A scorned Trump could set farewell fires in Asia
As the dust begins to settle from the American election, with a handful of states still counting votes, it is increasingly likely that Vice President Joe Biden will take over the White House next January. But the transition conceivably could see a furious Trump making destructive foreign policy moves, particularly in Asia: the loser going out with a bang.
As for the post-transition period, the vote provides clear evidence that Trumpism – the potent combination of America First isolationism and anti-establishment populism – has become a powerful force in American politics.
In Asia US allies Japan and Korea, in particular, “can take some comfort that Biden seems likely, albeit not guaranteed, to be the next president,” commented Evans Revere, former principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific.
“But the election results showed that Trumpism, which has often manifested itself in a surly contempt for allies and alliances, efforts to extort our allies, and admiration for authoritarians and authoritarianism, has put down deep roots in our political culture,” Revere added.
“Fealty to Trumpism appears to have helped the Republicans hold the Senate, advance in the House, and almost win the presidency. We can expect the Republicans to rally around that banner in the coming years and, in doing so, block Biden’s effort to govern. Sadly, dysfunction is likely to be the order of the day in Washington.”
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Globally, foes such as China and Iran will likely be cautious, anticipating a less chaotic situation under Biden. But others may act. Israeli leader Bibi Netanyahu, who has invested massively in his backing for Trump, “will be in a panic and will do everything in his power to persuade Trump to take decisive (HISTORIC!) action on Iran,” the intelligence official says, “maybe a major air attack on Iranian military facilities or sensitive infrastructure in Iran. Iran’s response could include terrorism and covert warfare during the early days of a Biden Administration.”
Posing similar dangers in East Asia are the tensions across the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, as well as the North Korean situation – all arenas where Trump could act to set fires before leaving office.
https://asiatimes.com/2020/11/a-scorned-trump-could-set-farewell-fires-in-asia/
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