The writer is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of ‘China’s Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order’
US aggression against adversaries and allies alike is changing the strategic geography of the globe. Russia may be first to benefit from Donald Trump’s erratic campaign against Nato to “get Greenland”. But only China stands to reap long-term strategic rewards across the globe — including in the Arctic region that Washington claims to be defending.
With each new and unexpected mis-step in the western hemisphere — from abducting Venezuela’s leader to talk of conquering a Nato ally’s territory to threats to subjugate Canada — Trump is opening new and unexpected avenues for Chinese access and influence.