Thread by @AMFChina

Trump's press conference on China is about to start /1

The European Union's strategy on China remains as ambiguous as ever, as evident from @JosepBorrellF's lacklustre presser today.

In a few moments we can expect markedly different language from @realDonaldTrump on the US government's revised strategy on China /2

While we are waiting let me point out that the White House published the "United States Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China" on 26th May.

To my surprise very few journalists reported on this new policy, but it is well worth a read /3

whitehouse.gov/articles/unite…

I write this mindful of the fact that few progressives are willing to concede that the Trump administration can get anything right.

But this White House strategy is remarkable, both in terms of substance and style /4

In the coming days I will write a thread with key takeaways from this White House strategy.

I will ponder the question which parts of this new US government strategy the European Union can adopt lock, stock, and barrel without becoming Trumpian /5

I just read the comment by @Carmen_NgKaMan.

She writes "Been nearly half an hour. It appears he's still rather busy sending his tweets🤓".

That is indeed possible /6

While we are waiting I may as well promote the petition "Europe can no longer afford Germany's failed China policy of 'change through trade'".

By now it has been supported by more than 5000 signatories.

Do add your name to it if you like /7

change.org/p/politicians-…

Ok, here we go, the press conference is about to start /8

Trump begins with a litany of complaints about the conduct of the Chinese government, ranging from IP theft, unfair trade practices, the situation in Hong Kong and the cover-up of Covid-19 /9

US government is ending its financial support for the WHO /10

Another action relates to International students from China studying in the US. Not quite clear what the details are, but I would expect some new restrictions /11

In the light of mainland China's National Security Law the US preferential policy treatment for Hong Kong is ending /12

And that's it. Trump didn't take any questions. I didn't capture the part on the financial services in the United States, but Trump was literally rattling through his talking points /13

Unsurprisingly Trump spent most time talking about Hong Kong. If I understood him correctly he also announced that individuals in mainland China and Hong Kong will be directly targeted for sanctions /14

So how substantive are these announcements? Defunding the WHO will not go down well in Europe and in other parts of the world, although no one should be under doubt that this UN agency needs to be thoroughly reformed /15

Restricting International students from China studying in the US will also be a contentious issue. Here it will very much depend on what kind of restrictions are put in place for what kind of academic disciplines /16

Ending Hong Kong's preferential treatment was to be expected. From the list of items that Trump mentioned this will be a fairly comprehensive de-coupling. Hard to tell whether the CCP already priced this in when they came up with the National Security Law /17

As always the proof will be in the pudding. I am sure that the White House and/or US State Department will follow-up with further information about the details of the new policies /18

Before I draw this live tweeting to a close I would like to end with a personal reflection. I have worked with US colleagues in mainland China for many years on various capacity building projects. I have always admired their creativity, entrepreneurial spirit & pragmatism /19

While folks often rightly criticise the US government, *in terms of their China policy* they actually get many things right. And more importantly, they are *willing to act*. This sets the US apart from the EU. In its current form the EU lacks the ability to act strategically /End