The US needs to continue applying the pressure. That is the only way to keep the Chinese from playing its silly games. See, they have been talking about the issues like 18 months and this is all they have accomplished? They were close to a more comprehensive agreement but, the Chinese backed down just as they were about to sign it? Those increased tariffs sure got their attention! Decoupling with the US economy can still happen if the Chinese do not get serious on the remaining issues and if they do not sign a more comprehensive trade deal. This is a small baby step so far! If the Chinese think 30% tariffs are bad, it could go up to 50% tariffs if decoupling ends up being the end goal.
The Chinese are sort of in a tough spot too in that they dont want to give Trump any victories that he can campaign on and they dont want to give concessions if they can hold out till someone like Biden comes in who is lost in space and they can get everything they want back again. On the other hand, January of 2021 is a long way away if you are already feeling the pain. Yeh, a tough spot indeed. Maduro, Rocket Man, the Iranians- all those clowns are hoping for a dem president. Same thing though. Even if a dem wins that is a long way away and they need relief now.
Ah, the blinkers of Fox news. I assume you do know how he reacted to Trump's letter? https://ahvalnews.com/trump-erdogan...eatening-trump-letter-when-time-comes-erdogan And what appears to be the response. AKA, if you tell a narcissistic dictator off, he will double down. Martingale politics I calls it Now it will take a lot of time and effort to go from nuclear program to nuclear weapons but.. if he does the other two will, UAE and Saudi who he is positioning Turkey as superior to. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...urkey-cant-have-nuclear-weapons-idUSKCN1VP2QN
It’s mindless conjecture on your part relating Erdogan’s desire for nukes to Trump’s letter or Trump himself for that matter, as all this predates Trump. Turkey has been a current problem for the US/NATO going back to Obama, and probably Bush, in all actuality they been a problem for the last 50 years. No one wants a nuclear ME. They’re all been guilty of using everything at their disposal i.e. chemical weapons, genocide tactics against each other, why does anyone think they wouldn’t nuke a neighbor if given the chance.
Fair, I actually read it on a comment a friend made saying he read it on CNN and did not check the dates myself. It was late and he is normally pretty sharp. Apologies. Seems his 'response' to the letter is still to come. Turkey is a major part of the reason for Brexit, the idea of them getting free access to the UK was too much for many and I can't say I did not see that side. Keeping them in membership limbo forever was not going to work. On the nationalistic rabble narcissism rankings I've seen them rated number three in the world after Russia and the US.
Today’s Turkey/Erdogan is not the same country that was allowed access into NATO eons ago. Back then they were a buffer against Russia and a picture of democracy in an Islamic state. Today they are basically a rogue actor who’s openly at odds with NATO and shows shifting ties to Russia/Iran. Yes,Trump hasn’t helped but these problems go back way before Trump. If truth be known, Erdogan is Russia’s biggest NATO asset. Hence the need to expel them but I guess they feel little control is better than no control. To note; I see there’s allegations of chemical use against Kurdish forces popping up. Here we go.
Expelling them means losing quite a lot of influence as you indicate. But this is not a divorce when the two parties can life out their lives happily apart. Have to stay in the house no matter what and keep it civil. I'm reminded of this bit from the show Yes Minister. I'm sure the warring Washington parties never do exactly this.