Relations between US President Donald Trump and the EU have been tense over the issue of Greenland. Many have long viewed Trump as a Monroe Doctrine-style figure, but from the start of his second term, he openly expressed a desire to control the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland — demonstrating strategic ambition and long-term vision rarely matched by previous US presidents.
If the goal is truly to “make America great again” — or even greater — these goals reflect that intent.
Trump’s manner of expression is overly blunt and simplistic, triggering significant backlash.
This stems from habits and personality traits he developed throughout his years in business. His statements are merely opening bids made from a position of strength — the key lies in subsequent negotiations, with the US Department of State and US Department of Defense playing key roles before Trump makes the final decision.
Although some aspects of the situation might not be perfect, in chaotic times, there is little choice but to cut through the mess quickly and decisively.
The US has openly said what it wants and speaks frankly about how its demands align with its interests.
This is a sharp contrast to China, which secretly pursues its own interests while claiming to act for the benefit of others. Over the past two to three years, the diplomatic activities of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) have largely centered on marketing China’s surplus products — such as electric vehicles and infrastructure projects — while loudly proclaiming commitments to openness, fairness and free trade.
Leaders of countries lacking political experience might believe they can sell their goods in China’s vast market, assuming that they would benefit due to the higher costs of Chinese products.
What they fail to anticipate is that once a free-trade agreement is signed, Chinese products are immediately dumped at ultra-low prices — regardless of cost and often backed by state subsidies — with the aim of crushing the other side’s small and medium-sized enterprises.
Meanwhile, without explicit state approval, no Chinese company would import products from other countries. This is how China sets its trap.
The three targets — the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland — ultimately all point toward China and Russia, which align with the interests of Panama, Canada and the EU.
It is troubling that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China to form a partnership with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to counter the US, effectively betraying his campaign pledge that China is one of Canada’s “biggest security threats” and misleading Canadian voters.
I sensed that something was seriously amiss when Canadian members of parliament who were visiting Taiwan were summoned back early so as not to interfere with Carney’s visit to China.
The UK, a fellow member of the Five Eyes alliance alongside Canada and the US, presents another concerning case. In an effort to curry favor with the CCP, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — despite strong opposition from within his own party, the public and the media — on Tuesday granted approval for China to build a mega-embassy in London, a project widely regarded as a threat to British and European security.
Could it be that Starmer does not understand how the CCP deceived the British side over the Hong Kong issue, and wishes to collude with it?
Once built, that embassy would effectively become Chinese territory, and it would be difficult for the UK to interfere with any business the CCP conducts on the property.
Nearly 100 years ago, Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin (張作霖) and his faction, the Fengtian clique (奉系軍閥), disregarded international norms and stormed the Soviet embassy in Peking in 1927.
He seized large quantities of documents detailing Soviet interference in China’s internal affairs and executed Li Dazhao (李大釗), the CCP’s second-most prominent founding figure, for collusion with the Soviet Union.
Greenland, an autonomous self-governing territory of Denmark, has clearly opposed annexation by the US and its people do not wish to become American.
However, if it were to face aggression from China or Russia, would it not ultimately have to rely on US military protection?
Ukraine is a real-life example. If the Washington and Nuuk were to reach some form of mutually beneficial cooperation or merger agreement now, the US would significantly bolster Greenland’s military defenses while enabling the broad development of its resources.
This would be a positive outcome for democratic countries around the world.
Americans rarely engage in trickery or underhanded behavior. Intel’s poaching of former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co executive vice president Lo Wei-jen (羅唯仁) had nothing to do with Trump nor the company’s genuine American leadership. That person would eventually reveal his true nature.
Paul Lin is a Taipei-based political commentator.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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