Times of India: Soothing Balm

The Trump administration has shown a pattern on foreign policy – blunt statements that upend long-held policies followed by members of his cabinet and other representatives hurrying to backtrack and reassure global partners. Before entering office, Donald Trump mentioned that the One-China policy might be a bargaining chip, annoying China, before walking that back. Analysts expect China to test if Trump is all talk and no action. “Like raising and dropping the Taiwan issue, Trump has scored similar self-goals by disparaging US allies like Nato, predicting the breakup of the European Union, and criticising Germany’s asylum policy as disastrous,” writes Nayan Chanda, the founding editor of YaleGlobal Online, for the Times of India. The list is long, and Chanda concludes: “Nobody wants Trump to respond by initiating an armed conflict, neither will Asia wish the loud-mouthed president to develop the reputation of being a paper tiger.” – YaleGlobal