Trump’s strategy of accommodation with China is a historic mistake

May 3, 2026

There is an alluring logic to hitting pause until the US is strong enough to prevail. But the Trump administration is repeating a familiar mistake in betting that backing off will produce reciprocal restraint.


Financial Times

About

Dr. Ely Ratner is a principal at The Marathon Initiative and formerly served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.