ICGER Hosts Roundtable on China and East Asia Under Trump’s Second Administration
On Friday, November 15, 2024, ICGER held its second internal roundtable in a continuing series on global shifts under a returning Trump administration. The session, titled China and East Asia Under Trump’s Second Administration, took place at the Center’s headquarters in downtown Beirut and was led by ICGER President Dr. Mohammad Walid Youssef.
The discussion brought together department heads, geopolitical analysts, and guests. Moderated by Dr. Imad Ghannoum, the session is part of ICGER’s broader initiative to assess the global ramifications of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency on January 20, 2025.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ghannoum emphasized the strategic importance of East Asia as a potential flashpoint for conflict, noting Trump’s tendency to blur the lines between political and economic policy, particularly in his dealings with China.
Dr. Youssef then took the floor, offering insights into the expected composition of Trump’s incoming team, describing it as even more ideologically right-wing than during his first term. He highlighted the centrality of trade and economic confrontation in U.S.-China relations, and reviewed how Trump previously handled challenges with Beijing and across the broader East Asian region.
He stressed that Trump favors bilateral deals and direct transactional diplomacy, showing little interest in multilateral alliances or regional blocs.
Dr. Youssef also discussed China’s ties with Russia and Iran, arguing that Beijing benefits from ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as they keep Western powers distracted and less focused on countering China.
He warned that any Chinese military move on Taiwan would likely trigger a chain reaction, drawing Japan into the conflict, prompting a response from North Korea, and ultimately forcing U.S. military involvement in defense of its East Asian allies, especially Japan.
The session concluded with an engaging discussion, as attendees posed questions and comments, to which Dr. Youssef responded with detailed analysis and perspective.
