2016年CRI Trump using Taiwan as bargaining tool: expert

 

James Peck, Professor of History at New York University, says Donald Trump¹'s unexpected victory in the presidential election last month has brought a major change to the American political landscape.

"He is not really either a classic dove or a classic hawk². He is somebody who ran against the political establishment of the United States in a way no president has ever done and won."

Earlier this month, Trump broke a decade-long U.S. policy by speaking over the phone with Taiwan leader Tsai Ying-wen. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded to the incident by saying it was a "trick" played by Taiwan authorities.

Later, while being interviewed, Trump suggested he could reconsider the U.S. stance on Taiwan and signaled a possible departure from the "One-China Policy" unless China makes certain concessions³ that he wants, in areas such as trade.

Wang Yizhou, Vice⁴ Dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University, believes Trump has made such comments as a bargaining tool with China.

"Some people in Taiwan may feel like they have won the lottery⁵, but in general, I think Trump is completely making Taiwan a pawn⁶, a leverage⁷ to bargain with China."

In the economic sector⁸, Trump has criticized China's exchange rates and encouraged American companies to move their production lines back to the U.S., which Wang Yizhou says could prove disadvantageous for the U.S. in the long run.

"The basis of the powerfulness and prosperity of the U.S. is its openness and cooperation with other nations. If it decides to destroy the basis and turn to protectionism and suppressing other currencies, it will be a double-edged sword."

Trump has said one of his first tasks after taking office will be to drop out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership⁹ Agreement. Some observers suggest if the move is made, China may have more freedom in promoting its Belt and Road initiative through both Asia and Europe.

Professor James Peck says the current global landscape calls for more international cooperation, especially between China and the U.S..

"Kissinger said recently the world is in chaos¹⁰. There has to be some way the U.S. and China could work together about stability. I put it a little differently. I think the world will be in a considerable amount of instability and chaos, but that's all the more reason that China and U.S. have to somehow be able to deal with a world that is somewhat chaotic¹¹ and unstable¹²."

That sentiment has been echoed by outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama. During his end-of-year media briefing on Friday, Obama emphasized the importance of U.S.-China relations and urged his successor to move with caution regarding Taiwan question.

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

3 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

6 pawn   

n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押

参考例句：

• He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
• It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。

7 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

10 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

11 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

12 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。