Trump’s China Trade War Deepens Beijing’s Economic Vulnerability – Implications for a Taiwan War

Photo courtesy of China Daily

As of February 2026, U.S. tariffs have significantly slowed China’s economic growth without collapsing its export sector.

Direct exports to the United States fell roughly 20 percent in 2025, but China offset much of that loss by redirecting trade, reaching a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus by early 2026.

Exports surged to ASEAN by 13 percent, Africa by 26 percent, and Latin America by 7 percent, cushioning the blow from the U.S. market.

Some...