On January 20, the world watched as President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term, leaving many eager to see how his administration would shape both domestic and international policy in the coming years. In his first day back in office, President Trump wasted no time signing a series of executive orders that signaled a bold approach to governance.
Among the immediate actions were orders to close the nation's borders, a move aimed at tightening immigration control and deporting unlawful immigrants with criminal records. Additionally, President Trump repealed environmental regulations that had previously restricted oil drilling in Alaska and other wildlife areas, a decision likely to spark debate among environmentalists and energy advocates alike. In a push to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, he also called for all federal workers to resume working from their offices after an extended period of remote work.
While his inaugural address touched on several domestic issues, President Trump offered limited insight into his foreign policy plans. Notably, he expressed an intent to reclaim the Panama Canal from Panama and proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, bold moves that could have significant geopolitical implications.
Global attention, however, has been particularly focused on President Trump's economic policies, especially his stance on international trade. Emphasizing that tariffs would be a cornerstone of his administration, he announced plans to establish an External Revenue Service to oversee the implementation of these measures. Though specifics were not provided during his address, his campaign had suggested imposing tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 60 percent on countries accused of unfair trade practices, including China.
Despite the tough rhetoric on trade, President Trump emphasized the importance of U.S.-China relations in a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping prior to his inauguration. He underscored that as the world's most influential countries, the United States and China must collaborate extensively to promote global peace and long-term stability.
In a surprising turn, President Trump intervened to halt the proposed banning of TikTok, the popular social media app owned by Chinese firm ByteDance. The initial legislation would have allowed TikTok to continue operating in the United States only if it were sold to an American company, a condition that ByteDance was unwilling to meet. Instead, President Trump proposed a workaround by suggesting that TikTok be transformed into a joint venture with the U.S. government.
This intervention came amidst significant protests in Congress, where anti-China sentiment remains strong, even within President Trump's own party. By choosing to save TikTok for its more than 170 million American users, President Trump resisted considerable opposition—a move that has been closely observed by stakeholders in China and around the world.
As President Trump's second term unfolds, the global community is watching closely to see how these early decisions will impact international relations, economic policies, and the intricate balance of global power. His actions signal a complex blend of assertive domestic policies and a potentially pragmatic approach to foreign affairs, particularly with the Chinese mainland. The coming months will reveal how these strategies evolve and what they mean for the United States, Asia, and the broader international community.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
