Why Trump would make China great again

The first problem is that when it comes to the American military in Asia, Trump’s motto seems to be speak loudly and carry a small stick.

He won’t rule out a war with China, saying “we need unpredictability.” Bafflingly, he’s also called for both cutting the military budget and ensuring it’s “funded beautifully.” Perhaps most critically, he’s also called on America’s allies in Asia to pay for the presence of U.S. troops — basically likening an alliance to a protection racket. “How long will we go on defending South Korea from North Korea without payment?” he asked.

This could severely weaken America’s position in the region and strengthen China’s hand.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was adamant about the stationing of American troops, stating: “I cannot conceive of any situation within the foreseeable future when the U.S. presence wouldn’t be necessary.” There’s a reason Japan pays nearly $2 billion a year to support the U.S. military presence, a fact that seems to be lost on Trump. “Trump’s stance toward allies like Japan and South Korea would not simply wreck those alliances, but destabilize Northeast Asia’s precarious balance,” Van Jackson, a professor of security studies and fellow at the Center for a New American Security, writes at The Diplomat.