HONG KONG – The global standing of the United States took a severe hit on February 28 after President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a televised White House meeting. The biggest beneficiaries of this shift are Moscow and Beijing, as Washington appears increasingly aligned with Russia’s stance, raising concerns for smaller nations and global security hotspots like Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin could not have hoped for a more favorable outcome. Russian state television framed the moment as a geopolitical turning point, declaring, “Now everything is being decided inside a big triangle: Russia, China, and the U.S. The EU as a united political force no longer exists.”
The same day Trump criticized Zelenskyy, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu met Xi in Beijing. Chinese state media described the meeting as reinforcing an “unprecedented high level” of bilateral ties. Xi emphasized that China and Russia share an “ironclad friendship” and must strengthen strategic coordination for “mutual development and revitalization.”
Despite claiming neutrality, China continues to deepen its partnership with Russia rather than push for a just resolution in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump has strained transatlantic relations, leaving NATO’s future uncertain. His administration prioritizes economic deals over traditional diplomatic principles, with figures like Elon Musk exerting outsized influence over U.S. government agencies and programs such as USAID.
Trump’s rhetoric and actions suggest a closer alignment with Russia than with traditional U.S. allies. He has falsely accused Ukraine of instigating the war while openly praising Putin. His policy shifts have drawn widespread condemnation. Malcolm Davis, a Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, called the developments “absolutely shameful,” warning that the U.S. appears to be capitulating to its adversaries, potentially leading to global conflict within the decade.
In a stunning move, the U.S. voted alongside Russia and North Korea in a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine—while even China abstained. This marked a stark departure from America’s long-standing principles of defending democracy and territorial integrity.
Trump’s treatment of Ukraine raises broader concerns about his foreign policy. He has labeled Zelenskyy an “unelected dictator,” dismissed Ukraine’s role in peace negotiations, and suggested that the country must cede 20% of its territory to Russia. He has even proposed extracting Ukraine’s mineral wealth as reparations.
Historically, U.S. resets with Russia have ended in aggression. Bill Clinton attempted a reset in 1997, only for Russia to reinvade Chechnya in 1999. George W. Bush extended an olive branch in 2001, followed by Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia. Barack Obama sought rapprochement in 2009, only for Russia to annex Crimea in 2014. Now, in 2025, Trump appears to be embracing Moscow once again, raising fears of further Russian expansionism.
Davis warned that Trump’s policies send “a terrible message of weakness” to China. He argued that Western democracies have spent decades safeguarding international order, but Trump is systematically dismantling these efforts. If the U.S. continues to realign with Russia, Europe may have to reassess its security framework and take independent action.
Meanwhile, China is emboldened. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, recently issued a direct threat to Taiwan, stating, “We will come and get you, sooner or later.” Such rhetoric bears an unsettling resemblance to Trump’s own statements toward smaller nations, raising concerns that his foreign policy mirrors authoritarian regimes.
Ryan Hass, Director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, observed that Trump’s stance on Ukraine signals an indifference to defending democracy and resisting aggression. While he cautioned against fatalism, he acknowledged that Trump’s rewriting of history and lack of support for Zelenskyy cast doubt on how the U.S. might respond to a crisis in Taiwan.
However, Hass noted that Taiwan remains economically vital to the U.S., particularly in semiconductor manufacturing. This interdependence may prevent Trump from drastically altering U.S.-Taiwan relations, though concerns remain about his unpredictability.
Across Asia, U.S. allies are growing uneasy. A widely shared social media post from Japan questioned the reliability of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty in light of Trump’s policies. Some voices in Japan are even suggesting nuclear armament as a contingency plan.
Despite initial engagement with Asian leaders, Trump’s approach to China has been cautious. While his administration has tightened economic policies on China, he has maintained personal respect for Xi. Analysts warn that his disruptive foreign policies elsewhere will inevitably impact U.S. standing in Asia.
Reports indicate that China and Russia are actively recruiting laid-off U.S. federal employees with national security expertise. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has expressed “high confidence” that adversaries are exploiting mass layoffs ordered by Trump and Musk.
Trump claims his administration is making a “decisive break” from past U.S. foreign policy. However, his actions suggest the opposite: ceding strategic ground to China and Russia, weakening alliances, and abandoning long-held American principles. (ANI)
