The art of the China deal
A trade deal with China has been announced:
“Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,” Trump revealed in an all-caps post on Truth Social. “Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China.”
“Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!). We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. The relationship is excellent! Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
“President XI and I are going to work closely together to open up China to American Trade,” the president added. “This would be a great WIN for both countries!!”
The rare earth licenses are temporary, due to last for 6 months and then they can be renegotiated.
Not sure about the CCP students as many of them have been shown to be espionage plants. A bit naive of Trump
On the deal front, or more particularly, the non-deal front, something serious finally seems to be at hand vis a vis the Iranian nuclear weapons negotiations. US bases, US personnel and dependants in the Mideast region are going to alert or in some cases into evacuation out of harms way. Perhaps the long period of patience — despite Iran’s obvious stalling tactics — has given way to a decision to act. If so, here’s hoping for a salutary outcome, and with it, a permanent end to the Mullahs’ nuclear weapons aspirations and capabilities.
The vast majority of the Chinese students are bright kids from families that are upwardly mobile strivers, or spoiled kids from families with new money. I don’t doubt some become spies, but every country spies on every other one. State universities are utterly dependent on both flavors for plugging holes in their budgets. Diversity coordinators, football coaches, and deanlets don’t work for free.
They could plug holes in their budgets by firing all the useless “administrators” that have accumulated over the years who advance education exactly zip dot squat … oh what am I saying …
Speaking of China…
Chinese ports in Africa
https://x.com/ratwave/status/1932605424559403351
China innovating not just imitating
https://x.com/TheSpectator/status/1930946529038049757
There was a report that many Xi supporters were replaced in second & third tier govt positions. Seems worth watching.
I can imagine, fantasize?, that many leaders want China to become the leading economic power in the world, and prefer buying & selling (rope+?) to the US, and thus less military focus.
I can also think about 100,000,000 drones of all types invading Taiwan, while the Chinese fighter/ drone controllers suffer no casualties. Way too many young folk are the only grandkids of 4 grandparents. No society has ever seen such imbalance, I’m pretty sure it’s important.
I am liking the tariff deal. Of course, we need to see how this develops. But it might help solve the US spending/taxation imbalance. I am hugely concerned about continuing US deficit spending, and this might help mitigate its effects. Sick and tired of unmitigated inflation.