Sara Fagen: ‘Time for America To Be More Assertive in Its Relationship’ with China

FAGEN: "That China has not been a good actor on the world stage and it’s time for America to be more assertive in its relationship."
AXELROD: "One of the ways America could have been more assertive would be to have approved the Trans-Pacific Partnership which was something that China deeply feared, and now doesn’t have to worry about, because this president said he wouldn’t do it. But, Alex, if this were just a one-off you could say, OK, this was his China policy, but calling — speaking with the president of Kazakhstan, the strong man there, and praising him, talking to the president — to the leader of Pakistan and suggesting you’ll come there, you know, inviting the very odd leader of the Philippines here, all of these things have impacts that go beyond simply a conversation between two men when you’re president of the United States. And it doesn’t appear to be, as Matthew says, any preparation for any of that."