A former senior US official said working closely with like-minded countries remains the most effective strategy to counter an increasingly powerful China, in marked contrast to the policies of US President Donald Trump. He admitted that the Joe Biden administration made some key mistakes that undercut its own effectiveness.
Kurt Campbell, now chairman of the Asia Group consultancy, spoke at an event sponsored by Foreign Policy magazine. He warned that President Donald Trump's approach to China has inherent contradictions. At times, Trump seems keen to craft an entirely new US-China relationship built on business deals that benefit “him and the United States”. At other times, he seems to want a pause to build US reserves of critical minerals and bolster the US military.
“In many respects, this ambiguity is designed not just to keep China off balance, but frankly, to keep elements in American society guessing what President Trump’s ultimate outcomes and desires are,” Campbell said.
He stressed that working closely with allies like Japan, India, Australia, and partners in the Indo-Pacific remains essential. Strategic ambiguity—the idea that Washington will not say whether it will defend Taiwan if the mainland launches an attack—has been a cornerstone of US policy. Campbell noted that Trump's strategy risks weakening Washington's leverage as the policy machinery erodes and Beijing sharpens its approach.
Keywords include Joe Biden, Beijing, National Security Council, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Aukus, Ukraine, Kurt Campbell, Asia, United States, Japan, India, Washington, Australia, Taiwan, China, Indo-Pacific, Russia, Foreign Policy. The article was published on 2026-02-20.