Hardball Diplomacy: Why Trump's Show of Force Leaves Beijing Unimpressed

... upper hand in its dealings with the United States," Maavak believes. "If the intention was to intimidate China over North Korea's nuclear sabre-rattling, then Beijing will likely raise the stakes by providing an additional economic lifeline ... ... "Even if Trump had promised a quid pro quo in terms of tacit US recognition over Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, it won't go down well with US-friendly nations in ASEAN. Furthermore, no one would trust a US president who will attack a nation just days after proffering rapprochement, as was ...