Trump Accuses China of ‘Hostage’ Tactics Following Gaza Peace Deal Push
WASHINGTON (AP) – Former President Donald Trump asserted Tuesday that China is holding the world “hostage” with its control over rare earth minerals, deeming the situation ”especially inappropriate” in the wake of his calls for a Gaza peace deal.The statement comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, marked by the implementation of reciprocal port fees starting this week.
Trump’s post on social media alluded to potential trade repercussions, though the exact nature of his threat remains open to interpretation. It could be a bid to leverage China,or a signal of escalating trade conflict possibly leading to increased tariffs.
The exchange unfolds against a backdrop of existing trade disputes. China previously imposed restrictions on rare earths and refused to purchase American soybeans in response to tariffs enacted during the Trump administration, as noted by Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who stated, “China has not been a fair-trade partner for years.”
Analysts are divided on the implications of the renewed rhetoric. Wendy Cutler, senior vice president of the Asia Society Policy institute, characterized Trump’s post as highlighting the fragility of the current détente between the two nations, questioning whether either side will attempt de-escalation to salvage planned bilateral meetings.
Cole McFaul,a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology,suggested Trump may be preparing for negotiations under the assumption china has overplayed its hand,while Beijing believes it has secured concessions through previous talks.
Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned Trump’s post could “mark the beginning of the end of the tariff truce” that had lowered tax rates between the two countries. He added that the risk of “mutually assured disruption” is now very real, with both sides appearing unwilling to yield.
The ultimate course of action remains unclear, as neither the Trump administration’s intentions nor China’s response are yet defined.
AP writers Stan Choe in New York and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.
