Foreign policy expert Gordon Chang has raised concerns about recent actions by China, describing them as “end-of-regime conduct,” Fox Business reports. According to Chang, something appears to be seriously amiss in Beijing, with Chinese leadership taking increasingly antagonistic positions on the global stage.
Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, pointed out on “Mornings with Maria” that China is alienating not only the United States but also regional neighbors such as the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia. He argues that these moves are perplexing, especially at a time when China needs international partners due to declining exports to the U.S.
Chang suggests that President Xi Jinping is unwilling to appear weak or as if he is yielding to U.S. pressure, particularly in the context of ongoing trade tensions. This stance, Chang says, is driving China’s confrontational approach and making the political system more rigid and hostile.
Despite public denials from Beijing about any ongoing trade negotiations, reports indicate that China’s Ministry of Commerce is quietly considering exemptions on certain tariffs, including those on semiconductors, aviation products, and medical devices. Chang interprets this as a significant, though unspoken, concession by China.
According to Fox Business, President Donald Trump told reporters from the White House lawn that “he’s spoken to Jinping ‘many times’ now, before responding to a question about what exactly the two leaders discussed: ‘I’ll let you know at the appropriate time. Let’s see if we can make a deal.’”
Beijing, on the other hand, “has publicly denied any ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration to bring down America’s 145% tariff and China’s 125% tariff,” according to Fox Business.
Overall, Chang believes these developments reflect deeper issues within the Chinese political system, which he describes as increasingly “inflexible” and resistant to admitting any vulnerability in the face of U.S. pressure.
Chang concluded, “This is really very perplexing behavior, and it shows that something is very, very wrong in Beijing right now.”
