Will China Be the First to Challenge Trump
China has a habit of challenging new United States Presidents early in their first term to see how they react in a crisis, and it seems likely that Trump will be no different.
There is a great deal of wisdom in the old adage, " Don't poke the Bear" but China does not seem interested in that point. China has a history in its use of naval or maritime force to engage an opponent militarily even when it has a low likelihood or no likelihood of success. The Chinese state press and military commentator are talking up Chinese military preparations to challenge the United States. South China Morning Post has such a story: http://link.defensenews.com/click/8713616.36759/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zY21wLmNvbS9uZXdzL2NoaW5hL2RpcGxvbWFjeS1kZWZlbmNlL2FydGljbGUvMjA2NTc5OS9jaGluYS1zdGVwcy1wcmVwYXJlZG5lc3MtcG9zc2libGUtbWlsaXRhcnktY29uZmxpY3QtdXM/57c44c868cc2b222408b4588D465d3d8d
But President Trump is not Obama and General James Mattis the new Defense Secretary is a tough and brilliant strategist. He is already headed to Asia. Poking a bear is a dangerous game. Let's hope that the Chinese pull back from their bellicose sabre rattling before they get a mauling.
