Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

How China Plays the Long Game Against Trump

Bloomberg Originals

2.3M views 3 months ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you think it means to “play the long game” in politics or business?
How might China respond differently to Donald Trump than other countries do?
What kinds of strategies do countries use when they don’t want to “take sides” between two superpowers?

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How China Plays the Long Game Against Trump

China’s opportunity and Trump’s style (00:00 – 03:32)

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1. What opportunity does the speaker say Trump’s actions give China?

A chance to become dependent on the US market again
A chance to join the US in a military alliance
A chance to present itself as stable and responsible compared to the US
A chance to stop trading with every country outside Asia

2. How does the speaker describe Xi Jinping’s leadership approach compared with Trump’s?

Both leaders are mainly focused on social media popularity
Xi is impulsive, while Trump is guarded and methodical
Both leaders avoid making deals and prefer isolation
Xi is guarded and methodical, while Trump is brash and impulsive

3. What does the nickname 'TACO' refer to?

A claim that Trump often follows through on threats
A phrase meaning 'Trump Always Chickens Out'
A Chinese phrase meaning 'nation builder'
A joke that Trump always cancels trade talks

How China Plays the Long Game Against Trump

Trade war adaptation and rare earth leverage (03:32 – 06:45)

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1. After being surprised by the first trade war, what did China do?

It stopped welcoming foreign leaders in Beijing
It began preparing itself for future conflict
It decided to rely more heavily on US consumers
It ended all tariffs immediately

2. What is one example of China’s strategy beyond changing trade flows?

Sending troops to protect overseas supply chains
Reducing environmental standards worldwide
Replacing all exports with domestic consumption
Explicit export controls on rare earth magnets

3. Why do rare earth export controls matter, according to the speaker?

Rare earths are mainly used only in jewelry
They immediately replace the need for oil imports
They only impact China’s own manufacturers
They affect products from iPhones and EVs to fighter jets and missiles

How China Plays the Long Game Against Trump

China’s economic problems, geopolitical limits, and hedging (06:45 – 10:34)

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1. What problem does the speaker say China faces because of overcapacity?

A sudden increase in fixed-asset investment
A lack of trade partners
A deflation problem
A shortage of factories

2. What does the speaker suggest about China’s willingness to get involved in distant military conflicts?

China is eager to send troops far from home
China has already committed troops to defend multiple countries
China prefers military action over trade policy
China is not willing to get entangled in military conflicts far from home

3. What does the speaker say will be the key approach for nations caught in the middle?

Only forming military alliances
Hedging
Choosing one side immediately
Ending trade with both superpowers

How China Plays the Long Game Against Trump

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1. What is the main contrast the video draws between the two superpowers’ approaches?

China focuses on long-term, strategic leverage; the US under Trump appears more volatile and transactional
China avoids trade entirely; the US avoids diplomacy entirely
China only uses military tools; the US only uses economic tools
Both sides mainly try to reduce global trade and cooperation

2. Why are rare earths described as strategically important in the video?

Because they are easy for any country to produce quickly
Because they represent the largest market in the world economy
Because they can fully replace oil and gas
Because China dominates key stages of the supply chain and they are essential inputs for many technologies

3. What does the video suggest is a likely response of many countries to US-China rivalry?

They will try to hedge to reduce risk and avoid taking sides
They will stop engaging with China completely
They will all become formal allies of one superpower
They will refuse to trade with either side

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

How China Plays the Long Game Against Trump

Do you agree with the idea that instability in one country can create opportunities for another? Why or why not?
Is it smarter for a leader to be “methodical” or “impulsive” in international negotiations? Give an example.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using export controls as a political tool?
If you were advising a smaller country, what would “hedging” look like in practice (trade, diplomacy, security)?