America's New Team: China's Challenge Continues

President-elect Donald Trump is shaping his second administration, focusing first on national security. Bold names like Marco Rubio, Michael Waltz, Elise Stefanik, and Robert Lighthizer are on board, all known for being tough on China. This doesn't bode well for U. S. -China relations, as these "China hawks" could push policies that might escalate tensions.Trade expert Robert Lighthizer might stick to economic issues, using tariffs as a tool, much like he did in the first term. Stefanik, though not a China expert, has been vocal about Chinese influence on U. S. campuses and has worked on bills targeting unfair trade practices. Rubio is no stranger to vocal criticism, often blaming past administrations for not seeing the China threat early enough. He thinks China manipulated the global economy. Michael Waltz, a former special forces veteran, has co-authored pieces criticizing past U. S. policies that aided China's rise. He believes the Navy should shift focus to the Indo-Pacific to deter Chinese aggression. Trump, known for his deal-making, might need to have a firm hand with these advisers to maintain his pragmatic approach.