"Washington Post: China is Winning the Trade War with the U.S., and Trump's Policies Are Unintentionally Aiding Beijing"

In a provocative article for the "Washington Post," expert and analyst Max Boot argues that China is emerging victorious in the trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year. According to Boot, the evidence of this victory is "indisputable" and is clearly reflected in economic indicators.

Boot points out that the Chinese economy grew at a rate of 5.3% in the first half of the year, significantly outperforming the U.S. economy, which only managed a growth of 1.25% during the same period. He states with regret that "China—a ruthless, anti-American dictatorship—is the victor" in this confrontation.

Boot goes further, suggesting that Trump's actions are not only leading to a losing trade war but are actively strengthening China's position through his other policies. He claims that Trump's budget cuts in crucial areas like diplomacy, foreign aid, and scientific research investment are all working in Beijing's favor.

As an example, Boot cites the decision to shut down the "Voice of America" radio, which he calls "another gift to Beijing." He notes that state-run Chinese media has been quick to fill the void, expanding its presence from Indonesia to Nigeria. Similarly, Trump's withdrawal from key international organizations like the World Health Organization and UNESCO has opened the door for China to increase its influence within these global institutions.

Boot also asserts that China's superiority is not limited to the economy. He claims that China "already surpasses the U.S. in most advanced technologies, including batteries, solar panels, electric vehicles, drones, advanced optical communication systems, machine learning, and supercomputing."

Boot concludes that Trump's policies—including raising tariffs, cutting budgets, and restricting immigration—are "weakening America and inadvertently strengthening its main rival." The trade war officially began when Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports in February, which was then raised to 20% in March.