I believe China is being used as a coercive threat to the United States for various interests. I watched CNN last night and a Hispanic politician warned that building the Mexican wall would drive Mexico into China's arms. I watched a Canadian trade delegation going to the United States during the Harper years warning that China would be hungry buyer for tar sands oil if the pipelines were not built.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership isn't really dead yet. Donald Trump can still change his mind since the other 12 TPP partners have signed the agreement. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has raised the prospect of letting China take the place of the United States and joining the TPP. There is no chance of China joining the TPP but the threat seems to be made to encourage the United States.