and economic goals, Rudd suggests that “[the Chinese leadership] would like in time to see the Americans pushed out and for China to be the dominant power in East Asia,” as well as the establishment of a new global order that is “more compatible with Chinese interests and values.”