Welcome to the February 28th Friday episode of “News Insight,” with our special guests: Ming Juzheng, Honorary Professor of Political Science at National Taiwan University; Wang Guochen, Assistant Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Economic Research; and host Zhang Dongxu.
Today’s focus: Has Trump gone too far with maximum pressure? Is Europe pushing back? Will the global conflict impact relations with the Chinese Communist Party? Is the U.S. President and Secretary of State playing a double game on the Taiwan issue? Is China changing its approach towards private enterprises?
In his first White House cabinet meeting, Trump announced new tariffs on China and hinted at tariffs on the European Union. Domestically, he continued to significantly reduce the deficit and planned to abolish income tax. How will this reshape the global economic and trade landscape?
Trump met with the UK Prime Minister and the Ukrainian President consecutively. On the 27th, he warned that Putin is not genuinely seeking a ceasefire but may still reach an agreement, and the U.S. is considering helping Ukraine regain some territory.
When asked about defending Taiwan, the Secretary of State said that China knows the U.S.’s stance and is angry. How will Trump play the Taiwan card?
Rumors are circulating that Chinese leader Xi Jinping may step down latest by next year. China has been encouraging the widespread use of AI, raising concerns about its global implications.
The U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreement is set to be signed at the White House on the 28th. Many have noted that the U.S. has been favorable toward Ukraine. The advisor to Ukraine revealed that the mineral agreement was proposed to the U.S. and allied countries as part of Zelensky’s victory plan in October of last year.
Trump, on the 27th, also mentioned that through the mineral agreement, Ukraine will have the right to continue fighting, and he cautioned that Putin is cunning and not genuinely seeking peace. On the same day, when meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Trump stated that peace negotiations are progressing well, and if an agreement is reached, Russia will not invade again. The U.S. is also exploring the possibility of helping Ukraine reclaim some of its territory.
Professor Ming Juzheng mentioned in a previous program that peace talks may not necessarily succeed, and even if they do, it may not end the war. How does he view the current situation?
Buffett and Wall Street tycoons have recently alerted to the U.S.’s fiscal issues. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to cut taxes by $4.5 trillion and reduce spending by $2 trillion, advancing Trump’s reform agenda. One of the key points in Trump’s first White House cabinet meeting was significant reductions in government spending to address the federal deficit. White House chief economist Kevin Hassett recently stated that cancelling income tax and replacing it with tariff revenues has always been the President’s plan. Argentine President Mile’s plan to reduce national tax by 90% sounds unbelievable.
How does Wang Guochen view this? If the U.S. can achieve significant tax reduction and change its fiscal structure and discipline, could this create a new economic paradigm that affects other countries?
During Trump’s first cabinet meeting, when asked about a possible Chinese military invasion of Taiwan, he gave a vague response. Secretary of State Rubio, in an interview, stated that the U.S. would not abandon its long-standing stance and is committed to preventing China from invading Taiwan. China is aware of this and is displeased.
On the 19th, Trump mentioned the possibility of reaching a new trade agreement with China. There were rumors before that China was trying to use issues like the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to negotiate its stance on Taiwan with the U.S. U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential trade negotiations with China, emphasizing that Taiwan cannot be used as a bargaining chip.
Professor Ming Juzheng has repeatedly warned that China wants to deceive the U.S. with the “Fourth Sino-U.S. Communique.” However, it has been noted in the media that Rubio has not mentioned the Six Assurances or the Taiwan Relations Act in his talks on Taiwan policy since January.
How does Professor Ming Juzheng observe Trump’s first and possibly second approaches to the One China policy and Taiwan policy?
Trump announced on the 27th an additional 10% tariff on China due to the fentanyl drug issue, bringing the total tariff rate on China to 40-45%, effective on March 4th for Canada and Mexico. Trump has recently launched a series of retaliatory actions against China’s ambitions, designating mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau controlled by the Chinese Communist Party as “foreign hostile forces.” They have signed memoranda to restrict bilateral investment between the U.S. and China, impose tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper, and charge Chinese ships. There are further reciprocal tariffs set to be implemented on April 2nd.
Furthermore, on the 27th during the cabinet meeting, Trump also announced plans to levy a 25% tariff on the European Union soon, criticizing the EU’s economic policies as “destroying America.”
How does Wang Guochen view whether Trump will indeed engage in a trade war with the EU? And how do Trump’s recent actions impact China?
Trump is mediating a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, courting Putin, which has China on edge. Chinese leader Xi Jinping conversed with Putin, calling each other “true friends” with no limits. However, recent revelations suggest that Xi Jinping has been stripped of power.
Since last year, rumors have circulated about Xi Jinping being stripped of power and military authority diminishing. Independent Chinese commentator Cai Shunkun previously maintained a reserved stance on this matter but recently disclosed that influential figures within China claim Xi Jinping has been thoroughly stripped of power and his abdication is pending official announcement, possibly during the Fourth Plenum, and at the latest, not extending to 2026. Allegedly, the power within the Chinese Communist Party has returned to three elderly figures born in 1942: Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and Wu Debin, with military authority under the control of the First Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, Zhang Youxia.
How does Professor Ming Juzheng view this revelation?
The popular 2023 YouTuber “MrMarmot,” known for animations, depicts a scenario where China dominates the world, raising concerns about extensive surveillance and control in people’s lives becoming a reality.
Previously, Chinese leader met with private enterprises, including tech companies, which triggered multiple interpretations. China is heavily promoting AI, sparking an AI application wave from private businesses to local governments. Last week, they announced the establishment of the so-called “National Data Group” to pool large data sets from various sources. Analysts believe that wide AI application will lead to significant unemployment, changes in industrial structure, and impactful disruptions to Chinese society. Furthermore, Chinese surveillance service providers are increasingly integrating DeepSeek, potentially strengthening the Communist Party’s network monitoring capabilities.
How does Wang Guochen view China’s push for these initiatives at this time?
Feel free to subscribe to the “News Insight” channel on the Clean World’s new platform.
Translated and rewritten from: 新唐人亞太電視台《新聞大破解》製作團隊