The new administration has many around the world concerned. Here, domestically, critics and supporters both might have a hard time defining POTUS Trump’s foreign policy goals outside of defeating ISIS. From a recent call with China and a pledge to adopt the “one China” policy after a call to Taiwan, to a bargaining with Russia, we’re on a new footing. A different status than the one we’ve been on in the past. But, it’s clear China yields serious power that’s universally respected.

It’s reported that China’s president did not speak with POTUS Trump for months because of the Taiwan call. But that’s all behind us now. A real risk in the new world order is China overreacting. China is poised to become the next world power – not overnight but, in time. That’s a real consideration when the TPP was debated in Congress.

Instead, China will form their own TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) in Southeast Asia under Chinese terms. We’ll prosper shortly but need to find a way back onto the Southeast Asian scene. Reason being – we’re still the world’s leaders and we still need to ensure that standards are in place. Poor and unethical practices are likely without a U.S. presence or influence. Overall, China and others could continue to drive wages down making it increasingly difficult for the European market to compete when they have such a contract between wealthy countries (Germany) and weak ones (Greece). The European market is tied to a single currency.

The weakening of Germany and the European Union is also a risk to the world. The European Union is still the largest economy in the world when it comes to their positioning in global trade. Much of the world’s resources flow through and connect to Europe. However, world events and the rise of isolationist ideas threaten that economy, which might be good for the average citizen in the near term. The weaker the West becomes, the more wealthy and powerful the East, China may ascend. And not to mention the destabilizing effect of Russian insertion into Eastern European affairs and the Ukrainian civil war.

It’s obvious that the Chinese have different moral standards and concepts of personal liberty than we do in the West. A question to ask is what does the world look like with a more assertive Chinese superpower and do we like it? Or will we, the U.S., re-assert ourselves and remain the world’s leadership for the foreseeable future.

Featured image courtesy of Outside The Beltway.