US is a divided country holding two conflicting points of view which are both very valid given existing set of evidences. This is the inherent drawback of democratic systems when faced with foreign threats. The dysfunction of the Roman military during periods of the Punic Wars is a fine example.
It is noteworthy to observe how populism and militarism tends to rise in times of extended economic hardships and during periods immediately prior to major outbreak of wars. Trump is the modern day equivalent of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill who were both considered populists during their times.
Related references
A democratic nation divided
- https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/27/federal-reserve-clash-trump-dudley-1684956
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed/fed-rejects-call-to-deny-trump-rate-cuts-trump-keeps-up-pressure-idUSKCN1VH24C
- https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-china-farmers-lindsey-graham-south-carolina
The technology arms race
- https://e27.co/how-china-is-leading-the-world-in-technology-and-innovation-20190827/
- https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-private-space-industry
- https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/china-s-central-bank-to-issue-own-cryptocurrency-as-soon-as-november–forbes-11848812
The economic warfare
- https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/trump-graham-trade-tariffs/2019/08/27/id/930258/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/a-year-into-the-trade-war-china-learns-to-ride-out-trumps-turbulence/2019/08/27/458be5a8-c84c-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html
The escalating military tension
- https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/China-denies-Qingdao-port-visit-for-US-warship-amid-tensions-599907
- https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Vietnam-seeks-peaceful-solution-to-South-China-Sea-tensions
- https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-08-25/chinas-hypersonic-missile-threatens-regional-stability-analyst-warns
- https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/duterte-heads-to-china-with-tougher-stance-on-disputed-sea
- https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/08/26/russia-missiles-nato-allies-pleitgen-tsr-vpx.cnn
- https://www.apnews.com/a21db991b4004d14a40c6d095ad9dda5
- China develops Drones targeting US military deployment of F-35 stealth fighters in the Pacific
- https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1743684/asean-militaries-between-us-china
- https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-wall-us-bases-that-counter-russia-and-china-2019-9#the-quick-reaction-alert-pad-at-rygge-air-base-norway-will-sacrifice-10-million-to-trumps-border-wall-7
Other related readings
- Machina, Sebastian Marshall
- Understanding Big Debt Crisis, Ray Dalio
- Scipio Africanus: Rome’s greatest general, Richard A Gabriel
- The governance of China, Xi Jin Ping
- Great Again, Donald Trump